Noah Haileab - Pearland Dawson
Haileab hasn't been running for a long time, but the moment he picked up the sport is when he started making waves. The Pearland Dawson junior has the prototypical frame for a good distance runner but he also has the talent and mentality to go with it.
He started out as a youth phenom on the youth club scene by going 2:03.43 (800m), 4:10.78 (1500m), and 9:16.70 (3,000m). His high school running saw him continue the trend as he began to get more mileage and experience as he quickly adjusted to the distances and the stronger and more prepared runners.
He went 16:42.25 in his first 5K as a freshman and ended up with a 16:01.26 SB at the UIL 6A state meet. He continued to improve as a sophomore when he started the year off with a 16:02.60 at the tough Brenham Hillacious Invitational course and topped out at 15:26.61 at the state meet last fall.
COVID-19 kept him from competing on the club circuit this summer for the first time as a high school runner. If that enabled him to get more mileage during the off season he could begin the cross country season even more prepared for the 5K and he could be well rested when it comes to championship season.
With rest and a more distance focused off season with Coach Zarate, Haileab will have All-State potential.