Mohammed Ahmed leads U Wisconsin to Third Place

File:  Last year, University of Wisconsin then-freshman Mohammed Ahmed sprints into the finish line at the NCAA Division 1 cross country championships at the Lavern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Seelyville, Ind. Ahmed was the Badgers’ top finisher in 30th place, earning All-American status.  Jason McMahon — The Capital Times

TERRE HAUTE, IND. — Sophomores Mohammed Ahmed, Maverick Darling and senior Landon Peacock led the Univeristy of Wisconsin men’s cross country team to a third-place finish at Monday’s NCAA Cross Country Championships.

Ahmed finished in 12th place, crossing the line in 30:03.4, to earn All-American honors for the second-consecutive year.

Born in Somalia, Ahmed moved to St. Catharines, Ontario, eight years ago with his parents and three younger brothers. During high school, he started to make a name for himself in cross-country running and track by competing for Canada at national and international junior championship meets.

Wisconsin wasn’t on his short list during the recruiting process. “Coming from Canada, all I was thinking about was getting out of the cold,” Ahmed recalls. “But when I looked at my running career long term and my development as an athlete, the coaching philosophy here and the strong tradition, Wisconsin fit perfectly.”

Ahmed also competes in the 3,000 meters (indoors), 5,000 meters, and on the Badger cross-country team.

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