West Salem junior Ahmed Muhumed has run the fastest 5,000 meters in cross country in the state this season.
There are few high school runners in Oregon history that have run a 5,000 meter cross country in under 15 minutes.
West Salem High School junior Ahmed Muhumed put down a blazing 14:56.8 in winning the Sandelie XC Classic Friday and etched his name in rarified air in high school cross country history.
The time was a seven-second personal record from where he was in the race a year ago.
“I didn’t really care that much about time as I cared about winning because of the people that were there and all that, but at the same time I was really happy,” said Muhumed, who won the Greater Valley Conference meet as a sophomore.
“It is like a new world, kind of, going sub 15 and I have to work towards going sub 14 sometime soon. My goal for the rest of the season isn’t really to PR, it’s mainly to really place. That is the big thing.”
Muhumed’s time is the fastest a high school boy has run in Oregon this season, but he also had the No. 1 time in the state at this point last season.
He said after the first mile in the race in Wilsonville that the rest of the leaders dropped behind him and he was able to control the pace.
Muhumed won the race by five seconds in front of West Linn’s Roman Ollar and 11 seconds in front of Jesuit’s Joshua Schumacher.
“I did run fast without really a lot of competition ahead of me, like I was in a pack, a big pack and all,” said Muhumed, who placed third in the state last year. “I feel like I’m much faster.”
Muhumed’s next race is the Oct. 21 GVC district meet at Bush’s Pasture Park.
Volleyball
The Factory Volleyball Club will host a free clinic and informational meeting Oct. 18.
The clinic will be for 12U and 14U girls volleyball players from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at South Salem High School’s main gym.
The short informational meeting for parents and players from ages 12 to 18 interested in playing club volleyball will follow immediately after.
For more information contact club director Matt Leichty at factoryvolleyball@gmail.com or go to factoryvolleyballclub.com.
Soccer
North Salem’s boys soccer team is putting on a soccer program for youth with physical or mental challenges.
The program runs from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 14, 21, 28 and Nov. 4, 11 and 18 at Salem Indoor Soccer Center at 4701 Portland Road NE.
Registration is free.
For more information contact North Salem coach Rich Swartzentruber at (503) 931-1351 or swartzentruber_rich@salkeiz.k12.or.us.