Futsum Zienasellassie (Ge'ez: ፉፁም ዜናሥላሴ; born 16 December 1992) is an Eritrean-American long-distance runner. After running for North Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana, Zienasellassie ran for Northern Arizona University. He has competed professionally for the Hoka One One Northern Arizona Elite team since 2017.Futsum Zienasellassie rejoins HOKA NAZ Elite October 25, 2022 Northern Arizona Elite
Early life Futsum Zienasellassie was born in modern-day Eritrea (at the time a territory under Ethiopia) and was at a refugee camp in Ethiopia before moving to the United States at the age of 14.Mike Grimala. 2011. Futsum Zeinasellassie: Making it in America. YPFDJ (Young People's Front for Democracy and Justice).David Krider. 2012. Eritrean Futsum Zienasellassie leaves his footprint. YPFDJ (Young People's Front for Democracy and Justice). Zienasellassie's father is a priest in the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church. He has three brothers and four sisters. Zienasellassie was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in January 2016.
Running career High school While attending North Central High School, Futsum Zienasellassie qualified for the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships three times, finishing 7th, 2nd, and 2nd. Zienasellassie also claimed the 2011 Nike Cross Nationals individual title in 15:02, outdistancing runner-up Daniel Vertiz by 24 seconds. He also won 7 IHSAA State titles in Cross Country and Track. As a senior, Zienasellassie claimed the Indiana cross country state record for 5000 Meters in 14:36 at the Flashrock Invitational on September 17, 2011, along with the Indiana State record at 3200 meters on the track in 8:47.75. During this time he was coached by both Byron Simpson And Rick Stover as the head coach. Zeinasellassie North Central High School Results Athletic.net
Collegiate Zienasellassie began attending Northern Arizona University in the fall of 2012. During his freshman cross country season he finished 31st at the NCAA Cross Country Championships with a time of 29:54.10. In 2013 Zienasellasie returned to the NCAA Cross Country Championships to finish 4th as a sophomore in 30:05.7 followed by a 3rd place showing as a junior in 30:25.3, and rounding out his cross country eligibility with a 4th place showing as a senior in 29:49.8. In 2015, Futsum Zienasellassie set two Eritrean indoor track records in the 5000 m and 800 meters. Futsum Zienasellassie is a 8-time NCAA Division I All-American, and 7-time Big Sky Conference champion.2016 Cross Country Futsum Zienasellassie Redshirt Senior profile Northern Arizona University
Year Competition Position Event Time Representing Northern Arizona Lumberjacks2016 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships 4th 10,000 m 29:49.8Big Sky Conference Cross Country Championships 1st 8000 m 23:58.3United States Olympic trials 21st 10,000 m DNF NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships 2nd 10,000 m 29:10.68Big Sky Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships 1st 5000 m 14:46.572nd 1500 m 3:50.58 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships 4th 5000 m 13:52.26Big Sky Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships 2nd DMR 10:08.461st Mile 4:13.921st 3000 m 8:31.072015 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships 12th 10,000 m 29:41.34 52nd 5000 m 14:31.90Big Sky Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships 2nd 5000 m 14:20.93 5th 1500 m 3:48.92Big Sky Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships 1st 5000 m 14:52.032nd Mile 4:09.131st 3000 m 8:33.812014 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships 3rd 10,000 m 30:25.3Big Sky Conference Cross Country Championships 1st 8000 m 24:07.8Big Sky Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships 9th 5000 m 15:03.64 11th Mile 4:23.322013 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships 4th 10,000 m 30:05.7NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships 13th 5000 m 14:07.72Big Sky Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships 2nd 5000 m 14:26.732nd 1500 m 3:48.502012 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships 31st 10,000 m 29:54.1Big Sky Conference Cross Country Championships 3rd 8000 m 24:56.7 FUTSUM ZIENASELLASSIE (SR-4) NORTHERN ARIZONA College Bests TFRRS
Post Collegiate/Professional Futsum Zienasellassie was sponsored by COROS and trained with McKirdy Trained in Flagstaff, Arizona, from 2017 to 2022.McKirdy Trained picks up pace in 2021 despite pandemic still causing issues Arizona Daily Sun At the 2017 USATF championship Medtronic TC 10 Mile, Zienasellassie was 10th USATF 10 Mile Championships/Medtronic TC 10 Mile and runner-up at the Monterey Bay Half Marathon.Twin Cities Marathon - 2018 Medtronic TC 10 Mile Twin Cities Marathon At the 2018 USATF championship Medtronic TC 10 Mile, Zienasellassie placed 8th in 47:28.2018 Results - USATF 10 Mile Championships Published by USATFRunningCircuit.com - USATF Running Circuit Official Site on Sep 30th, 12:39pm USATF 10 Mile Championships hosted by the Medtronic TC 10 Mile Runnerspace On October 6, 2019, Zienasellasie won the Medtronic TC 10 Mile and became the USATF 10 Mile National Champion in a time of 46:55. On 19 January 2020, Zienasellassie ran 1:01:44 and placed 14th at the Aramco Houston Half Marathon in Houston, Texas. On 7 March 2020, Zienasellassie ran 45:38 and placed 11th at the USATF 15 km Road Running Championships in Jacksonville, Florida. On 7 May 2022, Zienasellassie ran 1:02:36 and placed 2nd at the USATF Half-Marathon Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana. On 4 December 2022, Zienasellasie won the 2022 USATF Marathon Championships at California International Marathon in 2:11:01.2022 USATF Marathon Road Championships hosted by California International Marathon Sacramento, California USATF
On 16 April 2023, Zienasellassie ran 2:09:40 in the Rotterdam Marathon finishing 11th overall and becoming the 25th American to break 2:10 in the Marathon.
Personal bests Zienasellassie's personal bests are: 1,500m - 3:45.04 (2014) 3,000m – 7:53.76 (2016) 5,000m – 13:34.84 (2017) 10,000m – 27:52.70 (2016) 10k - 28:55 (2022) 15k - 43:27 (2022) 10 mile - 46:53 (2022) Half Marathon - 1:01:21 (2021) 25k - 1:14:28 (2021) Marathon: 2:09:29 (2025)
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