Sam Chelanga
| Personal information | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationality | American | ||||||
| Born | February 23, 1985 Baringo, Kenya | ||||||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||||||
| Sport | |||||||
| Sport | Track, Track and field, long-distance running | ||||||
| Event(s) | 5000 metres, 10,000 meters | ||||||
| College team | Liberty University | ||||||
| Club | Nike | ||||||
| Turned pro | 2011 | ||||||
| Now coaching | Scott Simmons | ||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||
| Personal best(s) | [1]
| ||||||
Samuel Chelanga (born February 23, 1985 in Baringo County, Kenya) is a Kenyan-born American track and field athlete who competed for Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia from 2008 to 2011. He holds the NCAA record for the 10,000 meters run with a time of 27:08.49 set at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational at Palo Alto, California on May 1, 2010.[2] His brother, Joshua Chelanga, is a professional marathon runner.
Early life[]
Sam Chelanga was born in Kabarsel village, Baringo County, Kenya, and was the 10th of 11 children.[3]
Running career[]
Collegiate[]
Originally hailing from Baringo County, Kenya, Chelanga moved to the United States on a sports scholarship. He attended Liberty University, with whom he won the 2009 NCAA Men's Cross Country Championship in Terre Haute, Indiana and set a course record in 28:41.3.[4] He won a third consecutive title at the Big South Conference cross country championships in October, leading the race by a margin of over half a minute.[5] In 2010, he defended his title by winning the NCAA cross country championship, becoming only the 11th man in NCAA history to win at least two such titles.[6] He ended his time at Liberty University with fourteen All-American distance honours.[7]
| Year | Meet | Venue | Time | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Drake Stadium - Des Moines, IA | 13:29.30 | 1st |
| 2011 | NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Drake Stadium - Des Moines, IA | 28:12.18 | 2nd |
| 2011 | Texas A&M-Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium - College Station | 13:27.34 | 2nd | |
| 2011 | Texas A&M-Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium - College Station | 8:11.15 | 15th | |
| 2011 | Big South Conference Indoor Championships | Clemson-Indoor Track Facility - Clemson, SC | 4:16.88 | 1st |
| 2010 | NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships | LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course - Terre Haute, IN | 29:22.1 | 1st |
| 2010 | NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Drake Stadium - Des Moines, IA | 13:45.35 | 2nd |
| 2010 | NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Drake Stadium - Des Moines, IA | 28:37.40 | 1st |
| 2010 | Arkansas-Randall Tyson Track - Fayetteville, AR | 13:37.01 | 2nd | |
| 2010 | Big South Conference Indoor Championships | Clemson-Indoor Track Facility - Clemson, SC | 4:13.75 | 1st |
| 2010 | Big South Conference Indoor Championships | Clemson-Indoor Track Facility - Clemson, SC | 8:14.07 | 1st |
| 2009 | NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships | LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course - Terre Haute, IN | 28:41.3 | 1st CR |
| 2009 | Big South Conference Outdoor Championships | Radford Patrick D. Cupp Track - Radford, VA | 14:01.89 | 1st |
| 2009 | Big South Conference Outdoor Championships | Radford Patrick D. Cupp Track - Radford, VA | 3:49.69 | 1st |
Professional[]
Chelanga signed a contract with Nike and made his professional race debut at the B.A.A. 10K in Boston in June 2011 under Jerry Schumacher and managed to take fourth place.[9]
In November 2013, he won the 77th Manchester Road Race (4.748 miles), an annual race held on Thanksgiving Day in Manchester, Connecticut, in a time of 21 minutes, 31 seconds.[10] Sam ran a 13:04.35 at Boston University's BU Multi-Team Meet, coming in second. He came in second behind his old college rival Galen Rupp who won in 13:01.26 – a new American indoor 5k record.
From 2013 - January 2015, Sam trained with Dartmouth College alumnus Ben True in Hanover, New Hampshire.
In January 2015, Sam joined coach James Li in Tucson, Arizona.[11][12][13]
At the 2016 US Olympic Trials, Chelanga finished the 10,000 meters in sixth place, a minute behind winner Galen Rupp. But he was the third fastest in the race to hold a sub-28:00.00 qualifying time.
2014 Annual Bests[]
| Event | Result | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mile | 4:02.90 | Falmouth (USA) | 16.08.2014 |
| 3000m ind. | 7:45.21 | Boston (USA) | 08.02.2014 |
| 5000m | 13:16.24 | Berlin (GER) | 31.08.2014 |
| 5000m ind. | 13:04.35 | Boston (USA) | 16.01.2014 |
| 10,000m | 27:59.74 | Eugene (USA) | 30.05.2014 |
| 8 km Road | 22:45 | Kingsport (USA) | 12.07.2014 |
| 10 km Road | 28:11 | Boston (USA) | 22.06.2014 |
| Half Marathon | 1:02:59 | Philadelphia (USA) | 20.09.2014 |
Seasonal best[]
| Date | Time | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 1 May 2016 | 27:54.57 | Palo Alto, CA |
| 30 MAY 2014 | 27:59.74 | Eugene, OR |
| 12 DEC 2013 | 27:46.06 | Melbourne (Albert Park) |
| 29 APR2012 | 27:29.82 | Palo Alto, CA |
| 10 JUN 2011 | 28:12.18 | Des Moines, IA |
| 01 MAY 2010 | 27:08.39 | Palo Alto, CA |
| 24 APR 2009 | 27:28.48 | Berkeley, CA |
| 04 MAY 2008 | 28:15.99 | Palo Alto, CA |
2015[]
Carlsbad 5000 Results:
1. @LawiLalang1 13:32
2. Wilson Too 13:35
3. @Lagat1500 13:40
4. @SamChelanga 13:50
Wharf to Wharf Santa Cruz to Capitola 6 mile results:
1. Sam Chelanga 27:24.48[14][15][16]
2. Shadrack Kosgei 27:27
3. John Muritu Watiku 27:28
43rd New Balance Falmouth Road Race
August 16
Sam finished 4th place 32:21 only 4 seconds behind the winner Stephen Sambu.[17]
USA 5 km Championships CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5k Providence, Rhode Island[18]
September 20,
1. David Torrence 13:56.0
2. Dan Huling 13:59.0
3. Dathan Ritzenhein 14:03.0
4. Sam Chelanga 14:07.0
USA 10 mile championship on October 4
1. Sam Chelanga 46:47
2. Tyler Pennel
3. Dathan Ritzenhein
2016[]
Sam placed third in 2016 New York Half Marathon in 1:01:43 on 20.03.2016.[19]
Sam placed first in Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run in Washington DC. Sam ran 10 Miles Road in 48:26 on 03.04.2016.[20] The first