Moh Ahmed has dedicated almost two decades to track competition but has always been intrigued by the collaborative nature of cross-country running.
During his junior year at the University of Wisconsin, the 19-year-old Ahmed played a pivotal role in helping the Badgers secure the 2011 NCAA championship and earned All-American recognition four times.
“The achievement I cherish the most in my career is undoubtedly that title,” stated the now 35-year-old Ahmed, who made history as Canada’s first Olympic 5,000-meter medalist in 2021 by clinching a silver in Tokyo, following his world championship bronze two years prior.
While he boasts five NCAA All-American honors in track and grabbed the Big Ten outdoor conference crown in 2010 (10,000m) and 2012 (5,000m), Ahmed fondly reminisces about the 2011 season and the shared journey with his teammates.
“Competing for conference and national titles alongside close friends is incomparable. It holds the highest place in my heart because I shared it with six other guys and even those who didn’t make the final roster,” he expressed.
Recently inducted into the University of Wisconsin Hall of Fame, Ahmed is gearing up for his next challenge, leading Canada in the men’s senior 10-kilometer race at his fourth World Athletics Cross-Country Championships in Tallahassee, Fla., on Saturday.
Hailing from St. Catharines, Ont., Ahmed will be accompanied by Xavier Perras-Phaneuf (LaSalle, Que.), Santiago Gaitan (Welland, Ont.), Matt Talbot (Ailsa Craig, Ont.), Evan Burke (Kearney, Ont.), and Philippe Morneau-Cartier (La Pocatière, Que.) at the starting line at 12:20 p.m. ET.
Live coverage of the World Athletics Cross-Country Championships from Tallahassee, Florida is available on CBC Gem and CBCSports.ca
At the national championships in London, Ont., on Nov. 29, the finishing order saw Ahmed claim his first grass event title. Seizing control in the open men’s 10K about two kilometers from the finish on a partially snow-covered course, he crossed the line in 29 minutes 30.4 seconds at Fanshawe Golf Course.
The top four athletes from each team will contribute points in Tallahassee, where 20 countries have at least four athletes competing.
