ABDI ABDIRAHMAN
Events: Distance
Height: 5-11
Weight: 130
PRs: 5000: 13:13.32 (2005); 10,000: 27:16.99 (2008); 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: James Li
Agent:  Ray Flynn
Club: Nike

Career Highlights: 2008 Olympic Trials 10,000m champion; Three-time USA 10,000m champion (‘01, ’05, ‘07); 2007 USA 10,000m road champion; Two-time USA 10,000m runner-up (’02, ’04); 2005 USA 10-mile champion

Abdirahman qualified for his third Olympic team by winning the 10,000 meters at the 2008 Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. Abdi made a run at the U.S. men’s 10,000m record at the 2008 Prefontaine Classic, finishing in 27:16.99, which was a little more than three seconds off the record. His performance at Pre was the best by an American in 2008 and a new personal best. Highlighting Abdirahman’s 2007 season was a 10,000m win at the USA Outdoor Championships and a win July 4 at the USA Men’s 10 km Championship in Atlanta, Ga. 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 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.

2008: 15^th at Olympic Games (27:52.53)…Olympic Trials 10,000m champion (27:41.11)…7^th in 10,000m at Nike Prefontaine Classic (27:16.99 U.S. Leader)…best of 27:16.99.
2007: USA Outdoor champion 10,000m (28:13.51)… 7th at World Outdoors (27:56.62)...DNF at Olympic Trials Marathon...USA Men’s 10km road champion (28:12)…13^th at Hengelo (27:31:46)…ranked #1 in U.S. at 10,000m by T&FN…best of 27:31:46.
2006: 4^th at Chicago Marathon (2:08:56PR)…7^th at Hengelo (27:22.81PR-U.S. Leader)…runner-up at Philadelphia Half-Marathon (61:07PR-U.S. Leader)…5^th at adidas Track Classic (8:29.26)…10^th 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)…13^th at World Outdoors (27:52.01)…5^th at NYC Marathon (2:11:24PR)…USA Men's 10-Mile champion (23:35)…9^th 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 & 27:42.83.
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.

8/20/08