I listened to a 15-min interview with Chris Solinsky on WSPT 1010 AM in his home town of Stevens Point, Wis., this morning. Solinsky had to correct the interviewer when introduced as the "world record holder" in the 10,000.
"Not yet," Solinsky said, "but that's the goal within a year." He'll have to drop his U.S. record of 26:59 to under 26:17 to make that happen.
Via Twitter, Solinsky walked back this pledge: "Maybe not within a year, but eventually down the road if it is in the cards," he tweeted.
I tweeted back, "Don't back down, man! We're rooting 4 u!"
In the interview he also said he thinks he can drop his 10,000m U.S. record into the 26:40s. His other goals include winning the 5,000m at the 2011 world championships and positioning himself for a 2012 Olympic medal.
He mentioned running 21 miles in 2 hours on his home turf in Stevens Point yesterday. He said he started at a 6 min./mile pace and dropped it down to 5 min./mile. "Just piling on the miles," he said.
Solinsky said his goal is to win the 5,000m at the world championships in 2011, position himself for 2012 Olympic medal and drop his 10,000m U.S. record of 26:59 into the 26:40s.
I'll be rooting for him!