Abdihakem Abdirahman
Encyclopedia
Abdihakem Abdirahman (born January 1st, 1977 in Somalia
) is a Somali-American
long-distance runner who specializes in the 10,000 metres.
before transferring to the University of Arizona
for his junior and senior years. He became a U.S. citizen in 2000.
At Arizona, Abdirahman was named the 1998 Pacific-10 Conference Cross Country Male Athlete of the Year. He finished second at the 1998 NCAA Cross Country Championships.
He competed in the 10,000 metres at the 2000
and 2004 Summer Olympics
, finishing tenth and fifteenth, respectively. He also finished seventh in the 10,000m at the 2007 World Championships
in Osaka
, having finished thirteenth in 2005 and nineteenth in 2003.
In 2008, Abdirahman won the 10,000m at the US Olympic Trials
. He also was the men's division champion of the Monument Avenue 10K
in Richmond, VA.
His personal best time is 27:16.99 minutes, achieved in June 2008 at Hayward Field
during the Prefontaine Classic
.
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
) is a Somali-American
Somali American
Somali Americans are American citizens and residents born in, or with ancestors from Somalia.The first Somalis to arrive in the United States were sailors who came in the 1920s and settled in New York. In the late 1970s, more Somali immigrants followed suit...
long-distance runner who specializes in the 10,000 metres.
Biography
Abdirahman graduated from Tucson High School in 1995 and attended Pima Community CollegePima Community College
Pima Community College is an American two-year institution of higher education in Pima County, Arizona serving the Tucson metropolitan area. The community college district consists of six campuses, four education centers, and several adult education learning centers. It provides traditional and...
before transferring to the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
for his junior and senior years. He became a U.S. citizen in 2000.
At Arizona, Abdirahman was named the 1998 Pacific-10 Conference Cross Country Male Athlete of the Year. He finished second at the 1998 NCAA Cross Country Championships.
He competed in the 10,000 metres at the 2000
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
and 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
, finishing tenth and fifteenth, respectively. He also finished seventh in the 10,000m at the 2007 World Championships
2007 World Championships in Athletics
The 11th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan from 24 August to 2 September 2007...
in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, having finished thirteenth in 2005 and nineteenth in 2003.
In 2008, Abdirahman won the 10,000m at the US Olympic Trials
United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The United States Olympic Trials for the sport of Track and Field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Because of the depth of competition in some events,...
. He also was the men's division champion of the Monument Avenue 10K
Monument Avenue 10K
The Monument Avenue 10K, also known as the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K, is an annual 10,000 meter road running event, sanctioned by USA Track and Field. The race is run on historic Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia. Begun in 2000, the race has grown to be the fourth largest 10k in the country...
in Richmond, VA.
His personal best time is 27:16.99 minutes, achieved in June 2008 at Hayward Field
Hayward Field
Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, is one of the best-known historic track and field stadiums in the United States. Nearly a century in age, it was the home of the University of Oregon's football team from 1919 through 1966, and has been the home to the Ducks' track and field teams since 1921...
during the Prefontaine Classic
Prefontaine Classic
The Prefontaine Classic is one of the premier track and field meets in the United States. Every year it draws a world caliber field to compete at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.-History:...
.