Edward Cheserek
|
Cheserek with the 2012-2013 Gatorade National Cross-Country Runner of the Year Award | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Kenyan |
| Born | 2 February 1994 |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Track, Cross Country |
| Event(s) | 3000 meters, 5000 meters, 10,000 meters |
| College team | Oregon |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) |
|
Edward Cheserek (born 2 February 1994)[2] is a collegiate distance runner for the University of Oregon. Cheserek was the most highly recruited high school distance runner in the nation out of Saint Benedict's Preparatory School in New Jersey where he was named the Gatorade 2012-2013 National Cross Country Runner of the Month.[3] In 2013, Cheserek became the first freshman in Oregon history to win the NCAA National Cross Country Championships.[4] In total, Cheserek has 10 NCAA National Titles.
Running career
Early life and high school
Edward Cheserek was born on 2 February 1994 in Kenya. Cheserek began running as a child. He was raised on a farm with no electricity or running water. There were advantages for a future runner. He grew up in the Great Rift Valley, where the altitude is close to two miles above sea level. Higher altitudes help condition the body to do more with less oxygen. Still, Cheserek insists that being a successful runner in high school cross country has more to do with mental toughness and determination. In the summer of 2010, Cheserek moved to the United States and began attending Saint Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey, later that fall.[2] He has twice won the Foot Locker National High School Cross Country meet, first in 2011 and again in 2012, and was named the 2012-2013 Gatorade Cross Country Runner of the Year.[5] In 2013, he set a new high school indoor 2 mile record of 8:39.25, replacing Gerry Lindgren's 49-year-old record of 8:40.00.[6] During his senior year, Cheserek was the most highly recruited high school distance runner in the nation.
- I have been lucky enough to have a good coach. To be good, to train good and want success, you need your coach to show you those things. I also want to be as good as what my coach wants me to be. That is what makes a difference with a runner. When you run and practice, you can do it for the coach. When you do it for the coach and yourself, you are at your best. You try harder and get better each day. I like being better each race. There is no reason to run if you don’t.
Collegiate
Cheserek was recruited by the University of Oregon and in the fall of 2013 was the first freshman in Oregon history to win a NCAA National Cross Country Championship. As a freshman, Cheserek was the 2014 NCAA Indoor T&F champion in both the indoor 3000m and 5000m runs. Cheserek showcased his versatility at different distances by placing first in the indoor mile at the 2015 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships.
At the 2014 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, on June 11th, Cheserek unleashed a final 400 meter sprint in 53.17 seconds to win the Men's 10,000m race with a time of 28:30.18, a personal best. He returned on June 13th to compete in the 5,000m race, dwindling the pack with a furious 56.84 final 400 meters, but it was not enough to out-kick Lawi Lalang of Arizona, as Cheserek placed 2nd in a personal best of 13:18.71 to Lalang's 13:18.36, which was an NCAA Meet Championship record. Cheserek's 18-points contributed significantly to the University of Oregon's Men's team title. After his phenomenal success on the collegiate scene, a 2015 Wall Street Journal article described the 21-year-old Cheresek as the next great American distance runner.[7]
| Oregon | Pac12 Cross Country | NCAA Cross Country | Indoor MPSF | NCAA Indoor | Outdoor Pac12 | NCAA Outdoor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freshman 13-14 | 8000: 24:36.0 1st | 10,000: 29:41.0 1st | 3000: 7:47.20 1st | 3000: 8:11.59 1st 5000: 13:46.67 1st | 1500: 3:36.50 1st | 5000 13:18.71 2nd 10,000: 28:30.18 1st |
| Sophomore 14-15 | 8000: 23:22.1 1st | 10,000: 30:19.4 1st | DMR: 9:27.02 1st | Mile: 3:57.94 1st 3000: 7:59.42 2nd DMR: 9:30.53 1st | 5000: 13:45.25 1st | 5000: 13:48.67 1st 10,000: 28:58.92 1st |
| Junior 15-16 | 8000: 23:06.3 1st | 10,000: 28:45.8 1st | ||||
| Senior 16-17 |
Competition record
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing  Kenya | ||||||
| 2011 | Adidas Grand Prix | New York City, United States | 4th | 1 Mile | 4:03.29 | |
| 2012 | Millrose Games | New York City, United States | 8th | 5000m | 13:57.04(i) | |
| 2013 | Millrose Games | New York City, United States | 8th | 2 Mile | 8:39.15(i) | |
| 2015 | Millrose Games | New York City, United States | 8th | Mile | 3:56.43(i) | |
Personal records
High school
- 800m: 1:49.98[8]
- 1000: 2:27.42
- 1500m (Indoor): 3:40.43
- 1600m: 4:03.29
- One Mile: 4:02.21
- 3000m (Indoor): 8:05.46
- 3200m: 8:53.64
- Two Mile: 8:39.25
- 5000m (Indoor): 13:57.04
- 10,000m: 29:42.31
College
- 1000m(Indoor):2:19.02
- One Mile: 3:56
- 1500m: 3:36.50
- 1600m split in DMR: 3:56
- 3000m (Indoor): 7:47.02
- 5000m: 13:18.71
- 10,000m: 28:30.18
References
- 1 2 3 4 All-Athletics. "Profile of Edward Cheserek".
- 1 2 "Athlete Profile: Edward Cheserek". IAAF. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- ↑ Anderson, Cutris. "Top prep distance runner headed to Oregon". The Register Guard. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
- ↑ "Oregon Athletic Bio Edward Cheserek". The University of Oregon. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
- ↑ Konecky, Chad. "Edward Cheserek Named Gatorade National Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year". USA Today. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
- ↑ Bloom, Mark. "Another Record for Cheserek". Running Times. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
- ↑ Futterman, Matthew. "Why Kenya’s Edward Cheserek Is America’s Next Great Runner". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
- ↑ "Stats for Edward Cheserek". NJ Runner. Retrieved 24 March 2014.