Weini Kelati

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Weini Kelati
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Eritrea
Born (1996-12-01) December 1, 1996 (age 25)
Eritrea
Sport
Country Eritrea
 United States
SportTrack and Field
Event(s)Distance
College teamNew Mexico Lobos
ClubDark Sky Distance
Turned proNov. 2020
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)
  • Outdoor
  • 1500 m: 4:10.88 (Eugene 2021)
  • 3000 m: 8:53.89 NR (Palo Alto 2019)
  • 5000 m: 14:58.24 (San Juan Capistrano 2021)
  • 10000 m: 31:10.08 NR (San Juan Capistrano 2020)
  • Indoor
  • Mile: 4:37.75i NR (Albuquerque 2019)
  • 3000 m: 8:53.98i NR (New York City 2019)
  • 5000 m: 15:14.71i NR (Boston 2019)

Weini Kelati Frezghi (born 1 December 1996) is an Eritrean-American long-distance runner.[1] She became a US citizen in June 2021.[2] Her transfer of allegiance made her eligible to represent the United States on June 23, 2021.[3]

Professional[]

On 8 January 2022, Kelati placed second at 2022 USA Cross Country Championships over 10 km in San Diego, California.

On 16 October 2021, she set the American 10 KM record for a women’s-only race at the Boston 10K for Women in 31:18.[2] She broke the meet record at the Manchester Road Race in 2021.[4][5]

On 5 December 2020, she ran a 10,000 m race and qualified by Entry standard for the 2020 Summer Games, with a personal best time of 31:10.08, also an Eritrean national record – at JSerra Catholic High School, in San Juan Capistrano. But for her first participation to US Trials in Eugene, a few days after becoming American, she did not finish the 10,000 m.

She forwent the remainder of her collegiate eligibility and signed a professional contract in November 2020 with Under Armour's elite team, Dark Sky Distance.[6]

NCAA[]

Weini Kelati is a 2019 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships champion, 11-time All-American, and 7-time Mountain West Conference Champion.

She won the 10,000 m at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championships and won the 2019 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. She was named the Honda Sports Award recipient for cross country that year.

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing University of New Mexico
2020 2020 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships Albuquerque, New Mexico All-American 5000 m Cancelled due to COVID-19
Mountain West Conference
Indoor Track and Field
Championship 		Albuquerque, New Mexico 1st Distance medley relay 11:12.27
Adva Cohen, Abigail Bendle, Elise Thorner, Weini Kelati
2019 2019 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships Terre Haute, Indiana 1st 6000 m 19:47.5
Mountain West Conference
Cross Country Championship 		Logan, Utah 1st 19:11.2
2019 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships Austin, Texas 5th 5000 m 15:54.46
1st 10,000 m 33:10.84
Mountain West Conference
Outdoor Track and Field
Championship 		Fresno, California 1st 10,000 m 32:09.10
2019 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships Birmingham, Alabama 2nd 5000 m 15:32.95
3rd 3000 m 9:02.44
Mountain West Conference
Indoor Track and Field
Championship 		Albuquerque, New Mexico 1st Mile 4:37.75
2nd Distance medley relay 11:29.42
Weini Kelati, Larimar Rodriguez, Kieran Casey, Ednah Kurgat
2018 2018 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships Madison, Wisconsin 2nd 6000 m 19:45.3
Mountain West Conference
Cross Country Championship 		San Diego, California 1st 19:49.3
2018 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships Eugene, Oregon 9th 5000 m 15:46.57
Mountain West Conference
Outdoor Track and Field
Championship 		Fresno, California 1st 10,000 m 32:41.92
2018 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships College Station, Texas 5th 5000 m 15:56.73
5th 3000 m 9:03.51
Mountain West Conference
Indoor Track and Field
Championship 		Albuquerque, New Mexico 1st 3000 m 9:13.40
2017 2017 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships Louisville, Kentucky 7th 6000 m 19:35.8
Mountain West Conference
Cross Country Championship 		Albuquerque, New Mexico 2nd 20:11.7

[7]

Prep[]

Kelati attended Heritage High School in Virginia and competed in cross country and track and field. She was the 2015 winner of Footlocker XC. 2015 Virginia state champion in cross country and 2016 outdoor 3200 m. Won 2016 New Balance Indoor Nationals 5000 m and 2 mile.

Representing Heritage High School (Leesburg, Virginia) at
Virginia High School League 4A state championship
Year Cross Country State Championships Outdoor Track State Championships
2015-16 1st in 5 km (17:22) 1st in the 3200 m (10:09.70)
2014-15 2nd in 5 km (17:38) 2nd in the 3200 m (10:54.45)
6th in the 4x800 m (9:51.02)
Megan Collins, Weini Kelati, Sarah Smith, Georgie Mackenzie
3rd in the 1600 m (5:16.95)

[8]

References[]

  1. ^ Rodriguez, Kara Clark (June 2, 2017). "Meet Heritage's Weini Kelati Frezghi". Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Weini Kelati sets American record at Boston 10K for Women - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2021-10-18.
  3. ^ "Weini KELATI FREZGHI | Profile | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  4. ^ Inquirer, Adam Betz / Journal. "Kelati smashes course record to win women's title at 85th Manchester Road Race". Journal Inquirer. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  5. ^ "WTW: Why Weini Kelati May Be America's Next Great Distance Star And Is Sean Brosnan Great Or Just Lucky?". LetsRun.com. 2021-11-30. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  6. ^ "Kelati, UNM's star distance runner, turns pro, signs with Under Armour - Albuquerque Journal". www.abqjournal.com. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  7. ^ Weini Kelati - University of New Mexico Results TFRRS
  8. ^ Weini Kelati High School Results Athletic.net

External links[]

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