ABDI ABDIRAHMAN

26 October 2007

Events: Distance Height: 5-11 Weight: 130 PRs: 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, in Somalia Current Residence: Tucson, Ariz. High School: Tucson High School ‘95 Colleges: Pima CC ‘97; Arizona ‘99 Coach: self Agent: Ray Flynn Advert Club: Nike

Career Highlights: 3-time USA 10,000m champion (‘01, ’05, ‘07); 2-time USA 10,000m runner-up (’02, ’04); 2005 USA 10-mile champion

Highlighting Abdirahman’s 2007 season was a 10,000m win at the US Outdoor Championships and a win at the USA Men’s 10km Championship. Abdirahman took a large chunk off his marathon personal best with his fourth-place finish at the 2006 Chicago Marathon in 2:08:56. Although he also set PRs in the 10,000m (27:22.81) and half-marathon (61:07) in 2006, it appears that the marathon holds the brightest future for Abdirahman.

He told Track & Field News: “The marathon is my event,” he said, “but at the same time I know that I have unfinished business on the track.” Abdirahman’s 2005 season was highlighted by winning his second career U.S. men’s 10,000m title and qualifying for his second world outdoor championships team. He attended Jhameyasin Carte High School in Mogadishu, Somalia, before coming to the United States. From 1996-97, he attended Pima Community College in Tucson, where he was a two-time Arizona state junior college champion.

After heading to the University of Arizona, he won his first two collegiate races, the Jammin’ Invitational (24:28), and the Aztec Invitational (25:28). He was named Pac-10 Cross Country Athlete of the Year in 1998 following his second place finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Lawrence, Kansas…became a U.S. citizen on January 28, 2000…a huge basketball fan, Abdirahman majored in retail consumer studies while at Arizona…full given first name is Abdihakim…his family now lives in Houston.

2007: US Outdoor champion 10,000m (28:13.51)…7th at World Outdoors (27:56.62)...USA Men’s 10km road champion (28:12).

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 10km 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 10km 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.

Source: USATF, 08 October, 2007.