2000-2001: Redshirted the 2000 cross-country season to preserve a year of eligibility ... during the outdoor track campaign, competed in the 5000m for the Huskies at the Salzman Invitational in Tacoma, Wash., placing 10th overall in 16:17.73.
High School: Born Oct. 26, 1982 in Ethiopia ... mother is Mulumebet Bekele, a nursing assistant ... finished ninth at the Washington state cross country meet in 1999 ... finished fourth in the 2000m steeplechase and 10th in the 3000m run at the Junior Olympic Nationals in 1998 ... earned two league titles and two second-place league finishes in cross country ... placed sixth in the 3200m at the 1998 Washington state track meet ... was voted Athlete of the Week by both the Seattle Times and the South County Journal during his senior season ... was voted most valuable runner all four years of high school ... was captain of the team his junior and senior seasons ... lettered all four years in cross country ... was voted most outstanding junior 1999, senior 2000.
