Rupp broke Bernard Lagat's American indoor 2-mile record when he won the USATF Classic meet in a time of 8:09.72 on February 11, 2012. (Lagat reclaimed the record in 2013 at the Millrose Games in New York City.) In June, Rupp became the sixth American to break 13 minutes for 5000 m when he ran 12:58.90 at the Prefontaine Classic. He won the 10,000 m at the 2012 United States Olympic Trials in a time of 27:25.33. The run set a new Trials record, breaking Meb Keflezighi's 27:36.49 from 2004, and secured Rupp's second trip to the Olympic Games.