#TheJourneytoCompete, Cross-Country, Interview #1: Abdi Nur, SWOOSH TC, A Tip for Cross-Country Success!

Abdi Nur is a tremendously talented and competitive athlete. A graduate of Northern Arizona University, Abdi Nur now competes for the new NIKE club, SWOOSH, based in Flagstaff. Abdi is coached by MIke and Rachel Smith.

This writer first met Abdi Nur at the LA Grand Prix in 2023. Abdi was a fun interview, and his race in LA showed his fans that his 5,000 meters talent was just being seen. Abdi Nur has made two World Championships teams (Eugene 2022 and Budapest 2023) at 5,000 meters, and one Olympic team (2024) at 5,000 meters.

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Abdi Nur is an incredible role model. HIs family emigrated from Somalia, and his journey across the country is an incredible story. Abdi Nur had to focus on his grades to be admitted into NAU, with the support of Coach Mike Smith. Abdi Nur is a great example of how sometimes, athletes and students need to focus on their goals. Coach Smith did not make it easier for Abdi, and challenged Abdi to challenge himself.

Abdi Nur has some impressive PBs: 1,500m in 3:36.33 (2022), 3,000m in 7:40.66 (2022), and 5,000m in 13:05. 17 (2023) and 10,000m in 27:17.28.

After watching Jackson Spencer win the Boys’ Champs 5,000m XC at NXR Southwest and Lily Alder won the Girls Champs 5,000m XC, RunBlogRun asked Abdi Nur, who was hanging out with Moh Ahmed, about a tip for high school cross country runners.

#inthemixedzone, Abdi Nur, 5,000m, former NAU star, now Nike Swoosh TC star! Abdi is always the nicest interview! Thoughtful. Mellow and total warrior on the track ! #runblogrun asked Abdi for a tip on being a success at high school cross country! #crosscountry,#NXRSouthwest… pic.twitter.com/OKz5bSCRFr

— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) December 18, 2025

Author

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys.

Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

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