Nadir Yusuf
Men's Marathon
Qualifying Time: 2:15.27
Qualifying Race: 2023 Grandmas Marathon
Date of Birth
01/01/97
Age on Race Day
27
Current Residence
Moorhead, MN
Hometown
Willmar, MN
High School
Willmar Senior High School
Current Affiliation
N\A
Profession
Sales Development Representative at Bushel Inc
Marathon PB
2:15.27
First Trials qualification
Yes
Number of attempts to qualify
2
College(s)
Minnesota State University Moorhead
Career Highlights
10th, 2023 B.A.A. Half Marathon; 13th, 2023 Grandma's Marathon (2:15:27, debut); Winner, 2023 Essentia Half Marathon; 6th, CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon; 3-time All-American; 7-time Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Champion; MSUM record-holder 3,000m, 5,000m, 10,000m, cross country 10K; 2021 NSIC Outdoor Male Track Athlete of the Year
Family
I have three brothers, two half brothers and two half sisters. My family migrated to the U.S. in June 2006 after escaping war-torn Somalia to live in refugee camps. My dad still lives in Somalia.
Greatest Accomplishment
Going from getting denied admission into MSUM to now finishing up my MBA.
Interesting Story
I got kicked off the track team in eighth grade. I didn't think going to track practice was important; instead I would play basketball and hang around a different crowed. On 5/28/14 I missed school to become a U.S citizen. I almost didn't compete at the sections track meet but the principal was able to vouch for me to our athletic director. I was able to make it to the section track meet and competed in the 3,200m.
Favorite Book
Running for My Life: One Lost Boy's Journey from the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games
Favorite Movie
Black Panther
Favorite TV Show/Series
Prison Break
Favorite Song
Eminem Lose Yourself
Favorite Post-race Indulgence
Burger or burrito bowl
Favorite Breakfast
Toast with peanut butter jelly or oatmeal
Favorite Motivational Quote
"Hard work is easy work, easy work too damn easy." - Fred Kerley
Favorite Running Memory
The 4x800 relay MSHSL in 2016 when we finished third in 7:49 after running 8:0x; finishing 14th in NCAA D II Cross Country Championships in 2019 first All-American honoree; winning Drake Relays 10,000m in 2021; finishing 5th in NCAA D II 10,000m on the track in 2021.
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