Sports

New Mexico Track Star Wins Silver Medal At National Championship Despite Losing Shoe In 35º Weather

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Habtom Samuel Lose Shoe Cross Country
NCAA

Habtom Samuel finished as the national runner-up during the cross country championships in chilly Madison, Wisconsin on Saturday morning. New Mexico’s star distance runner finished second in the NCAA after losing a shoe.

The 20-year-old sophomore completed more than 25% of the race with his left foot completely bare.

Samuel joined the Lobos in 2023. He began his college career with a second-place finish at the cross country championships as a freshman and followed it up with a 10,000-meter national title at the outdoor championships in the spring, even though he fell to the ground just 900 meters from the line.

Needless to say, adversity will not keep Samuel down!

With a major target already on his back, the Eritrea-native set out to avenge last year’s close loss with a victory at the NCAA cross country championships on Saturday. It did not quite go his way. Samuel was right in the mix with the leaders through the first 7,500 meters of the 10,000-meter course.

However, he got tripped up in the pack and lost one of his spikes. The shoe came all the way off his left foot.

Of course, Samuel could not turn back to retrieve his cleat without losing his pace or his place. Stopping to take off the right shoe would also slow him down so he just kept running while half barefoot.

Habtom Samuel Shoe
NCAA

The spike came off around the 7,500-meter mark.

There were still 2,500 meters left to go but Samuel pushed forward. He finished just seconds behind the winner.

Habtom Samuel made sure to let everybody know that he was without his left shoe as he crossed the line in second place.

To run 10,000 meters in 28 minutes and 38 seconds is wicked fast. To do so while missing a shoe on a course that was frozen over with snow just 36 hours prior is truly remarkable.