By Rich Sands, @thatrichsands.bsky.social | (c) 2024 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved; used with permission
HONOLULU (05-Dec) – When Amanuel Mesel and Yemane Haileselassie were teammates at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, they had no idea the unexpected journeys they would both go on, and how their lives would intersect years later. Today the two Eritrean runners are living in the United States, training together and pursuing the goal of American citizenship. On Sunday, December 8 they will line up at the Honolulu Marathon, where a win would bring not only prestige, but a hefty $25,000 paycheck that would go a long way towards easing their lives.
Both men are two-time Olympians –Mesel ran the 5000 meters in 2012 and the marathon in 2016, while Haileselassie was a finalist in the 3000-meter steeplechase in 2016 and 2021– but their lives were complicated by the political strife and repressive conditions in Eritrea. According to the non-governmental investigative organization Human Rights Watch, “Eritrea’s government continued to severely repress its population, imposing restrictions on freedom of expression, opinion and faith, and restricting independent scrutiny by international monitors.”
In 2020, after finishing third at the Houston Marathon, Mesel sought (and was granted) asylum in the United States. Two years later, after finishing seventh in the steeplechase at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, Haileselassie did the same.
They admit that it was a difficult decision, complicated by the fact that it resulted in being separated from their families. Mesel’s wife and two children are currently refugees in Uganda, while Haileselassie’s wife and two children remain in Eritrea. They hope their families can eventually join them in the U.S. “Of course, it’s not very easy,” Mesel said in an interview here yesterday. “But when you decide to do that it’s because you believe it’s what is best for you, that you are finding something better. It was both a scary and optimistic decision at the same time.”
They are currently in the process of having their cases heard, but it is a slow process, and neither is sure when, or even if, their path towards U.S. citizenship may advance. “It’s very difficult,” Haileselassie admitted. “You are worrying about family and the situation there and how your asylum case is going. We are always thinking about our case.”
For now, they live in Flagstaff, Arizona, where they have been training since last year under the guidance of coach James McKirdy, who has built a bustling and diverse enclave of runners of various nationalities with his McKirdy Trained group. “I didn’t expect a community like this,” said McKirdy, who also coaches Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana, who placed fourth in the marathon at the 2023 World Championships and seventh at the Paris Olympics this past summer. “We have Americans, we have athletes from Mexico, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Lesotho. We have a group of people who are family.”
Despite their stressful situations, Mesel and Haileselassie have been thriving on the U.S. road-racing circuit. The 33-year-old Mesel, whose PR of 2:08:17 dates to 2013 in Valencia, finished fourth at Grandma’s Marathon in Minnesota in June, clocking 2:12:46.
After many years as one of the world’s best steeplechasers (including a fifth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics and three world championships appearances), Haileselassie has committed full time to the roads at age 26. He made his marathon debut in Boston in April, finishing 16th in 2:14:44. That was part of a busy season highlighted by top-5 finishes at the NYC Half, Bolder Boulder 10-K, Boston 10-K, Boilermaker 15-K, Falmouth Road Race and Medtronic TC 10 Mile, where he finished second in 45:22 in his first time racing in carbon-plated shoes. Most recently, he notched a dominant win at the Boston Half Marathon on November 10, running 1:01:46 in frigid conditions and earning $15,000 in prize money.
“The marathon is tough, but I like it so far,” he said. “I’ve only competed one time and so it’s all new for me. I’ve had good luck for the half-marathon and 10-K, but I am waiting to see what I can do for the marathon.”
Though prize money from racing helps (and Haileselassie has an adidas sponsorship), both men work as ride-share drivers to support themselves and their loved ones back in Africa. “These men, they work hard, they don’t just run. They work, day in and day out, to provide for their families,” McKirdy said. “They support their community, they pay their taxes, they do everything that everyone expects us all to do. I’m hoping that their opportunity for citizenship comes sooner than later.”
Working full-time often complicates their training program, but they have been putting in the work at their high-altitude training base, logging 160 to 180 kilometers a week. They push each other, which they credit for their success this year. “Sometimes it feels like I’ve got wild horses and I’m trying to lasso them so they don’t go too fast,” McKirdy said with a laugh. “Because that competitive spirit does come alive in some of these easy runs and some of these long progression runs. One person gets half a step ahead and then the other person wants to get half a step. And all of sudden they’re running 4:40 per mile at 7,000 feet.”
The Honolulu Marathon features a strong professional field this year, including defending champion Paul Lonyangata of Kenya, his countryman Barnabas Kiptum, who holds the fastest PR In the field (2:04:17 from Milan in 2017) and Suguru Osako, the former Japanese record holder (2:05:29). Given the expected warm and humid conditions, and a challenging and hilly course, Mesel and Haileselassie know this isn’t likely to be a time trial.
“I think every athlete here is going to be running for the win, not trying to run a fast time,” Mesel said. “We are mentally prepared for this race. We know it’s going to be humid, we know it is going to be hilly. But we know we are ready for whatever happens on Sunday.”
