Olympic Legends of Minnesota: Hassan Mead
Minnesota has had many illustrious cross country and track & field athletes throughout history. Some have been forgotten, and some are still competing, but one thing they all have in common? Being some of the greatest athletes this state has ever seen.
To qualify for this series the athlete has to have competed in high school track and/or cross country in Minnesota for at least one year and competed in an Olympic event. In all there were 21 athletes that qualified for our series.
Check out the previous installments in this series:
Olympic Legends of Minnesota: Ben Blankenship
Olympic Legends of Minnesota: Mark Lutz
Hassan Mead / Minneapolis South High School / 2006 Graduate
4th MN All Time 3200m (8:47.89)
62nd MN All Time 1600m (4:14.17)
2006 Class AA State XC Individual Champion (15:10.6)
4th 2006 Foot Locker Nationals
Professional PRs:
1500m- 3:37.65
1600m- 3:55.91
3000m- 7:38.51
5000m- 13:02.8
10000m- 27:32.49
During his short time running high school track and cross country in Minnesota, Hassan Mead left a giant impression on everyone. In his sole season running cross country he was undefeated in Minnesota, won the class AA state championship, won the Foot Locker Midwest Regional, and finished fourth at Foot Locker Nationals. On that track he finished 3rd and 2nd in back to back years in the 3200m at state and also added a pair of 6th place finishes in the 1600m.
Mead then attended the University of Minnesota where he became a school legend. While at the University of Minnesota he was an eight-time All-American, three Big Ten Indoor titles, four Big Ten outdoor titles, five All-Big Ten selections and was also named the 2009 Big Ten Track Athlete of the Year. Mead still holds the school record indoor for 5000m and outdoor at 5000m and 10000m. He also has the 2nd fastest 8000m time in cross country.
After graduating in 2012 Mead raced in the finals of the 2012 Olympic Trials at 5000m for the first time, he finished in eight place just behind fellow Minnesotan Elliot Heath. In 2016 Mead finished second in the 5000m at the Olympic Trials, guaranteeing his spot in Rio De Janeiro. He finished 11th overall with a time of 13:09.81. Mead has finished in a medalist position five times at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in his career.
