Solinsky's New Role Puts Career On Hold

Solinsky's New Role Puts Career On Hold

Aug 11, 2014 by Lincoln Shryack
Solinsky's New Role Puts Career On Hold
Chris Solinsky is on the move.

The one-time American-record holder in the 10,000m has accepted an assistant coaching position at the College of William and Mary and will be moving from Portland, where he trained with the Bowerman Track Club, to Williamsburg, Va.

Solinsky will work with Stephen Walsh, Wiliam and Mary’s Director of Track and Field and Cross Country, to help a distance squad that hasn’t made the NCAA Cross Country meet since 2010.

While Solinsky’s transition into coaching may not come as a surprise – he had previously worked as a volunteer assistant at Portland – the move puts the course of his running career into question. The 29-year-old will no longer train in Portland, however he told Runners World that he will continue to consult with Jerry Schumacher in his pursuit of his first Olympic team in 2016.

After struggling for three years with a hamstring injury that ultimately required surgery, Solinsky has been unable to produce anything close to his 12:55 5-K or 26:59 10-K from 2010, the latter of which made him the first non-African to break the 27-minute barrier. Any plans for a marathon debut this fall have also been put on the shelf in order for him to focus on his new position and to rest up following his less than stellar 2014 campaign.

As he transitions into his new role as Coach Solinsky, it’s hard to imagine a scenario that leads to him earning a spot on the 2016 Olympic Team. With less than a year-and-a half to go until the U.S. Trials, Solinsky enters a crucial build up phase with no 26.2 experience to speak of. Outside of running with the William and Mary team, training in Williamsburg will be done on his own, without his Bowerman teammates helping him out.

With his Nike contract also up at the end of year, Solinsky faces the additional challenge of supporting the training requisite for what will certainly be an uphill battle to meet his lofty expectations.