Former American Record Holder in the 10,000m Joins Pilot Coaching Staff

PORTLAND, Ore. --- Already two of the premiere programs in the nation, the Portland Pilots men’s and women’s cross country/track and field programs bolstered their coaching staff on Friday with the addition of Chris Solinsky, a three-time Big Ten Athlete of the Year and the 2007 USTFCCCA National Indoor Track Athlete of the Year.
 
"We are obviously tremendously excited to have Chris joining our staff,” Portland head coach Rob Conner said of his new assistant coach. “We are always trying to raise the bar with our program and Chris will help us do that on a daily basis as very few people in the US have had the running experiences he has had."
 
Solinsky, who races professionally and will continue to do so while coaching the Pilots, became the first non-African runner to finish below the 27-minute barrier in the 10,000m event in 2010. Racing in the event for the first time in his career, Solinsky clocked a 26:59.60 to win the race at the prestigious Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitation while breaking the previous American record of 27:13.98.
 
During his college career, Solinksy captured five NCAA individual championships, winning the outdoor 5000m championships twice in 2006 and 2007, the indoor 5000m championships in 2007, and the indoor 3000m titles in 2005 and 2006.
 
Solinksy was the USA Outdoor Championships runner-up in the 5000m in 2009 (13:20.82) and 2011 (12:25.65). He also placed second at the 2008 USA Indoor Championships in the 3000m event with a time of 8:03.80.
 
Solinsky owns sub 4-minute personal records in the 1500m and mile events at 3:35.89 and 3:54.1, respectively.
 
Both the men’s and women’s cross country teams will resume the 2012 season with the WCC Preview on September 15, a home meet at Fernhill Park.