The 2023-24 academic year was an incredible one for University of New Mexico runner Habtom Samuel. After he arrived at UNM, he wasted no time dominating the scene. His freshman year came to a close with an NCAA Championship, but he picked up many other accomplishments along the way.
Cross country
Sept. 22, 2023
Samuel ran his first race as a Lobo and made a statement by winning the Roy Griak Invitational. Samuel won the 8K race by 24 seconds, kicking off the cross country season strong. It was the fastest winning time since 2011, according to a news release by the UNM cross country team, and a sign for things to come.
Oct. 27, 2023
At the Mountain West Championships, Samuel took first place, earning the Student Athlete of the Year award. He also made the All-Conference first team.
Nov. 10, 2023
Samuel once again took first place, this time at the NCAA Mountain Regional. It was the first 10K race of his college career.
Nov. 18, 2023
Finishing three seconds behind first place, Samuel earned second place at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. It was the best Lobo finish since 2004, according to a news release by the UNM cross country team, and marked a dominant freshman cross country season.
Indoor Track
Dec. 2, 2023
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
In his first indoor meet, Samuel competed in the 5K race and finished in fifth place. He shattered the UNM record for an indoor meet by 18 seconds.
Jan. 13, 2024
In his second indoor meet, Samuel broke UNM’s indoor 3K record and finished in fourth place in his race.
Feb. 22-24, 2024
This time competing in the Mountain West Championships, Samuel took control of the competition once again, earning first place in the 3K and 5K events. He was named the Mountain West Indoor Track Athlete of the Year.
March 8-9, 2024
Competing in the NCAA Championships in the 3K and 5K, Samuel finished seventh and fourth, respectively. He earned All-American honors for his performances as he headed toward the outdoor track season.
Outdoor Track
April 13, 2024
Despite coming in second at the Bryan Clay Invitational, Samuel ran a 5K in 13:13.34 – the seventh fastest collegiate 5K time in history, according to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. He also broke his personal best record.
May 9-11, 2024
Samuel won the 5K and the 1.5K at the Mountain West Championships. Going five for five, Samuel went undefeated across his events.
May 22-25, 2024
At the NCAA West Region Preliminary, Samuel won both the 5K and 10K races. He earned his spot in the NCAA Championship races for both events.
June 5-8, 2024
Finishing in sixth place, Samuel earned All-American Honors in the 5K event – but it was the day prior when he became a champion.
With three laps remaining of the 25-lap race, Samuel was keeping pace in fifth place with top runners right in front of him. Disaster struck when runners in front of him tripped, taking him from fifth to ninth place with about two laps to go.
Samuel spent the second-to-last lap catching back up to the front and fought back to third place. Samuel made his move for first in the final turn of the lap and left his opponents in the dust on the homestretch to become the NCAA Champion in the 10K event.
Samuel has earned the highest honors at the collegiate level and been a champion every step of the way. His freshman year will stand the test of time as one of history's best freshman year performances of a long distance athlete.
Thomas Bulger is the sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be contacted at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @thomasbulger10
Thomas Bulger is the sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be contacted at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @thomasbulger10
