Sharif Karie (born January 1, 1978) is an American former middle-distance runner who was prolific in high school and collegiate competition for various middle and long-distance disciplines. Born in

Mogadishu Mogadishu, locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and List of cities in Somalia by population, most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting traders across the Indian Ocean for millennia and has ...

, Karie left Somalia in August 1993, went to

Lansing, Michigan Lansing () is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Michigan. The most populous city in Ingham County, Michigan, Ingham County, parts of the city extend into Eaton County, Michigan, Eaton County and nort ...

, to live with a brother, then settled in

Springfield, Virginia Springfield is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fairfax County, Virginia, Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The Springfield CDP is recognized by the United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census Bureau with a population of 31,339 as of the 20 ...

. He attended and competed in track for West Springfield High School, then Lindenwood University, and finally the

University of Arkansas The University of Arkansas (U of A, UArk, or UA) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States. It is the Flagship campus, flagship campus of the University of Arkan ...

Running career

High school

Karie first competed for West Springfield High School, which he attended from the summer of 1993. Despite knowing little English language at the time, he joined the track program. In the spring of 1994, Karie ran his first ever high school mile race in 4:40 (min:sec). Less than two years later, Karie beat Seneca Lassiter in the 1995 VHSL Indoor State Championships for the 3200 meter race, running a time of 9:21.07. Topping off the end of his time with West Springfield High, Karie was named Gatorade track athlete of the year in 1997. To this day Karie is recorded in the all-time top 25 Virginia high school track runners for disciplines varying from the indoor 1000 meters, 1600 meters, and 3200 meters.

Collegiate

For a brief period Karie went to Lindenwood University, but would develop his collegiate track career with

, which was again becoming a recognized track school in the era of coach John McDonnell. In an interesting twist of fate, high school rival Seneca Lassiter was one of Karie's team mates on the Arkansas track team. On April 24, 1999, Karie along with Arkansas teammates Lassiter, Michael Power and Matthew Kerr ran a 4 x 1-mile relay in a time of 16:07.96, the seventh fasted time ever recorded for this relay distance.
All-Time Athletics: All-time men's best 4x1 Mile relay

References

External links

IAAF World Athletics, formerly known as the International Amateur Athletic Federation and International Association of Athletics Federations and formerly abbreviated as the IAAF, is the international sports governing body, governing body for the sport ...

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Sharif Karie
{{DEFAULTSORT:Karie, Sharif 1978 births Living people American people of Somali descent American male middle-distance runners Somalian male middle-distance runners Athletes from Mogadishu West Springfield High School (Virginia) alumni Sportspeople from Fairfax County, Virginia Lindenwood Lions men's track and field athletes Arkansas Razorbacks men's track and field athletes