Brian Olinger

Bio

A constant threat on the national stage, Olinger is one of the top American athletes in distance events, specializing in the 3000m steeplechase, in which he owns a personal record time of 8:19.56. Olinger has competed on some of track and field's biggest stages, including the 2009 USATF Championships, where he made the finals in the steeplechase, the 2009 USA 7 Mile Challenge (ninth-place), and the 2008 Olympic Trials, where his seventh-place finish was just short of qualification for the U.S. Olympic team. In 2008, he set new PRs in the 1500m (3:42.11) the mile (4:00.19) and the 5000m (13:31).

Olinger arrived at Ohio State as a walk-on in 2002 after an impressive four years at Ridgewood High School. As a high school runner, Olinger was the OHSAA cross country champion in 2000, a two-time state champion in the 3200m and a two-time All-Ohio selection. He holds school records in the 800m, mile, two-mile and 5000m runs at Ridgewood. During his four years in Columbus, Olinger was a five-time All-American, competing in five NCAA championship races while winning the 2004 Big Ten title in the 5000m (14:09.80). He led the Buckeyes at the 2005 NCAA Cross Country Championships, finishing 11th in 29:55 and was the 2005 NCAA Great Lakes regional champion in a time of 30:51. In June 2005, Olinger became just the second American collegiate athlete to break the 8:20 mark in the 3000m steeple at the KBC Night of Athletes in Heusden, Belgium. As a junior in 2005, he finished fourth in the steeplechase at the USA outdoor championships (8:28.44). He currently holds Ohio State records in the indoor 5000m and the outdoor 10000m.