Former University of Wisconsin track standout Matt Tegenkamp has earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic team for the 5,000 meters.
Tegenkamp, a seven-time All-American for the Badgers, passed fellow UW alumnus Chris Solinsky for second place with 100 meters to go and never looked back on his way to a second-place finish at the U.S. Olympic Trials Monday night in Eugene, Ore.
Tegenkamp, who was fourth at the 2007 World Championships, finished in 13 minutes, 29.68 seconds and will be joined in Beijing by Bernard Lagat, who won the race in 13:27.47, and third-place finisher Ian Dobson (13:29.76).
Solinsky, a five-time NCAA champion for the Badgers between 2004 and 2007, took the race lead with about 1,000 meters left but settled for a fifth-place finish in 13:32.17.
Tegenkamp is the first member of the Badgers track and field program to earn an Olympic berth since Pascal Dobert qualified for the 2000 Games in Sydney.
