Many of the very best distance runners in the U.S., and in many cases the world, share a common thread: they have been coached by Jerry Schumacher on the Bowerman Track Club. The elite of the elite American distance training group has churned out droves of international superstars over the years under the watchful eye of Schumacher, who is widely regarded as one of the best distance coaches in the world.

Since it is Bowerman Track Club week on FloTrack, I’m counting down the 10 best BTC athletes ever. (Note: I did not include Matthew Centrowitz on this list since he has only been on the team for just over a year.)

10. Emily Infeld

Infeld won bronze in the 2015 World Championships 10,000m by just scratching past Molly Huddle in a photo finish. Huddle’s ever-so-slight premature celebration and Infeld’s subsequent pass was so jaw-dropping that it almost obscured just how unbelievable it was that the oft-injured Infeld had made a podium at just 25. The injury bug has been a tough one to shake for the 30-year-old, but when healthy she continues to be a major player in the U.S.

9. Amy Cragg

The 36-year-old Cragg only joined BTC in 2016, but all she’s done since is win the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in 2016, won bronze at the 2017 World Championships and run 2:21:42 in 2018 to become the fifth-fastest American in history.

8. Matt Tegenkamp

“Teg” owns the U.S. outdoor two-mile record (8:07.07), and he also made two Olympic teams under the guidance of Schumacher in 2008 and 2012. His championship career was defined by a narrow miss in 2007, as Tegenkamp missed a bronze medal by 0.03 in the 5,000m in Osaka.

7. Chris Solinsky

Solinksy had the misfortune of his best season by far coming in an off year in 2010, but despite that, his incredible run that year stands as one of the top individual seasons in U.S. history. Not only did he become the first non-African to break 27:00 in the 10,000m (26:59.60) at Payton Jordan, but he also uncorked three sub-13:00 5,000m performances that year, the most ever by an American in one season.

6. Courtney Frerichs

Frerichs completed the stunning one-two punch that her and Emma Coburn ran to in the 2017 World Championships steeplechase. Her silver in London was a massive breakthrough, and the 27-year-old showed it was no fluke a year later when she set the U.S. record of 9:00.85.

5. Lopez Lomong

Lomong enjoyed arguably the best season of his career last year at the age of 34, sweeping both the 10,000m and 5,000m at USAs before placing seventh in the 10k at Worlds. Part II of his career has come after Lomong made Olympic teams in 2008 and 2012.

4. Shelby Houlihan

Houlihan has ruled the women’s U.S. distance scene for the last three years, accumulating 13 national titles while also breaking multiple American records. Missing out on the medals despite running 3:54 in Doha still stings, but a door will eventually open as long as she continues to pound out one stellar performance after another.

3. Moh Ahmed

Ahmed had the most successful 2019 season of any BTC athlete as he won bronze in the World Championships 5,000m before finishing sixth in the 10,000m in a sub-27:00 clocking. The Canadian owns national records in the 5,000m and 10,000m, and the 29-year-old has been consistently strong at championships; Ahmed has finished top 10 on six occasions at global championships and he owns a Commonwealth silver from 2018.

2. Shalane Flanagan

Flanagan spent a decade under the tutelage of Schumacher, during which time she made two U.S. Olympic marathon teams and most notably, won the 2017 New York City Marathon. The current BTC assistant coach can also be credited with ushering in a wave of female talent on Bowerman, as she was the first woman to join the training group.

1. Evan Jager

With two global medals and the 8:00.45 American record, Evan Jager is unquestionably the greatest male steeplechaser in U.S. history. The 31-year-old made a bold choice to leave Wisconsin after a year to follow Schmacher to Portland, but the risky investment has netted both men a huge return.