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 at 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 placing third at the Olympic Trials 10,000m and finishing tenth at the Sydney Olympic Games in 27:46.17. In 2004 he again represented the U.S. in the 10,000m at the Athens Olympic Games (28:26.26, 15th) and made 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 the IAAF World Championships team where he finished 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 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 1:01:07 second-place finish at the Philadelphia Distance Classic, at the time 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 2007 he won USATF titles for 10,000m, 10K and 10 miles and was second at 8K. Abdirahman lowered his half-marathon PR to a sensat 1:00:29 at New York City in August, but in his return to New York in early November for the Olympic Trials Marathon he was unable to finish the race.
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.
