Yaseen Abdalla

Last updated
Yaseen Abdalla
Personal information
Nationality Sudanese
Born (2001-08-13) August 13, 2001 (age 23)
Home town Lanham, Maryland, United States
Sport
CountryFlag of Sudan.svg  Sudan
Sport Track and Field
Events
University team Arkansas Razorbacks
Tennessee Volunteers
Texas Longhorns
Achievements and titles
Highest world ranking138th (5000 m, 2022) [1]
Personal bests

Yaseen Abdalla (born August 13, 2001) is a Sudanese-American long-distance runner. He is an NCAA national champion, anchoring the distance medley relay with a 3:55.59 through 1600 meters at the 2022 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships. He holds the Sudanese record in the marathon and the indoor mile, 3000-meter, and 5000-meter runs. Abdalla competes for the Arkansas Razorbacks and previously the Tennessee Volunteers and Texas Longhorns. [2] [3]

Contents

Athletic career

High school

Abdalla attended Lyndon B. Johnson High School in Austin, Texas. He began running sophomore year and ran a 24:24 5k. By senior year he placed 3rd in the Texas State meet and placed sixth in the Nike South Regional Championships with a time of 15:45.64. [4]

Collegiate career

2019–2020

Following his high school career, Abdalla walked onto the track and field and cross country team at the University of Texas at Austin.

He did not compete in the 2019 cross country season.

The 2020 indoor and outdoor track seasons were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020–2021

Abdalla competed for the Longhorns in the 2020 cross country season, debuting in the 8k with a time of 24:06.20. He ran a 24:38.80 in the Big 12 Championships where the Texas Longhorns placed third as a team.

He ran the 3000 meter and 5000 meter run at the 2021 indoor Big 12 championships, running 8:13.51 and 14:36.26 respectively. These times earned him top ten finishes in both events. Earlier in the season he recorded a personal best 14:11.48 in the 5k.

At the 2021 outdoor Big 12 championships, Abdalla placed 10th in the 10k running a 29:51.53.

2021–2022

In the 2021 cross country season, Abdalla logged an 8k personal best at 23:28.20. He recorded a 20th-place finish at the Big 12 championships in the 8k helping the Longhorns to a third-place team finish. He finished 4th in the NCAA regional meet with a 30:18.60 10k. He became a cross country All-American running 29:28.10 in the 10k at the 2021 NCAA Cross Country Championships.

At the 2022 Indoor National Championships, he split a 3:55.59 1600-meter run in the anchor leg of the distance medley relay to help Texas win the event. The Longhorns finished the meet with a first ever team championship. Abdalla won his first ever Big-12 title in the 5k with a time of 13:33.26, setting a school record in the process. He also ran a 7:56.29 in the 3k to capture a bronze medal in the Big-12 Indoor Championships.

At the 2022 Outdoor Big-12 Championships, he placed second in the 5k, running a 14:07.60. He also represented Sudan at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in the 5k.

2022–2023

Ahead of the 2022 season, Abdalla transferred from Texas to the University of Tennessee Knoxville.

In the 2022 SEC Cross Country Championships, he placed third running a 22:45.57 8k. He placed second at the NCAA Regional Championship, leading the Volunteers to a first-place finish. His 29:29.70 placed him 33rd at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, giving him his second All-American title.

He placed 12th in the 2023 Indoor NCAA Championships, running an 8:06.72 3k. His 14:10.19 5k at the SEC Championships won a silver medal. In the 2023 indoor season, his 7:42.23 3k moved him into the NCAA top-10 times while also setting a Sudanese national record, and a school record.

At the 2023 SEC Outdoor Championships, he added another silver medal with a 30:00.18 10k. At the NCAA Championships, he competed in the 5k, running 14:14.16, and finishing in 12th place.

2023–2024

Abdalla placed 4th in the SEC Championships, with a time of 22:47.50 in the 8k. He also helped the Longhorns to a first place NCAA Regional Championship with a third-place finish.

At the 2024 Indoor SEC Championships, he ran a 7:52.32 in the 3,000m to collect another silver medal in the event. He concluded the season with a 12th-place finish at the NCAA Championships.

At the 2024 Outdoor SEC Championships, he ran the 10k in 29:58.93, placing third. He also competed in the 5k at the NCAA Championships. [5]

In July, after joining the transfer portal, Abdalla announced his commitment to the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. [6]

In July 2024, the Sudan Olympic Committee announced that Abdalla would be representing the country in the 2024 Olympic Marathon. This is notable, as he had no official time on record, meaning the Olympic marathon was his debut at the distance. [7] [8] At the Olympic Games, Abdalla placed 33rd with a time of 2:11:41, setting a new Sudanese National Record. [9]

In November 2024, Abdalla placed fifth in the SEC championships, running 22:20.2 across 8K, helping Arkansas to a Mens team title. [10] At the 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships, Abdalla placed fourth individually running a 28:41.5 10K, leading Arkansas to a third place team finish. [11]

On December 7, 2024 in Boston, Abdalla ran 7:34.17 in the short track 3000 meters, behind Ethan Strand's new collegiate record of 7:30.15. Abdalla was more than two seconds under Drew Bosley's previous collegiate record of 7:36.42. He also ran 13:22.29 in the 5000 meters at the same meeting. [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkansas Razorbacks</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of the University of Arkansas

The Arkansas Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the intercollegiate athletics teams representing the University of Arkansas, located in Fayetteville. The University of Arkansas student body voted to change the name of the school mascot in 1910 to the Arkansas Razorbacks after a hard-fought battle against LSU in which they were said to play like a "wild band of Razorback hogs" by former coach Hugo Bezdek. The Arkansas Razorbacks are the only major sports team in the U.S. with a porcine nickname, though the Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas play in Division II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alistair Cragg</span> South African long-distance runner (born 1980)

Alistair Ian Cragg is a South African track and field athlete. He has since lived in England and United States where he attended the University of Arkansas. He races for Ireland and competes most often over 3000 metres and 5000 metres. He holds the Irish national records in both the 5000 metres and the 10,000 metres. He holds the European road running record in the 5 km in 13:26, set in Carlsbad, California.

Adam Goucher is a retired American cross-country and track and field athlete. He ran for the United States at the 2000 Summer Olympics in the men's 5000 meters. Goucher primarily competed in distance events and is featured in Running With The Buffaloes, a book revolving around the 1998 season of the University of Colorado cross country team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Hasay</span> American long-distance runner

Jordan Melissa Hogan is an American distance runner. She attended Mission College Preparatory High School in San Luis Obispo and was unanimously selected 2008 Girls High School Athlete of the Year by the voting panel at Track and Field News. In March 2009, she became the ninth high school athlete and third woman on the cover of Track and Field News magazine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kim Smith (runner)</span> New Zealand runner

Kimberley Smith is a New Zealand middle-distance and long-distance runner who retired in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hassan Mead</span> Somali-American long-distance runner

Hassan Mead is a Somali-American long-distance runner. He was a cross country and track athlete for the University of Minnesota. An eight-time All-American in his Minnesota career, four in cross country and five in track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Chelanga</span> Kenyan-born American long-distance runner

Samuel Chelanga is a Kenyan-born American track and field athlete who competed for Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, from 2008 to 2011. He set the NCAA record for the 10,000 meters run with a time of 27:08.49 set at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational at Palo Alto, California, on May 1, 2010. His brother, Joshua Chelanga, is a professional marathon runner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diego Estrada (runner)</span> Mexican-American long-distance runner

Juan Diego Estrada Constantino is a Mexican-American long-distance runner. He competed in the 10,000 metres at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London for Mexico. After some confusion about his eligibility after becoming a U.S. citizen, he was excluded from the U.S. Olympic trials even though it was later known that Estrada was misinformed on his eligibility possibilities. Estrada resides in Flagstaff, Arizona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kennedy Kithuka</span> Kenyan long-distance runner

Kennedy Kithuka is a Kenyan former cross country and track runner for Texas Tech under head coach Wes Kittley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben True</span> American runner

Benjamin True is an American track and field and cross-country athlete, who competed for Dartmouth College and currently trains in Hanover, New Hampshire, while competing for Saucony and In the Arena. True was the top American at both the 2011 and 2013 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, as well as the 2011 USATF Road Running Circuit Champion, winning the 5 km and 10 km Road Championships along the way.

Monica Joyce is an English turned Irish turned American long distance runner. She is the younger sister of Irish marathoner Regina Joyce. Both sisters represented Ireland in the 1984 Summer Olympics, Regina in the Marathon and Monica in the 3000 meters. Previous to the Olympics Monica had represented Ireland at the 1982 European Athletics Championships, the 1983 World Championship and the 1984 World Cross Country Championships. She also ran in the 1985 World Cross Country Championships, finishing 12th and the IAAF World Women's Road Race Championships finishing 8th. At home she was the Irish National Champion in the 1500 metres in 1982, 1983 and 1988 with Sonia O'Sullivan a main competitor. Across the channel, she was the English National Champion in the 5000 metres in 1982 and 1985, beating her sister in 1982.

Kemoy Campbell is a retired Jamaican distance runner who competed in various events from 800 meters to 5000 metres. Since competing in the American collegiate circuit, he has developed a reputation for having remarkable range, having competitive experience from the 800 meters to the 10K. Campbell holds multiple Jamaican records in athletics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig Engels</span> American middle-distance runner

Craig Engels is an American middle-distance runner. He competed for the United States at the 2013 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships, where he won the men's 1500 meters. In the 2016 USA Olympic Trials Engels was focused on making the semi-finals of the 800m and was listed as an alternate for the 1500m. He finished 4th in the 800m final and 5th in the 1500m final, missing out on the Olympics in both events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emily Infeld</span> American long-distance runner

Emily Infeld is an American long-distance runner. She regularly competes in the 5000 m and 10,000 m distances during her professional career; in her college career she regularly competed in the 4 × 800 meter relay and 1500 m on up to 5000 m.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emily Sisson</span> American long-distance runner (born 1991)

Emily Sisson is an American long-distance runner. She set the North American record in the marathon on October 9, 2022, when she ran 2:18:29 to finish second at the Chicago Marathon. Sisson also held the American record in the half marathon from May 2022 until July 2023. She represented the United States in the 10000 metres at the 2017 and 2019 World Athletics Championships, finishing 9th and 10th. In June 2021, she won the 10000m at the 2020 US Olympic Trials and placed 10th in the 10000m final at the 2020 Summer Olympics. In 2024, she placed second in the marathon at the US Olympic Trials, qualifying for the 2024 Summer Olympics. She competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics Women's marathon on 11 August 2024, where she finished 23rd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leonard Korir</span> Kenyan-born American long-distance runner

Leonard Essau Korir is an American long-distance runner who competes over distances from 5000 meters to the marathon. He is a two-time NCAA champion, winning an indoor 5000 m title and outdoor 10,000 meters title in 2011 for the Iona Gaels. He gained United States citizenship and began competing for his adoptive nation in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marc Scott</span> English long-distance runner (born 1993)

Marc Scott is a British long-distance runner. He took his first global medal with bronze in the 3000 metres at the 2022 World Indoor Championships. He is the European indoor record holder for the 5000 metres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sharon Lokedi</span> Kenyan runner

Sharon Lokedi is a Kenyan middle and long-distance runner. She won the 10,000 meters at the 2018 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Lokedi has been a 10-time All-American & 12-time Big 12 champion, as of March 2019. In 2022, on her marathon debut, she won the New York City Marathon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nikki Hiltz</span> American middle-distance runner (born 1994)

Nikki Hiltz is an American middle-distance runner specializing in the 1500 meters and mile. Hiltz holds the American record in the mile and is the 2023 US 1500 m champion. They won a silver medal at the 2024 World Indoor Championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weini Kelati</span> American middle- and long-distance runner (born 1996)

Weini Kelati Frezghi is an American middle and long distance runner. Born in Eritrea, she claimed asylum in the United States in July 2014 and subsequently achieved multiple victories in state and national level competitions while attending Heritage High School in Leesburg, Virginia. While competing for the University of New Mexico, Kelati won the 2019 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships.

References

  1. "World Rankings | Women's 1500m (Mile-2000m-Road Mile)".
  2. "Yaseen Abdalla". Tennessee Athletics. 4 Aug 2024.
  3. "Yaseen ABDALLA | Profile | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  4. "Meet Yaseen Abdalla, Who Rose From Walk-On to NCAA Champion for Texas". Runner's World. 2022-03-25. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
  5. "Yaseen Abdalla - Cross Country/Distance". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  6. "Arkansas announces three additions to men's program". Arkansas Razorbacks. 2024-07-31. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  7. Kelsall, Christopher (2024-05-09). "World Athletics adds 20 universality spots to Paris Marathon". Athletics Illustrated. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  8. "Yaseen Abdalla Ran Through Highs and Lows to the Olympics". okayafricasite. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
  9. "Men's Marathon Results". Paris 2024. Retrieved 10 Aug 2024.
  10. "Cross Country Results". Southeastern Conference. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  11. Becton, Stan. "Live updates: 2024 NCAA DI, DII and DIII cross country championships | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  12. "Yaseen Abdalla breaks pair of UA records in 3,000m & 5,000m". Arkansas Razorbacks. 2024-12-07. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
Olympic Games
Preceded by Flag bearer for Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan
Paris 2024
with
Rana Saadeldin
Succeeded by
Incumbent