GULF SHORES, Ala. –
Shimales Abebe highlights a group of seven Oklahoma City University student-athletes set to compete in the NAIA men's track & field championships this week at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium.
Abebe, a sophomore from Los Angeles, ran the fastest time in the NAIA in the 5,000 meters in the Oxy Invitational on May 7 in Los Angeles (13 minutes, 50.36 seconds). Abebe is ready to run in the national meet in the 5K, 3,000-meter steeplechase and on the 4x800-meter relay team.
Abebe took runner-up in the 2021 NAIA Championships to the Stars'
Kipruto Cherutich with a mark of 9:11.45. Abebe posted the No. 2 time in the NAIA this season in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:03) in the Wichita State K.T. Woodman Classic on April 6 in Wichita, Kan.
Abebe has earned eight cross country and track all-Americans, aiding the Stars' distance medley relay team to the national title in the 2021 NAIA indoor championships. Abebe owns second-place finishes in five events in the national meets in NAIA cross country and track. In 2021-22, Abebe has come in second in the NAIA men's cross country championships and in the mile and 3,000 meters in the NAIA indoor meet.
Oklahoma City's
Joseph Engel is entered in the marathon in the NAIA Championships. Engel, a senior from Oklahoma City, turned in the third-best qualifying time of 1:10.37 in the Aramco Houston Half Marathon on Jan. 16.
The Stars have Abebe,
JaQuavious Harris,
Fares Marrouf,
Brendan Robeaux,
Tate Smithhart and
Milan Todorovic lined up to run the 4x800-meter relay. Harris, a freshman from Cheraw, S.C., has qualified for the 800 and the 5K, and Todorovic, a senior from Belgrade, Serbia, is prepared to compete in the 800.
