Eric Jenkins

Birthday: 11/24/91 Mile PR: 3:49.4 (road) - 2016
Metric Mile (1500m) PR: 3:35.94 - 2016
High School: Portsmouth HS '10
Hometown: Portsmouth, NH
College: Northeastern / University of Oregon '15
Current Residence: Portsmouth, NH

Eric Jenkins, in spring 2023, retired as a professional runner.

December 2020 in Los Angeles, he stepped up in distance and won the Track Meet 10,000 meters, clocking a personal record 27:22.06, #9 on the all-time U.S. list and also earning the Tokyo Olympic Games qualifying standard.

In 2019, he won the 83rd Manchester Road Race on Thanksgiving Day, clocking 21:19 over the 4.748 mile course and beating defending champion & course record holder Edward Cheserek.

Eric finished an impressive 4th in the 5000m at the 2016 Olympic Trials, however two of his most notable professional wins came when he has stepped down in distance to race the Mile. At the 2016 NYRR 5th Avenue Mile he ran 3:49.4, just edging Rio Olympic 1500m champion and teammate Matthew Centrowitz at the line for the surprise win. Also in New York City, at the 2017 Millrose Games, Eric won the prestigious Wanamaker Mile crown in a time of 3:53.23, a personal track record, world leading time and #10 U.S. male indoors all-time.

Jenkins first broke the coveted 4-minute Mile mark as a sophmore at Northeastern University, running 3:59.18 at the 2012 BU Valentine Invitational. In the summer of 2013, he transfered to the University of Oregon where he helped lead the Ducks to an NCAA Indoor title and two NCAA Outdoor titles. As a collegiate athlete Eric had success over a wide range of distances from earning USTFCCCA Honorable Mention All-American in the 1500m as a true freshman to finishing 10,000m runner-up at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships his senior year.

FUN FACT: Jenkins set six New Hampshire high school track & field records while at Portsmouth High: 1500m (4:04.56), 1600m (4:15.10), 3000m (8:53.10), 5000m (15:16.20), indoor Mile (4:28.33) and 2 Miles (9:24.66).

@_EricJenkins

News

Olympians, Past Champions Headline NYRR Wanamaker Mile Men’s Field

January 07, 2020

Chris O’Hare, Eric Jenkins, Nick Willis and Filip Ingebrigtsen to line up for signature event at 113th NYRR Millrose Games

From NYRR

NEW YORK - Olympian and 2018 champion Chris O’Hare of Great Britain, 2017 champion Eric Jenkins of the United States, four-time Olympian Nick Willis of New...

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NYRR Wanamaker Mile Draws Top International Field

January 09, 2018

Two past race champions and 11 Olympians expected at the Armory's New Balance Track & Field Center on Saturday, February 3

From NYRR

NEW YORK — Two-time Olympic medalist Nick Willis will race for his first title in six attempts against defending event champion Eric Jenkins in the men’s field,...

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World Championship Medalists Highlight Field at New Balance 5th Avenue Mile

August 24, 2017

Eric Jenkins, Jenny Simpson return to defend event titles; iconic road Mile race to air live on NBC and to feature 23 heats throughout the day, including specialty heats for youth, seniors, NYPD / FDNY and the first-ever Borough Battle

By New York Road Runners

NEW YORK — The 2017 New Balance...

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The Best Mile Moments of 2016

December 28, 2016

Two more U.S. high school boys go sub-4, Drew Hunter and Michael Slagowski; two historic Olympic 1500 medals won in Rio by Matthew Centrowitz (gold) and Jenny Simpson (bronze); $480,000-plus record prize money awarded; third BBTM Grand Prix Tour sets records and more highlight banner year

By ...

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Simpson supreme again, Jenkins surprises at New Balance 5th Avenue Mile

September 03, 2016

36th edition produces three women sub-4:20, two men sub-3:50; record 17 women sub-4:30 and record tying 17 men sub-4

From NYRR

NEW YORK – American Jenny Simpson became the first five-time winner – man or woman – in event history and rising star Eric Jenkins shocked the field with his top...

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