SPC track standout named National Athlete of the Week

South Plains College Track and Field standout Hassan Abdi has been named the National Athlete of the Week by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association after his record breaking performance this past weekend at the Charlie Thomas Invitational in College Station, Texas.

Abdi took the top spot in the men's 5000 meters, as his final time of 14:49.67, which is currently the fastest time in the NJCAA, put him ahead of Clemson's Clayton Wilson and Rice University's Marco Ruiz.

Abdi would then go on to break the South Plains College school record following his fourth place finish in the men's 3000 meters, with a finishing time 8:21.11, which currently sits as the second fastest time in the NJCAA.

"I put in a lot of work, and my coaches and teammates push me to be a better athlete everyday," Abdi said. "My coaches are the ones that made me believe that I can reach all my goals that I have achieved now."

Abdi will be back in action this weekend when the Texans and Lady Texans travel to the Tyson Invitational at the University of Arkansas, and knows he will have to continue to improve and stay focused for what lies ahead.

"This means a lot to me, I have always wanted to get National Athlete of the Week," Abdi said. "Now that I have reached that goal, I want to win more. This means that I need to work, because it is going to be a very close race and a dog fight at nationals."