Obsa Ali

Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Richfield, Minn.
High School:
Richfield

PRONUNCIATION

CAREER AWARDS & HONORS

2018 NCAA Champion (3,000 Meter Steeplechase)
Two-Time Big Ten Champion (2019 and 2018 3,000 Meter Steeplechase)
Four-Time All-American (Two First Team, Two Second Team)
Three-Time All-Big Ten Selection
School Records: 3,000 Meter Steeplechase (8:32.23), 10,000 meters in cross country (29:23.06)

2018-19 SEASON
Cross Country

Exhausted eligibility following the 2017 cross country season.

Indoor Track & Field

Second Team All-American in the 5,000 meters with a 15th-place finish at the 2019 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track & Field Championships.
Ran the second fastest 5,000 meters in program history at 13:38.41 during the Iowa State Classic.
Clocked the fourth fastest 3,000 meters in school history at 7:54.92 during the UW Invitational.
Earned a victory in the mile at the Graduate Classic.

Outdoor Track & Field

First Team All-American after finishing fourth in the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase (8:40.36) at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
NCAA qualifier in the men's steeplechase after leading the field in the NCAA West Preliminary for the second year in a row.
Repeated as Big Ten steeplechase champion by running 8:46.82 at the outdoor conference meet and led the Gophers with 13 points after adding a sixth-place finish in the 5,000 meters.
Reset his own school steeplechase record for the third time, running 8:31.15 at the Payton Jordan Invitational.
Also ran Minnesota's fastest 5,000 meters of the season at 13:48.67 during the Duke Invitational.

2017-2018 SEASON
Outdoor Track & Field

2018 NCAA champion and First Team All-American in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, resetting his own school record at 8:32.23 at the 2018 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Became Minnesota's first national champion in the steeplechase while recording the program's 13th all-time men's national title.
Broke a nearly 47-year old school 3,000 meter steeplechase record at the 2017 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field West Preliminary to qualify for the national championships (8:36.49)
2018 Big Ten Champion and First Team All-Big Ten in the 3,000 meter steeplechase (8:44.77), led the Gophers with 16 points at the outdoor meet after adding a third-place finish in the 5,000 meters.
Ran the third fastest outdoor 5,000 meters in school history (13:43.13) at the 2018 Cardinal Classic.
Led all five steeplechase competitions he ran in during the season with wins at the NCAA championships, the NCAA West Preliminary, the Big Ten championships and the National Relays (also led the semifinal race at the national championships).

2017 | REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE SEASON

Second Team All-American in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, finishing 14th (8:49.00).
Second Team All-Big Ten, finishing second in the 3,000 meter steeplechase at the 2017 Big Ten meet (8:45.55).
Second Team All-Big Ten, finishing second in the indoor 5,000 meters at the 2017 Big Ten meet (14:05.69).
Ran the second fastest indoor 5,000 meters in school history (13:57.43) at the 2017 ISU Classic.
Added event titles in the indoor mile (Jack Johnson Classic), the outdoor 1,500 meters (TomCat Twilight) and the 3,000 meter steeplechase (BearCat Twilight).

2016 | REDSHIRT FRESHMAN SEASON

Ran the eighth fastest indoor 3,000 meters in school history (8:07.02)

2015 | FRESHMAN SEASON
Indoor: Ran in the 1 Mile Run unattached placing 5th with a time of 4:11.09 at the 2015 Jack Johnson Classic. Outdoor: At the 2015 Hamline Invitational, placed 5th unattached in the 1500 meters with a time of 3:55.75 • unattached at the Musco Twilight Invitational won the 3000 meters with a time of 8:17.59.

HIGH SCHOOL
A 2014 graduate of Richfield High School • a two-time Nike All-American in cross country • ended his prep career with seven total medals in state cross country and track & field competition • won the 2014 Minnesota State AA cross country title as a senior with a time of 15:15 after finishing second at the meet as a junior • also won the 2014 state 3,200 meter title with a new all-time record of 8:57 as a junior in track • was a two-time all-state honorary in cross country and a three-time all-state honorary in track & field • earned a total of nine all-conference accolades as a prep (four in track & field, two in cross country, two in wrestling and one in soccer) • holds Richfiled High School records for the 5,000 meters (14:57) and the 3,200 meters (8:57) • a two-time high school individual champion at the Roy Griak Invitational.

PERSONAL
Born Feb. 17, 1996 • son of Hadia Borou • Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota. • High School: Richfield. • has two brothers • major is Undecided. • was All-State in cross country twice and in track three times • holds the high school record in the 3200 meter and 5000 meter.