Abdi Abdirahman
UNITED STATES
BIRTHDATE:
January 1, 1977
PERSONAL BEST:
2:08:56 (Chicago, 2006)
WORLD MARATHON MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS:
22Oct06 The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon 4th 2:08:56
06Nov05 ING New York City Marathon 5th 2:11:24
07Nov04 ING New York City Marathon 14th 2:17:09
CAREER NOTES:
Abdirahman was a two-time Arizona state Junior College champion while attending Pima CC and then transferred to the University of Arizona where he won his first two collegiate races. In 1998 he finished second at the NCAA Cross-Country Championships and was named as Pac-10 Cross-Country Athlete of the Year with wins in the 5000m and 10,000m events.
After becoming a U.S. citizen, Abdirahman jump-started his professional career in 2000 by placing third at the U.S. Olympic Trials 10,000m and finished tenth at the Sydney Olympic Games in 27:46.17. He also rewrote his 5000m personal record with a 13:37.01 and finished the season ranked 10th in the U.S. at 5000m and second at 10,000m.
Abdirahman claimed his first victory at the 2000 U.S. Outdoor Championships 10,000m in 28:23.82. That same year, he competed internationally at the IAAF World Championships and the IAAF World Cross-Country Championships, and placed in the Top 5 at the U.S. Winter Cross-Country Nationals and the Goodwill Games.
Abdirahman clocked additional Top 5 victories in 2003 before revamping his competitive schedule in 2004 to include a presence for the U.S. in the 10,000m at the Athens Olympic Games (28:26.26, 15th) and his marathon debut in New York City (2:17:09, 14th).
In 2005, Abdirahman again showcased his 10,000m proficiency with his second career U.S. 10,000m title to qualify for his second IAAF World Championships team. He was edged outside the Top 10 at the IAAF World Championships to finish 13th. He also claimed victory in the 2005 U.S. Men’s 10 Mile Championship. He then carried that momentum into the 10,000m event at Hengelo to clock the fastest American time for 2005 (27:33.47). He also won the New Haven Road Race U.S. 20K Championship in an American record 58:42.
In 2006 he once again won the U.S. Men's 10 Mile Championship and in his half marathon debut placed third at the ING New York City Half-Marathon in 1:01:34. Abdirahman then bettered that time with a sensational 1:01:07 second-place finish at the Philadelphia Distance Classic Half Marathon, the second fastest time ever by an American on a non-aided course.
Abdirahman ran a huge personal record of 2:08:56 at The 2006 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, placing fourth. He became just the fifth American to break 2 hours 9 minutes as he earned his first World Marathon Majors Series points.
In March 2007 he was second at the US Men's 8-K Championships.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Abdihakim Abdirahman was born in Somalia, and became a U.S. citizen on January 28, 2000. He graduated from Tucson High School in 1995 and currently lives in Tucson. He majored in retail consumer studies while at the University of Arizona.
