Futsum Zienasellassie (Ge'ez: ፉፁም ዜናሥላሴ; born 16 December 1992) is an Eritrean-American long distance runner. After running for North Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana, Zienasellassie ran for Northern Arizona University. He has competed professionally for the Hoka One One Northern Arizona Elite team since 2017.[1]

Futsum Zienasellassie
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Born (1992-12-16) 16 December 1992 (age 31)
Ethiopia
Home townIndianapolis, Indiana
Height178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Sport
Country United States
SportLong-distance running
College teamNorthern Arizona Lumberjacks
Turned pro2016
Medal record

Early life

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Futsum Zienasellassie was born in modern-day Eritrea (at the time a territory under Ethiopia) and was at a refugee camp in Ethiopia before moving to the United States at the age of 14.[2][3] Zienasellassie's father is a priest in the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church. He has three brothers and four sisters. Zienasellassie was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in January 2016.

Running career

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High school

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While attending North Central High School, Futsum Zienasellassie qualified for the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships three times, finishing 7th, 2nd, and 2nd. Zienasellassie also claimed the 2011 Nike Cross Nationals individual title in 15:02, outdistancing runner-up Daniel Vertiz by 24 seconds. He also won 7 IHSAA State titles in Cross Country and Track. As a senior, Zienasellassie claimed the Indiana cross country state record for 5000 Meters in 14:36 at the Flashrock Invitational on September 17, 2011 along with the Indiana State record at 3200 meters on the track in 8:47.75. During this time he was coached by both Byron Simpson And Rick Stover as the head coach. [4]

Collegiate

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Zienasellassie began attending Northern Arizona University in the fall of 2012. During his freshman cross country season he finished 31st at the NCAA Cross Country Championships with a time of 29:54.10. In 2013 Zienasellasie returned to the NCAA Cross Country Championships to finish 4th as a sophomore in 30:05.7 followed by a 3rd place showing as a junior in 30:25.3, and rounding out his cross country eligibility with a 4th place showing as a senior in 29:49.8. In 2015, Futsum Zienasellassie set two Eritrean indoor track records in the 5000 m and 800 meters. Futsum Zienasellassie is a 8-time NCAA Division I All-American, and 7-time Big Sky Conference champion.[5]

Year Competition Position Event Time
Representing Northern Arizona Lumberjacks
2016 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships 4th 10,000 m 29:49.8
Big Sky Conference Cross Country Championships 1st 8000 m 23:58.3
United States Olympic trials 21st 10,000 m DNF
NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships 2nd 10,000 m 29:10.68
Big Sky Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships 1st 5000 m 14:46.57
2nd 1500 m 3:50.58
NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships 4th 5000 m 13:52.26
Big Sky Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships 2nd DMR 10:08.46
1st Mile 4:13.92
1st 3000 m 8:31.07
2015 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships 12th 10,000 m 29:41.34
52nd 5000 m 14:31.90
Big Sky Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships 2nd 5000 m 14:20.93
5th 1500 m 3:48.92
Big Sky Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships 1st 5000 m 14:52.03
2nd Mile 4:09.13
1st 3000 m 8:33.81
2014 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships 3rd 10,000 m 30:25.3
Big Sky Conference Cross Country Championships 1st 8000 m 24:07.8
Big Sky Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships 9th 5000 m 15:03.64
11th Mile 4:23.32
2013 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships 4th 10,000 m 30:05.7
NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships 13th 5000 m 14:07.72
Big Sky Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships 2nd 5000 m 14:26.73
2nd 1500 m 3:48.50
2012 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships 31st 10,000 m 29:54.1
Big Sky Conference Cross Country Championships 3rd 8000 m 24:56.7

[6]

Post Collegiate/Professional

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Futsum Zienasellassie was sponsored by COROS and trained with McKirdy Trained in Flagstaff, Arizona from 2017-2022.[7]
At the 2017 USATF championship Medtronic TC 10 Mile, Zienasellassie was 10th USATF 10 Mile Championships/Medtronic TC 10 Mile and runner-up at the Monterey Bay Half Marathon.[8]
At the 2018 USATF championship Medtronic TC 10 Mile, Zienasellassie placed 8th in 47:28.[9]
On October 6, 2019, Zienasellasie won the Medtronic TC 10 Mile and became the USATF 10 Mile National Champion in a time of 46:55.
On 19 January 2020, Zienasellassie ran 1:01:44 and placed 14th at the Aramco Houston Half Marathon in Houston, Texas.
On 7 March 2020, Zienasellassie ran 45:38 and placed 11th at the USATF 15 km Road Running Championships in Jacksonville, Florida.
On 7 May 2022, Zienasellassie ran 1:02:36 and placed 2nd at the USATF Half-Marathon Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana.
On 4 December 2022, Zienasellasie won the 2022 USATF Marathon Championships at California International Marathon in 2:11:01.[10]

On 16 April 2023, Zienasellassie ran 2:09:40 in the Rotterdam marathon finishing 11th overall and becoming the 25th American to break 2:10 in the Marathon.[11]

Personal bests

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Zienasellassie's personal bests are:[12]

  • 1,500m - 3:45.04 (2014)
  • 3,000m – 7:53.76 (2016)
  • 5,000m – 13:34.84 (2017)
  • 10,000m – 27:52.70 (2016)
  • 10k - 28:55 (2022)
  • 15k - 43:27 (2022)
  • 10 mile - 46:53 (2022)
  • Half Marathon - 1:01:21 (2021)
  • 25k - 1:14:28 (2021)
  • Marathon: 2:09:40 (2023)

References

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  1. ^ Futsum Zienasellassie rejoins HOKA NAZ Elite October 25, 2022 Northern Arizona Elite
  2. ^ Mike Grimala. 2011. Futsum Zeinasellassie: Making it in America. YPFDJ (Young People's Front for Democracy and Justice).
  3. ^ David Krider. 2012. Eritrean Futsum Zienasellassie leaves his footprint. YPFDJ (Young People's Front for Democracy and Justice).
  4. ^ Zeinasellassie North Central High School Results Athletic.net
  5. ^ 2016 Cross Country Futsum Zienasellassie Redshirt Senior profile Northern Arizona University
  6. ^ FUTSUM ZIENASELLASSIE (SR-4) NORTHERN ARIZONA College Bests TFRRS
  7. ^ McKirdy Trained picks up pace in 2021 despite pandemic still causing issues Arizona Daily Sun
  8. ^ Twin Cities Marathon - 2018 Medtronic TC 10 Mile Twin Cities Marathon
  9. ^ 2018 Results - USATF 10 Mile Championships Published by USATFRunningCircuit.com - USATF Running Circuit Official Site on Sep 30th, 12:39pm USATF 10 Mile Championships hosted by the Medtronic TC 10 Mile Runnerspace
  10. ^ 2022 USATF Marathon Road Championships hosted by California International Marathon Sacramento, California USATF
  11. ^ "NN Marathon Rotterdam 2023". MYLAPS. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  12. ^ "Futsum Zienasellassie | NAZ Elite | Northern Arizona Elite". Nazelite.com. 2017-04-11.
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