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Growing up in Louisville, there were never an abundant amount of signs that Yared Nuguse would become an Olympic medalist and a world record holder, but most of the time, there never are.
Eight years after graduating from duPont Manual High School in Louisville, Nuguse is jockeying for a spot on the Men's 1500m starting line in Tokyo for the World Athletics Championships.
Now, all eyes turn to the Diamond League Final in Zurich, where Nuguse not only faces a strong field but also his last chance to qualify for the World Championships.
The Making Of A World-Class Miler
Throughout his career, Nuguse has thrived in every setting he's stepped into. You could even argue that each of his three eras stands on its own as a distinct chapter of success and one that most runners at any level could only dream of.
State Titles, Anyone?
If you're curious, the number is five. From his junior track season through the end of his Ram career, Nuguse tallied five state titles and was rarely anything but the first across the line.
During the tail end of his junior year, Nuguse finally broke through for his first state title, winning the 1600m in 4:12. A few months later, he picked up five wins, one of which was his first cross country state title. But it wasn't until that spring that everything truly began to click.
That moment marked the unofficial start of Nuguse's rise as a true miler, when he also realized the considerable range he had at his discretion.
Over 800m, Nuguse dropped his time to 1:54 as a senior, a breakthrough that came with his first state title in the event. In the 1600/Mile, he went 6-1 during his senior campaign, lowering his PBs to 4:12 and then 4:06 - marks that vaulted him toward the top of the national leaderboard that year.
Just for kicks, Nuguse ran 9:06 for 3200m and 14:51 for 5000m, performances that underscored his range and proved he was far more than just a miler.
Nuguse's versatility would carry seamlessly into his transition to Notre Dame, where he quickly established himself as one of the most complete distance talents in the NCAA.
From South Bend To The World Stage
From the moment Nuguse set foot on Notre Dame's campus, greatness was only a matter of time.
His freshman year wasn't flashy, but for a true freshman who didn't redshirt, the Kentucky native adjusted quickly - finishing 19th at the NCAA Great Lakes XC Championship and helping Notre Dame to a runner-up finish in the DMR at the 2018 NCAA Indoor Championships just a few months later.
Over the next few years, Nuguse developed into one of the most consistent and formidable mid-distance runners in the country, collecting seven ACC titles, multiple All-American honors, and even winning a 1500m national title in 2019. But it was his 2021 campaign - in the midst of a global pandemic - that truly launched him to another level.
That spring, Nuguse soloed a new NCAA 1500m record of 3:34.68 at the ACC prelims, then followed it with a runner-up finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Weeks later, he placed third at the U.S. Olympic Trials to qualify for the Tokyo Games, cementing himself as one of the brightest young milers in American distance running.
The seasons that followed only reinforced his rise - from more conference dominance to additional national accolades - but it was that breakthrough stretch in 2021 that set the tone for the career Nuguse has built in the years since.
A Seamless Transition To The Professional Circuit
That 2021 campaign didn't just mark the height of his collegiate career - it laid the foundation for everything that has followed since.
Nuguse turned professional in June 2022, joining the On Athletics Club after his senior year at Notre Dame. He wasted little time proving himself on the global stage. In just two years, he's collected two U.S. titles, one indoors (3k) and one outdoors (1500m), a World Indoor silver medal in the 3k, and, most recently, a hard-fought Olympic bronze he won in the 1500m a year ago in Paris.
After finishing fifth in the U.S. Men's 1500m final earlier this month, Nuguse has been hard at work overseas securing his spot in the 2025 Diamond League final in Zurich, where a win sends him to the starting line in Tokyo.
He picked up the win in Silesia over a week and a half ago, before finishing third six days later in Belgium. While he's earned his spot in today's race in Zurich, the part will come after the gun goes off.
If Nuguse can keep up the momentum and break the tape in the Diamond League final, he'll join the American contingent of Jonah Koech, Cole Hocker, and Ethan Strand. He'll have to take down a red-hot Niels Laros (NED) and a battle-tested Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN), among many other strong runners.
To watch Nuguse chase the Diamond League Wildcard, tune in to the Zurich Diamond League Final LIVE on FloTrack at 1:50 PM ET.
What Is The Wanda Diamond League?
The Diamond League is a high-octane, world-class professional track and field series, featuring the top track & field athletes in the world. Think of it as the NBA of track & field, but with fewer dunks and more world records. It started in 2010 and has grown to become one the most exciting and prestigious series in track & field.
The Diamond League features 15 meets with the world's best competing across the globe in places like China, Doha, London, Monaco, Paris, and Eugene, Oregon. It's high stakes, with the athletes chasing points that could give them a shot at the coveted Diamond Trophy at the end of the season.
You can learn more about the Wanda Diamond League HERE.
