Boris Berian
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Born |
December 19, 1992 Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| Residence | Big Bear Lake, California |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight | 157 lb (71 kg) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Track and Field |
| Event(s) | Middle distance |
| College team | Adams State University |
Medal record
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Boris Berian (born December 19, 1992) is an American middle distance runner. He was the 2016 National champion and represented the United States at the 2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships in the 800 meters where he won the gold medal. He set his indoor best winning the world championships at 1:45.87, boldly front running a sub-50 first 400. Outdoors he set his personal best 1:43.34 at the 2015 Herculis meet, finishing 4th behind the amazing fast finish of Amel Tuka. Berian ran collegiately for Adams State University. Barely a year before the Hercules meet, Berian was working in a Colorado Springs McDonalds as a college dropout, still trying to train after working the morning shift. He was a memorable athlete for former Adams State coach Joe Vigil. While running at Adams State, he won both the 2012 NCAA Men's Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships and NCAA Men's Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships at 800 meters. His wins helped the team win the outdoor championship and was runner up indoors. Prior to Adams State, Berian was the Colorado state champion two years a row at 400 meters, running for Widefield High School[1] ultimately running 46.9 for 400 meters and 1:52 for 800 meters.
Vigil recommended Berian to the Big Bear Track Club, a small track club formed by Carlos Handler around another aspiring unheralded former collegiate athlete, his wife, Brenda Martinez.
“. . . the kid had run a 46.9 400 in high school. That’s pretty much professional. I liked his speed, because you have to be born with speed. We can develop strength. Boris was born at altitude, 6,100 feet, and went to school at Adams State which is at 7,500 feet, Big Bear is at 6,700 feet. He’s lived his whole life at altitude. I saw this as a huge positive. No other 800 runner in this country lives and trains at altitude. People think altitude makes you slow, but 99.9% of the World and Olympic champions live and train at altitude. It gives you an advantage like the East Africans.”— Carlos Handler[2]
In that year of training he improved to become the #5 American 800 meter runner of all time.
References
External links
- Boris Berian profile at IAAF
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