Edward Cheserek

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 Year.^[3] In 2013, Cheserek became the first freshman in Oregon history to win the NCAA National Cross Country Championships.^[4] After repeating as NCAA cross country champion his sophomore and junior years, on November 19, 2016, Cheserek failed in his attempt to become the first collegiate runner to claim 4 NCAA Division 1 national titles in cross country, coming in third behind Patrick Tiernan of Villanova and Justyn Knight of Syracuse. In total, Cheserek has 15 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. 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 11, 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 13 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] Edward hopes to become an American citizen.^[8]

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)
2016	Millrose Games	New York City, United States	6th	3000m	7:40.51(i)

Personal records

High school

• 800m: 1:49.98^[9]
• 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: 3:56.43
• 1500m: 3:36.50
• 1600m split in DMR: 3:52.88
• 3000m (Indoor): 7:40.51
• 5000m: 13:18.71
• 10,000m: 28:30.18

References

External links

• University of Oregon Edward Cheserek Profile
• Edward Cheserek Athletic Profile
• Edward Cheserek profile at IAAF