Introduction
Samuel Chelanga (born February 25, 1985 in Baringo County) 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. His brother, Joshua Chelanga, is a professional marathon runner.
Running career
Collegiate
Originally hailing from Nairobi, he moved 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. 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. He defended his title by winning the NCAA cross country championship in 2010, becoming only the 11th man in NCAA history to win at least two such titles. He ended his time at Liberty University with fourteen All-American distance honours.
| Year | Meet | Venue | Time | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Drake Stadium - Des Moines, IA | 13:29.30 | 1st |
| 2011 | NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Drake Stadium - Des Moines, IA | 28:12.18 | 2nd |
| 2011 | NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships | Texas A&M-Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium - College Station | 13:27.34 | 2nd |
| 2011 | NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships | 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 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Drake Stadium - Des Moines, IA | 13:45.35 | 2nd |
| 2010 | NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Drake Stadium - Des Moines, IA | 28:37.40 | 1st |
| 2010 | NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships | 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 | 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 Schumacker and managed to take fourth place.
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. 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.
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
2016 27:54.57 Palo Alto, CA 1 May
2014 27:59.74 Eugene, OR 30 MAY
2013 27:46.06 Melbourne (Albert Park) 12 DEC
2012 27:29.82 Palo Alto, CA 29 APR
2011 28:12.18 Des Moines, IA 10 JUN
2010 27:08.39 Palo Alto, CA 01 MAY
2009 27:28.48 Berkeley, CA 24 APR
2008 28:15.99 Palo Alto, CA 04 MAY
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
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.
USA 5 km Championships CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5k Providence, Rhode Island
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.
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. The first 🇺🇸a male win at @CUCB since Greg Meyer in 1983!
Sam Chelanga placed fifth in 2016 Payton Jordan Invitational 10,000m in 27:54.57 at Stanford University on 01.05.2016.
Chelanga qualified for the 2016 US Olympic Trials (track and field) at 2016 Hoka One One Mid Distance Classic May 20 hosted by Occidental College by running 5000 metres in 13:27.53.
Chelanga placed sixth in the 10,000 m in 28:56.12 and 22nd in 5000 meters in 13:59.52 at 2016 United States Olympic Trials (track and field).
Chelanga placed second in 59:16 at USATF 20 km Championships at Faxon Law New Haven Road Race.
Personal bests
- Updated May 17, 2014.
| Surface | Event | Time | Date | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoor track | 5000 m | 13:09.67 | June 2, 2012 | Los Angeles, CA |
| 10,000 m | 27:08.49 | May 1, 2010 | Palo Alto, CA | |
| Indoor track | 3000 m | 7:45.21 | February 8, 2014 | Boston (Roxbury), MA |
| 5000 m | 13:04.35 | January 16, 2014 | Boston (Boston Univ.), MA | |
| Road | 10 km | 28:11 | June 23, 2014 | Boston, MA |
| Half marathon | 1:01:19 | March 18, 2012 | New York City, NY |