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"What great resilience" - Fans react to Habtom Samuel's runner-up finish at NCAA Cross Country Championships despite running 5k on 1 shoe
Habtom Samuel of Eritrea had an eventtful run at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. Despite losing his shoe midway, the 20-year-old runner, who represents the University of New Mexico's athletic team New Mexico Lobos, finished second behind Graham Blanks of Harvard Crimson.
In a post on X [formerly Twitter], Citius Mag described his race:
"WHAT A PERFORMANCE"
"After losing his shoe early in the race, New Mexico Lobos' Habtom Samuel still managed a 2nd-place finish at #NCAAXC, covering the 10km course half-barefoot in 28:38 in 35 degree weather. Samuel can clearly roll with the punches as last spring he also won the NCAA 10,000m title after falling to the track mid-race"
Fans reacted to the post on the incredible feat achieved by Samuel.
One fan congratulated Samuel for this race, calling it "the performance of the year":
"This should be performance of the year!! What great resilience and perseverance. golobos," said the fan.
One fan described a conversation related to the Eritean's race:
"My 8-year-old: "How did he lose his shoe?"
Me: "Maybe he didn't tie it tightly enough."
Her: "Why didn't he put it back on?"
Me: "He wouldn't have finished second if he had stopped!"
Another fan expressed concern for the Eritrean runner's condition after the race.
"Can we get a follow-up on Habtom’s foot?," enquired the user.
Here are some more fan reactions:
"'Jesus Pre, you beat me like that?" Frank Shorter," one fan commented.
"And bleeding from his foot to boot!" said one fan.
"This is absolutely bonkers," wrote the user.
Habtom Samuel on running half his race with one shoe at the NCAA Championships
![Habtom Samuel with Graham Blanks after the 10km race at the NCAA Cross Country Championships [Image Source : Getty]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/11/cfafc-17324376993808-1920.jpg)
Though Graham Blanks won the 10km run at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, Habtom Samuel's second-place finish gained equal attention, due to his impressive determination. The 20-year-old runner from Eritrea opened up after the race on running with just one shoe for nearly half of the race.
In a conversation with the media after the race, Samuel said,
"I don't know. Just someone step on me and my shoes is off right after the 5k mark. So I don't have a choice, I'm running barefoot" [0:12].
When asked about his source of inspiration, Samuels replied,
""I don't [know], maybe just the way I grow up that helped me, because I grew up like in a small village, whose work [is hard]. Like you know kind of my family , they teach me to do everything. I don't feel something when my shoes is off but I said, let me do this one. I'm gonna fight until I reach the finish line."
Interestingly, Habtom Samuels won the 10000m race at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 2024 in a similar fashion. Samuel was 900m away from the finish line when he fell. However, he didn't let that come in the way of his victory, as he won the race with a timing of 28:07.82
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