The Nike team went into the 10K at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational targeting the U.S. record, with Galen Rupp expected to set the new mark in Palo Alto late Saturday night.

But with a powerful finish, Stevens Point native Chris Solinsky scored the record and the victory, becoming the first American athlete to break 27 minutes in the 10K. Solinsky finished in 26:59.6, roughly 14 seconds faster than the previous mark of Meb Keflezighi.

"I can't even put it into words," the 25-year-old told" told the San Jose Mercury News. "It still hasn't even sunk in, what I just ran. We came in hearing about Galen Rupp trying to break the record. To me, this was just an indication race."

Solinsky has been one of America's elite distance runners since his junior year in college at the University of Wisconsin. He joined the Badgers after a standout career running for Stevens Point Area High School: three state cross-country titles and state records in the 1600 and 3200.

(Chris Solinsky shown running for a state championship)

He earned All-American honors four times at UW, and graduated in 2007. He took fourth in the 2008 Olympic Trials and made his first World Champs team in 2009.

He, along with fellow former Badgers, Matt Tegenkamp and Simon Bairu, have been training under the tutelage of their UW coach Jerry Schumacher, who moved Portland and the Nike/Kimbia squad in 2008.

Solinsky has been among the world's best at 1,500 and 5,000, but the run at Stanford was his first go in the 10,000.

As Cal Track & Running News reported: "Solinsky ran negative splits, meaning he ran the first 5k in 13:34.3 and the second in 13:24.6! His last 800 meters was run in 1:56 and his last 400 meters in 55!

"Most importantly, Chris Solinsky is now the first non-African to break 27 minutes for 10,000 meters! The race rewrote the American Best performances list.

"Consider that thirteen of the twenty-four finishers set personal bests, and that two national records (1st, Solinsky, AR, , 5th, Bairu, Canadian), Also note that Galen Rupp did break the former American record, finishing in fourth in 27:10.4, he was just behind Chris Solinsky!"

Bairu was fifth.

While remarkable, Solinsky's effort is still more than 40 seconds off the world record, held by Keninisa Bekele, who set the mark 26:17.53 in August 2005.

Click here for a video of the race, and here for Solinsky's post-race interview.