University of Minnesota Athletics

2017-18 Men's Track & Field Roster

Hamza Ali

Hamza Ali

  • Class:
    Redshirt Freshman
  • Position:
    Distance
  • Hometown:
    Minneapolis, Minn.
  • High School:
    Washburn
PRONUNCIATION
2017 | REDSHIRT FRESHMAN SEASON
• Competed in five meets for the Gophers, factoring into the scoring in his last four races.
• Opened the year with a 10th-place showing at the IU Open (26:39.9). 
• Finished 55th at the Griak Invitational (26:41.4). 
• Posted a personal eight-kilometer record to place 89th at the Wisconsin Nuttycombe Invitational (24:38.6). 
• Came in 34th at the 2017 Big Ten Championships (25:03.4). 
• Clocked a 30:01.80 to finish 40th at the 2017 NCAA Midwest Regional, finishing 40th while posting the 12th-fastest 10K in school history. 
• Academic All-Big Ten
• Earned first letter. 

2016 | FRESHMAN SEASON
• Redshirted the 2016 cross country season. 
• Represented the Maroon & Gold at the 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Uganda, finishing 52nd overall in the men's under-20 race (26:14).
• Finished third at the 2017 USATF Cross Country Championships in the men's junior eight-kilometer race (26:14.5).
• Set a Gophers record to win the 2016 Twin Cities 5K (14:47).
• Ran in three additional meets as an unattached competitor.
• Won the eight-kilometer Fall Finale (25:31) to give Minnesota its 10th-straight individual champion at the race, finished 19th at the four-mile Oz Memorial (20:48.1) and 125th at the eight-kilometer Roy Griak Invitational (26:48.8). 

HIGH SCHOOL
A 2016 graduate of Minneapolis Washburn High School • a two-time all-state honoree, a 13-time all-conference and all-city selection • a three-time Minneapolis City Conference champion (won back-to-back 1,600-meter titles in 2015 and 2016, also won the 3,200-meter title in 2016) • helped the school to back-to-back state cross country titles in 2015 and 2016 as well as four-straight state track & field titles from 2013-16 • owns the Minneapolis Washburn High School record in both the 1,600 meters (4:13.48) and the 3,200 meters (9:13.43) • earned a total of 11 letters (five in track, four in cross country, two in wrestling) • competed for coaches Curtis Johnson, Chris Lundstrom, Kenan Moore, Mike Anderson, Austin Miller and Kacie Larson • earned the All City Academic Athletic Award and was a member of the honor roll • honored with the Superintendent Coin of Excellence.

PERSONAL
Born March 15, 1998 • native of Minneapolis, Minn. • has eight siblings • lists his most memorable sports experience as winning the Minneapolis Park Board Recreational U-18 basketball title • also enjoys baking, reading and playing video games • plans to study pre-neuroscience.

Ali's Career Bests
8K 24:38.6 Wisconsin Nuttycombe Invitational (Oct. 13, 2017)
10K 30:01.80 NCAA Midwest Regional (Nov. 10, 2017)
Finish 1st (UA) Fall Finale (Nov. 4, 2016)
CHS Home Grown Gophers: Emmett Gerres
Friday, September 05
The Greek Freak of Minnesota
Friday, July 18
Gophers Finish 1-2 in Hammer Throw
Monday, June 16
Mantzouranis Earns NCAA Silver Medal
Thursday, June 12