Matt Tegenkamp

Professional Following graduation, Tegenkamp stayed in Madison to train as a professional under Schumacher. In 2006, he set personal bests at 1,500 meters (3:35.96), 3,000 meters (7:34.98) and the two-mile (8:16.50). Tegenkamp also ended his 2006 season by getting a bronze medal in the 5000m at the IAAF World Cup in Athletics, with a time of 13:36.83.

In 2007, he won the USA Indoor National 3k with a time of 7:46.08. Then, he set a personal and American record in the two-mile run at the Prefontaine Classic with a time of 8:07.07, breaking the existing record At the 2007 IAAF world championships Matt finished fourth in the 5,000m event, missing out on the bronze medal by .03 second, with a time of 13:46.78 to Moses Ndiema Kipsiro of Uganda's 13:46.75.

In 2008, Teg earned his first trip to the Olympic Games. As a "tune-up" for the Olympic Games, he ran the 1500m in 3:37.94 (a facility and state of Wisconsin record At the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, Tegenkamp qualified by finishing second to Lagat in the 5,000-meter run with a time 13:29.68.

Soon after the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Matt and wife Michelle Carson, and Matt's coach began efforts of moving to Portland, Oregon for Nike's Oregon Project along with other professional team members that were training under coach Schumacher at that time in Madison, WI.

In 2009, Tegenkamp became one of only 6 non-African runners to break the 13 minute barrier in the 5000 meters with his PR of 12:58.56.

In 2011, Tegenkamp made his first attempt at the 10,000 meter distance. He was once quoted saying, "Teg doesn't run no 10k," though he later retracted this statement and made his track 10,000 meter début on May 1, 2011 at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational, running 27:28.22. He finished runner-up at the 2011 USA 10,0000 meter championships, closing the final 800 meters in 1:53.

In 2012, he qualified for the Olympics by placing second at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Tegenkamp then went on to compete in the 10,000 meters at the 2012 Summer Olympics, where he finished 19th at 28:18.26.

On July 4, 2013, Tegenkamp became the US Road 10k Champion at the Peachtree Road Race, finishing with a time of 28:25.

On October 13, 2013, Tegenkamp debuted at the marathon distance in the Chicago Marathon, placing 10th in 2:12:28.

Tengenkamp opened up the 2014 season by running a new PR of 1:02.04 at the New York Half-Marathon. Later in the season he finished 15th in the Washington Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Road Race with a PR of 47:57

In February 2016, Tegenkamp announced his retirement from the sport of track and field. He now works at Nike in product creation.

Post running career Tegenkamp officially announced retirement on February 1, 2016. After his running career, he moved to full-time in product creation for Nike at the main campus in Beaverton, Oregon after beginning that role part-time in 2013 while he was embarking on marathon running in his career.

Personal bests

Notables He became the American two-mile record holder, with a time of 8:07.07, set at the Prefontaine Classic in 2007. He also holds a 5,000 meter PR of 12:58.56 (September 4, 2009 in Brussels), which put him in line as the fourth American to have run under 13 minutes (third fastest all-time PR ), and a 1,500 meter PR of 3:34.25. Tegenkamp's outdoor mile best is 3:56.38, which he achieved while becoming the first person to break four minutes in the mile on Wisconsin soil.

List of personal records (PRs) 1500 meters - 3:34.25 (July 3, 2007) Mile - 3:56.38 (May 6, 2006) 3000 meters - 7:34.98 (August 19, 2006) Two miles - 8:07.07 (June 10, 2007 - American Record ) 5000 meters - 12:58.56 (November 4, 2009 - #7 all-time PR by an American ) 10,000 meters - 27:28.22 (May 1, 2011) Marathon - 2:12:28 (October 13, 2013)