Weini Kelati Frezghi (born December 1, 1996) is an American middle and long-distance runner who has overcome significant obstacles to become a standout athlete.Born in Eritrea, Kelati arrived in the United States in July 2014 seeking asylum. Despite the challenges of a new country and language, her determination shone through. She enrolled at Heritage High School in Virginia and immediately began running, waking up at 5 AM for training before attending classes and working late shifts at a grocery store.Kelati's talent blossomed quickly. She became a state champion in cross country and track in Virginia, even securing national titles indoors. Her success continued at the University of New Mexico, where she earned numerous accolades, including: 2019 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships winner13, All-America honors Mountain West Women's Student-Athlete of the Year. In 2020, Kelati turned professional, signing with Under Armour.
However, her pursuit of an American dream extended beyond running. In June 2021, after a lengthy application process, she officially became a U.S. citizen, allowing her to compete for her adopted country.American record holder in the half marathon with a time of 1:06.25 set in January 2024Winner of the 10,000 meters at the 2024 Olympic Trials, qualifying her for the Paris Games.
Despite her busy training schedule, Kelati finds joy in music, listing Usain Bolt as her favorite athlete and injera (Eritrean flatbread) as her favorite food.
Weini Kelati has some impressive personal bests (PBs) across various distances, showcasing her versatility as a middle and long-distance runner:
1500 meters: 4:10.88 (achieved in Eugene, Oregon in 2021)
3000 meters: 8:32.50 (achieved in Oslo, Norway in 2023)
5000 meters: 14:35.43 (achieved in Eugene, Oregon in 2024)
10,000 meters: 30:33.82 (achieved in San Juan Capistrano, California in 2024) - This time might not be her absolute best as she might have run faster races strategically.
Half Marathon: 1:06.25 (achieved in Houston, Texas in 2024) - This is the current American record for the half marathon distance.
Indoor (While these aren't her primary focus, they still demonstrate her talent):
Mile: 4:37.75 (achieved in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2019) - This is the American indoor record for the mile.
3000 meters: 8:53.98 (achieved in New York City in 2019)
5000 meters: 15:14.71 (achieved in Boston, Massachusetts in 2019)
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