Outdoor Track and Field on Flotrack 2013

Sam Chelanga Joins Ben True's Training Group

Aug 2, 2013 by Christopher Chavez

Shortly after the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Saucony's Ben True announced on Twitter that "the lone wolf" would not longer be training alone in New Hampshire. After his 5,000-meter race in Heusden, he provided a few more details as he told Flotrack he would not be moving and staying put with coach Mark Coogan.

The first of those training partners joined True on Friday as the Dartmouth graduate tweeted a photo of him with Sam Chelanga.

The first of many miles run, new training partners unite. Hanover just got faster. Welcome @SamChelanga pic.twitter.com/2hYJtWZ11Z
— Ben True (@bentrue) August 3, 2013

After winning four NCAA cross-country and track titles for Virginia's Liberty University, Chelanga joined Mark Rowland's Oregon Track Club in 2011. At the 2012 Prefontaine Classic, Chelanga set a 5,000-meter personal best of 13:09.67. After finishing sixth at the New York City Half Marathon in 61:26 and running 13:20.07 at the Stanford Invitational, Chelanga's season was set-back with a stress fracture injury.

Now that the injury has healed, Chelanga will train with True on the East Coast. With United States citizenship on the way in 2015, Chelanga plans to run at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.