by Larry Eder
Mo Ahmed, Pre Classic 2016, photo by PhotoRun.net
Mo Ahmed is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin. That is very important to me, since, I lived in the People’s republic of Madison and its environs, for two decades.
And his win today, over 5000 meters at the BU Last Chance meet, was at the deepest 5000 meters of the indoor season.
Mo Ahmed was coached by Mick Byrne, during his time at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Under Mick Byrne, Mo Ahmed took 11 NCAA All-American awards as a Badger, and made the 2013 Moscow World Outdoor Champs, where he placed 13th in the 10,000 meters.
Mo Ahmed was then asked by Jerry Schumacher to join the Bowerman TC and joined the club in 2015. Jerry Schumacher has developed this club around a group of fine runners, many with Midwestern routes. Training hard together, living with your training mates, Moh continued to develop. In 2016, Mo Ahmed ran 13:01.4, breaking the Canadian outdoor record for 5000 meters.
Jerry Schumacher is a thoughtful coach, who sets high standards for his athletes and encourages them to challenge themselves. Jerry Schumacher is, a distance runner whisperer. He observes, he listens, he smiles, he encourages. From this thoughtful approach, Matt Tegenkamp, Chris Solinsky, Evan Jager, Shalane Flanagan, Amy Cragg, and the likes of Ryan Hill and Mo Ahmed have developed.
Mo Ahmed’s training with the Bowerman TC showed his promise in Rio. His fourth place finish in the Rio 5000 meters was tremendous (well, besides that disqualification b.s.), but, hey that’s global athletics. The key for Rio was this: Mo Ahmed was a player in the toughest global championship of them all, the men’s 5000 meters. He was there. He lived it. He will not forget it. And, he will want more.
An honest pace in the 5000 meters this afternoon kept the race fast! 2:39 for the first 1000 meters, 5:20 for 2000 meters (2:41), 3000 meters in 7:59 (2:39).
The 5000 meters is the toughest of the distance races. The meeting place of milers and distance runners, the race gets truly tough after 3000 meters. The last 2000 meters are grueling, and the fourth kilometer is a true no man’s land, where distance runners find out what they are truly made of. For Mo Ahmed, this was his wonderful day.
The fourth kilometer was run in 2:37, and this should separate the players from the pretenders, but, eight were still there!
The last 1000 meters was run in 2:28. Mo Ahmed battled Eric Jenkins, Ben True and Ryan Hill to the finish, with Mo Ahmed surprising a few today, with his fine 13:04.50.
Oh yes, Mo Ahmed has the Canadian Indoor record for 5000 meters.
Eric Jenkins took second in 13:05.85, the second fastest American of all times indoors. Eric Jenkins is the former Oregon store coming into his own. He ended 2016 winning the NYRR Fifth Avenue mile, and in 2017, he took the Wanamaker Mile on February 11 at the Armory during the Millrose Games. Jenkins has the speed and moxy to be a top American distance runner.
Ben True ran 13:06.74, and Ryan Hill ran 13:07.71. True and Hill battled each other at the Millrose Games Paavo Nurmi 2 mile. True and Hill are real, honest to goodness (like Mo Ahmed, I believe), 5000 meter racers.
I am not sure what distance Eric Jenkins will go with, but that’s what keeps our sport fascinating. We will just have to watch Eric Jenkins continue to develop.
Eric Jenkins, Ben True and Ryan Hill are now all in the top ten U.S. All times.
For Mo Ahmed, the Canadian star is coming into his own. His fourth place in Rio, plus his win here, shows that Mo Ahmed is no longer merely a pretty face in the global running world, he is a handsome Canadian with a tough last 200 meters!
Mo Ahmed has found his distance, and that distance may be 5000 meters.
Oh Canada!
Go Badgers!
Results follow, courtesy of www.LancerTiming.com
BU Facility: B 13:01.26 2014 Galen Rupp, Nike Oregon Name Year Team Finals H# Points Alternate ==================================================================================== Finals 1 Ahmed, Mo Nike/Canada 13:04.60 1 2 Jenkins, Eric Nike Oregon Project 13:05.85 1 3 True, Ben Saucony 13:06.74 1 4 Hill, Ryan Nike Btc 13:07.61 1 5 Kincaid, Woody Nike Bowerman TC 13:12.22 1 6 Lomong, Lopez Nike/BowermanTC 13:12.27 1 7 Campbell, Kemoy Unattached 13:14.45 1 8 Derrick, Chris Nike Bowerman TC 13:19.35 1 9 Curtin, Tommy Unattached 13:47.22 1 10 Choge, Jacob Mid. Tenn. State 14:04.51 1 11 Luevano, Paul Boston U. 14:08.57 2 12 O'Neil, Austin Unattached 14:18.50 2 13 Airiau, Gatien Academy of Art 14:24.63 2 14 Harper, Dan Baa 14:32.14 2 15 Gill, Timothy Unattached 14:38.54 2 16 Tuttle, Andrew Unattached 16:04.71 2 17 Burrill, Chris Unattached 16:17.26 2 -- Fontanarosa, Pierre Academy of Art DNF 2 -- Davidson, Brett Boston U. DNF 2 -- Funatsu, Shoma Chou University DNF 1 -- Huling, Dan Nike Btc DNF 1 -- Jager, Evan Nike/BowermanTC DNF 1
