Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Habtom Samuel, an Eritrean long-distance runner and University of New Mexico athlete, set a course record of 59:01 in his half-marathon debut at the Houston Half Marathon, marking the fourth-fastest half marathon time on US soil at the time.
Samuel went on to win the NCAA indoor 5000m championship and achieved a 5000m-10,000m double victory at the outdoor NCAA Championships. He set Eritrean national records in the 3000m indoors (7:39.62), two miles (8:11.47), and 5000m outdoors (12:57.22), winning 11 of his 13 races this season.
Growing up in Debresina, Eritrea, Samuel developed endurance walking long distances to school. He won bronze medals at the World U20 Championships over 3000m in Nairobi (2021) and 5000m in Cali (2022) before joining the University of New Mexico. His win in Houston further proved his ability to compete beyond collegiate events.