Growing up in the rural Eritrean village of Debresina, Habtom Samuel spent his childhood helping on his family’s farm and covering nearly 14 kilometers each day to get to and from school. Years later, that same endurance helped the University of New Mexico standout break the NCAA outdoor 5,000-meter record of 12:57.22. With 1 year of collegiate eligibility still remaining and expectations of even more records ahead, Samuel decided to forgo his final NCAA season.

On July 7, the five-time NCAA champion announced the news in a post on Instagram. “After an unforgettable journey as a student-athlete, I have made the decision to pursue my dream and officially turn professional,” he wrote.

“While I still have one semester left to complete my degree at the University of New Mexico, I have decided that this is the right time to begin the next chapter of my running career,” Habtom Samuel wrote. “Finishing my education remains a priority, and I’m proud to continue working toward my degree while pursuing my professional goals.”

Although the Eritrean standout has officially entered the professional ranks, he has yet to announce a sponsorship agreement. According to reports, Samuel spent the past two years competing under an NIL partnership with HOKA, and his accomplishments have positioned him as one of the most sought-after distance runners on the market.

There are few collegiate athletes who have a résumé as robust as Samuel’s. Habtom Samuel won five NCAA championships, including the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championship, the 2026 NCAA Indoor 5,000-meter event, and the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championships (10,000m and 5,000m). He has the three fastest 5,000m performances outdoors in NCAA history as well.

Even New Mexico head coach Darren Gauson said the decision was carefully considered and came after discussions with several professional athletes, including former Lobo star Josh Kerr. Gauson said, “When you’ve dominated the NCAA like he has, it’s time to move on and test yourself against the next level of athletes.”

The coach believes Samuel’s historic collegiate success will make him one of the most attractive free agents in distance running. In his post, Habtom Samuel made sure to praise his coach. “Thank you Coach @dgauson for helping me win NCAA Championships, break records, and create lifelong memories. It has been an incredible honor to work with you. Those experiences have prepared me for what’s next.”

Interestingly, no athlete in the University of New Mexico history has won more NCAA national championships than Habtom Samuel. After three seasons filled with records, titles, and historic performances, he now leaves Albuquerque as one of the most accomplished distance runners. But even after becoming one of the biggest names in collegiate distance running, Habtom Samuel has never forgotten where he came from.

Eritrean farm boy became one of college running’s greatest stars

Habtom Samuel grew up in Debresina, a rural village in Eritrea, as the second of eight children in a farming family. Resources were limited, and running was never part of a grand plan. In fact, it was not even his first sport but was simply a part of life. As a child, he spent much of his time playing soccer.

Over time, Samuel began to realize that his running ability could open doors that soccer could not. “It’s better to start running in Africa. The soccer is not really a good opportunity,” Samuel once said.

The miles were not planned but quickly led to international success. The breakthrough came when he won bronze in the 3,000 meters in the World Athletics U20 Championships in 2021 in Nairobi. He then got his first taste of top-level competition at the Absa Kip Keino Classic a month later. Samuel came in fourth and was convinced that he was meant to be on the bigger stage.

That confidence eventually got him thousands of miles away from Eritrea to the University of New Mexico in 2023. Habtom Samuel had to learn English, embrace an entirely new culture, manage academic work and compete at the highest level, and acclimate to a completely different training environment. And the rest is history!

Interestingly, his accomplishments in college earned him a place as a finalist for The Bowerman, a track and field award for the highest individual achievement in college sports. He was also the 2026 USTFCCCA Men’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year and the 2025-26 Mountain West Male Athlete of the Year. By the time he announced his decision to turn professional, Samuel had become the most decorated NCAA champion.