An All-Time Showing for Team USA Distance Runners in Rio – RUNNING USA

Some of the top performances, include:

• Matthew Centrowitz won gold in the 1500m, the first American to win since 1908
• Evan Jager, the American record holder in the 3000m steeplechase, won silver
• Paul Chelimo earned a silver medal in the 5000m, while setting a personal best of 13:03.90
• Emma Coburn won bronze in the 3000m steeplechase, while setting an American record in 9:07.63
• Galen Rupp earned bronze in the marathon on the final day of competition, the performance coming after his fifth place showing in the 10,000m
• Coburn’s teammate Jenny Simpson won bronze in the 1500m
• Clayton Murphy, only 21 years old, earned bronze in the 800m
• Molly Huddle set the American record in the 10,000m, while placing sixth overall in 30:13.17
• American women placed all three runners in the top nine in the marathon, led by Shalane Flanagan in sixth place
• Jared Ward ran to a sixth place finish in the marathon
• "Masters" runners Bernard Lagat (41) and Meb Keflezighi (41) closed out their Olympic careers with fine finishes in the men's 5000m and men's marathon events

Running USA Members Guide Success

Former Running USA board member Tracy Sundlun and current Running USA board members Max Siegel and Renee Washington each helped guide Team USA to one of the greatest showings in Olympic history. The American track and field team won 32 total medals, with 13 of those being gold. The medal haul was the largest for the U.S. since 1932 (non-boycotted medal total) and the 13 gold medals is the highest since the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.

Sundlun, who was inducted into the Running USA Hall of Champions in 2015, acted as the head manager of the men’s track team in Rio, while Siegel and Washington oversaw the American squad in their current USATF CEO and COO positions.

For Sundlin, the Rio Olympics marked yet another opportunity to guide U.S. athletes, as the long-time industry veteran has been on staff numerous times before, often in coaching capacities.

Congratulations to Team USA, Sundlun, Siegel and Washington and to all of Team USA for their inspiring performances in Brazil.