Led by legendary coach Donn Behnke, Solinsky dominated the competition after his freshman year, winning the state cross country title three times.

At the Badger Twilight Meet on May 6, 2006 (52 years to the day after Roger Bannister broke the barrier for the first time), Solinsky and four other athletes ran a 1-mile race at the Dan McClimon Track.

He continued to live and train in Madison, Wisconsin, until January 2009, at which point he moved to Portland, Oregon, and became part of the Bowerman Track club (along with his coach, Jerry Schumacher, and teammates including Matt Tegenkamp).

[9] Several weeks later, on June 4, 2010, Solinsky improved his personal best in the 5,000 meters, breaking the 13 minute barrier by running 12:56.66 at the Bislett Games.

Two months later, on August 6, 2010, Solinsky further improved his personal best with a 12:55.53 performance in the DN Galan event in Stockholm, the second-fastest time ever recorded by a non-African-born runner.

In 2015, Solinsky suffered from an injury to his Achilles tendon, which led to a calf problem and a limp, and interfered with his ability to train for the 2016 US Olympic Trials.

[11] On August 8, 2014, College of William and Mary Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Stephen Walsh announced that Solinsky would be hired as an assistant coach, working primarily with the distance and middle-distance athletes.

[14] On July 13, 2017, University of Florida track and field Head Coach Mike Holloway announced that Solinsky would join the Florida Gators track and field and cross country programs as an assistant coach.

[15] In December 2022, it was announced that Solinsky would leave his position with the Gators to become an assistant coach at the University of Oregon.