Abdi Abdirahman

Height: 5'11"
Weight: 130
Events: Distance
Personal Records: 5000: 13:19.85 (2001); 10,000: 27:22.81 (2006); Half-Marathon: 61:07 (2006) Marathon: 2:08:56 (2006)
Born: Jan 1,1977 (Somalia)
Current Residence: Mammoth Lakes, Calif.
High School: Tucson High School 95
College: Pima CC 97; Arizona 99

Career Highlights: Three-time USA 10,000m Champion (‘01, ‘05, '07); two-time USA 10,000m runner-up ('02, '04); 2005 USA 10-mile champion

Born in Somalia, Abdirahman (whose full first name is Abdihakim) moved with his family to Arizona when he was 13. He didn’t take up running until five years later, when he began classes at Pima Community College. As he explained to the Arizona Daily Wildcat, “I had this friend who told me that I look like a runner, so I went to practice with the team. The first time I ran with the team, I was in jeans and a T-shirt and I beat everybody.” During his stint at Pima, Abdirahman was a two-time state junior college champion, and it wasn’t long before Wildcats head coach David Murray noticed Abdirahman’s skills and encouraged him to transfer to the University of Arizona.

Career:
2007: US Outdoor champion 10,000m (28:13.51)
2006: 4th at Chicago Marathon (2:08:56PR)…7th at Hengelo (27:22.81PR-U.S. Leader)…runner-up at Philadelphia Half-Marathon (61:07PR-U.S. Leader)…5th at adidas Track Classic (8:29.26)…10th at London Grand Prix (13:18.89)…ranked #2 U.S. at 10,000m & marathon by T&FN…bests of 13:18.89, 2:08:56, 27:22.81, 61.07.
2005: 1st in 10,000m at USA Outdoor Championships (28:10.38)...13th at World Outdoors (27:52.01)...5th at NYC Marathon (2:11:24PR)...USA Men's 10-Mile champion (23:35)...9th at Hengelo (27:33.47PR)...ranked #1 at 10,000m, #3 at 5,000m, #3 in marathon in U.S. by T&FN...best of 2:11:24 & 27:33.47.
2004: 15th at Olympic Games (28:26.26)...Olympic Trials runner-up 10,000m (27:55.00)...14th at New York City Marathon (2:17:09)...5th at USA Cross Country 12 km (35:37)...9th in 5000m at Nike Prefontaine Classic (13:38.76)...4th at Stanford (10 km, 27:34.24)...runner-up at USA 15 km Championship (43:21)...ranked #2 at 10,000m in U.S. by T&FN...bests of 27:34.24, 13:30.85, 2:17:09.
2003: 5th in 10,000m at USA Outdoors (28:07.20)...7th in 5,000m at USA Outdoors (13:43.81)...5th at USA Cross Country 12 km (39:36)...35th at World XC Champs 12 km (38:54)...4th at Mt. Sac 5,000m (13:40)...4th at Cardinal Invitational (Palo Alto)...10,000m (27:52.24)...ranked #4 U.S. in 10km, #8 at 5km by T&FN...bests of 13:23.25 & 27:52.24.
2002: Runner-up at USA Outdoors 10,000m (27:42.83)...runner-up at USA Winter XC Champs (35:45)...runner-up at USATF 15km champs at Gate River Run (43:29)...4th at Oracle U.S. Open 5km (13:36.63)...ranked #2 U.S. at the 10,000m by T&FN...bests of 13:36.63 & 27:42.93PR.
2001: 1st in 10,000m at USA Outdoors (28:23.82)...19th at World Outdoor Champs (28:34.38)...3rd at U.S. Winter XC Nationals (35:26)...15th at IAAF World XC Championships (40:54)...5th at 2001 Goodwill Games (28:08.02)...ran 5,000m PR of 13:19.85...ranked #1 U.S. at 10,000m by T&FN...best of 28:01.02
2000: 3rd in 10,000 (28:19.08) at Olympic Trials...10th in 10,000m at 2000 Olympics (27:46.17)...became U.S. citizen on January 28...6th in long course race at USA cross country champs... 45th in long course race at World Cross Country Champs......ran a PR 13:37.01 in 5,000...ranked #2 U.S. in 10km, #10 at 5km by T&FN.
1999: Third at USA Outdoor Championships setting new PR of 28:28.26; was later disqualified when it was discovered he was not a U.S. citizen...ninth in the 5000 meters (14:14.15), and sixth in the 10,000 meters (29:34.03) at NCAA Outdoor Championships... best of 28:28.26.
1998: Won the 5000 and 10,000 meters at the Pac-10 Championships... second in the 5000m and sixth in the 10,000m at the NCAA Outdoor Championships...ranked #9 in U.S. in the 5000 meters... bests of 13:40.61 and 28:36.13.