Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1496419
IRISH IN THE PROS BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM MAY 2023 41 BY TODD D. BURLAGE N ot trying to sound smug or arro- gant, former Irish middle distance star Yared Nuguse admits now that when he lined up for the 1-mile race at the prestigious Millrose Games in New York City Feb. 11, he believed there was a chance that he'd finish the event with more than just an individual title. "The Goose" did just that — and then some — cruising to victory while simul- taneously shattering the all-time U.S. record in the indoor mile with an in- credible time of 3:47.38. "I felt pretty confident in my ability to go after the record and gave it my best shot," Nuguse told Blue & Gold Il- lustrated. "And thankfully, I was able to, with ample time to spare." The previous U.S. record — a 3:49.89 set by Bernard Lagat in 2005 — didn't stand a chance against Nuguse, who posted the second-fastest indoor mile time ever and finished less than a half- second off the world-record time of 3:47.01 that Yomif Kejelcha of Ethopia set in 2019. Based on his training, ongoing im- provement and surging performances — Nuguse also broke a 10-year-old U.S. record in the 3K in 7:28.24, a week be- fore he set the mile record — the 2021 Notre Dame graduate knew the all-time U.S. indoor mile mark was within his reach. "[But] I was very surprised at the time I posted," he said. "A 3:47 [in the mile] is something I thought I would eventually reach and something I might achieve later down the line, but not so early in my career and not in such dramatic fashion." NEXT CHAPTER Nuguse, who turns 24 in June, won multiple national titles while com- peting at Notre Dame from 2017-22, and became one of the most decorated Fighting Irish athletes in any sport of all time. Among his top collegiate accomplish- ments, Nuguse set an NCAA record in the 1,500 meters in May 2021, with a time of 3:34.68. The clocking met the Olympic stan- dard and secured Nuguse a spot on the U.S. Olympic team that competed in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in July 2021. Before that in 2019, Nuguse won a NCAA title in the 1,500 meters and was also part of the Irish indoor distance medley national championship relay team. In June 2022 after he left Notre Dame, Nuguse joined the On Athletics Club, a professional team based in Boulder, Colo., where he trains under club head coach Dathan Ritzenhein, a former U.S. record holder in the 5,000 meters. Nuguse explained that while training professionally every day is challenging. "It's nothing compared to competing in college, especially at Notre Dame," he said. "I have a lot more time to kind of breathe, relax and just take in every- thing I'm doing. "It's been a nice change compared to when I was in school and the demands were absolutely endless." Nuguse explained how most of the income for his training and expenses comes from a sponsorship deal with a running shoe and athletic apparel com- pany named On, while additional sup- plementary income comes from prize money. With the indoor track season com- plete, Nuguse will take his talents out- doors and mainly compete in the elite Diamond League series overseas in preparation for the U.S. Championships in July and the World Championships in August, all with an eye toward the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. "Everything is going as perfectly as I could've ever wanted it to," Nuguse said of his evolving career. "I've been getting better and performing better than I ever thought I could so quickly." ✦ Nuguse (shown earlier this season in Boston) ran a 3:47.38 in the indoor mile at the Millrose Games in February, the best effort ever by an American runner. PHOTO BY JUSTIN BRITTON Distance Star Yared Nuguse Shatters U.S. Indoor Mile Record FIGHTING IRISH HEADLINERS Jack Cooley (Played at Notre Dame from 2009-13), F, Ryukyu Golden Kings (Japanese B.League) Playing his fourth year in Okinawa City, Japan, 31-year-old Cooley is putting together his best season there yet, leading the Golden Kings in both scoring (16.3 points per game) and rebounding (12.1 boards per game) through 45 games as of April 2. After spending the 2017-18 season with the Sacramento Kings of the NBA, Cooley has blossomed playing overseas the last five seasons. Kyle Palmieri (2009-10), F, New York Islanders (NHL) Through a four-game stretch from March 15-24, the 32-year-old Palmieri tallied 3 goals and 4 assists — including a 1 goal, 3 assists game on March 15 — and led the Islanders to a 3-1 record. Through 51 games as of April 2, the 13-year NHL veteran had 15 goals and 16 assists. Paul Atkinson Jr. (2021-22), F, Atomeromu SE (Paks, Hungary) Playing his first season in the Nemzdeti Bajnoksag I/A league — the top profes- sional basketball circuit in Hungary — Atkinson, 23, was third on his team with 14.7 points a game and was tied for first with 8.0 rebounds per game, through April 2. The West Palm Beach, Fla., native also led the four-time Hungarian champions with 0.7 blocks per game.