As a collegiate runner at University of Washington, Mike Sayenko was a Junior All American at 10k and was a two-time All West Regional team in cross country. He also finished fourth at the 2007 at Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships 5k and sixth at the 2006 Pac-10 Championships 10k. His senior year he made his Marathon Debut at the 2006 California International Marathon in 2:19:45, hitting the Olympic Trials A standard in the process.

Post-Collegiately, Mike improved his marathon best to 2:18:35 with a 29th place finish at the USA Olympic Marathon Trials. He has also competed for Team USA at the Austin Marathon International Challenge, finishing second overall by only three seconds, but helping Team USA to a team title over Kenya, Great Britain, Canada and Malawi in the process. Later in 2008, Mike finished 5th at the USA Marathon Championships.

In 2009, Sayenko set personal bests over seven distances, ranging from the 3,000 to the Marathon. His track season was highlighted by a 42-second personal best in the 10,000 meters of 28:25.85 and a 13:49.78 personal best in the 5000 meters. Sayenko ended the year with 14th place overall finish at the ING New York City Marathon and an 8th place finish in the USA Marathon Championships field (2:16:38).