ESPN RISE

Dan Reeks couldn't believe what he was seeing.

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ESPN RISE Magazine

When he's not sleeping before meets, cover boy Solomon Haile is one of the nation's top runners.

It was only a couple hours before the 3,000-meter race at last year's Penn Relays, and Reeks' star distance runner, Solomon Haile, was sleeping under a tree. Haile (pronounced hi-LAY) was set to compete in the event, but with some time to kill, he decided to sneak in a nap.

Nothing to worry about: Haile woke up in time and placed second. Reeks has gotten used to Haile's penchant for sleeping before races. In fact, Haile now asks Reeks for the keys to the team van and sleeps in it until it's time to warm up. It's been a long journey for Haile to become the nation's top high school distance runner, so you can forgive the Sherwood (Sandy Spring, Md.) senior for trying to get any bit of sleep he can. Since moving to the U.S. from Ethiopia less than two years ago, Haile has needed to get acclimated to a new culture, language and curriculum -- and it's led to some late nights.

Although tiring, the process has been a satisfying one for Haile, who four years ago didn't even think running was in his future.

Back then, Haile was living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and had dreams of becoming a soccer star. Plans changed when a local club runner saw Haile playing soccer and told him he had a chance to be a star -- at running. In a country like Ethiopia, which is known for the distance running phenoms it produces, Haile had to seriously consider the possibility. He eventually began training with club runners.

As Haile walks into a Sherwood classroom at a lean 6-foot-2 and 152 pounds, it's easy to see why the runner back home saw his potential as a distance star. "Even if I'm good at soccer, I mean, I can't go further other than for fun maybe," Haile says. "But with running, I might one day be the best runner or go to the Olympics, which is every athlete's dream. When people keep telling you you're really good and you can do this and that, you start thinking, OK, this one is better than that one."

In October of 2007, Haile decided to come to the U.S. to get a better education and be closer to family members who were already living in the States, including his older sisters Naomi and Eden. So Haile, who had been living with his father and other siblings in Ethiopia, packed his bags and took the 16-hour flight to Dulles International Airport. Exhausted after his long journey, Haile greeted his family -- and then asked where he could train.

"There are three things in his life," says Reeks, who's in his 39th year of coaching. "One is his family, two is his faith and three is his running. Those are the most important things. Solomon knows what his goals are, so he's a lot more focused than a lot of kids are." "Running is the picture of life," adds Haile, his eyes lighting up and a warm smile spreading over his face. "When you live, you have to face a lot of things and you have to be strong to be successful. Running is the same thing. It's the symbol of life for me."

Haile now lives with Eden, his legal guardian, in Silver Spring, which is roughly a 20-minute drive from Sherwood. He chose to attend Sherwood because of its English for Speakers of Other Languages program, but he couldn't attend the school until two months after he moved because he was awaiting paperwork from Ethiopia.

Only three months after finally enrolling at Sherwood, he captured the 5,000-meter title at Nike Indoor Nationals in a meet-record time of 14:53.93. But he didn't stop there. Last spring, he earned his first state title with a state-record time of 9:06.13 in the 3,200. He then went on to win the 5,000 at Nike Outdoor Nationals.

This past fall, Haile entered his only cross country season with big expectations and didn't disappoint. Locally, he won the Class 4A state title, but it was on the national scene that he truly made his mark. It started at the prestigious Manhattan College Invitational, where Haile set a course record with a 12:06.7. Two months later, he took home the national title at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships. "That's my last high school cross country race, so that was a really nice moment in my life," says Haile, who was named Washington Post Runner of the Year.

Haile's cross country season wasn't without bumps in the road, however, as he had to answer questions about his age and whether he cashed checks he received while competing in road races prior to entering Sherwood. Haile was cleared on both fronts. "I've been through some hard situations," he says. "Let me give you an example. I like training in the hills. The hills are a sign of an obstacle. If I train in the hills, it's easier for me to run on the flat courses or on the track. Obstacles make you stronger."

He obviously didn't let the situation affect him athletically. After his dominating cross country campaign, Haile went on to win indoor state titles in the 1,600 and 3,200. His time of 9:19.74 in the 3,200 shattered the previous state mark of 9:30.06. When Haile runs, he doesn't feel any pressure.

"I just say, no, I don't need to fear anything," says Haile, who was considering Oklahoma State, Texas, Auburn and Northern Arizona at press time. "If I win the race, that would be nice. But if I lose it, it's OK, I can win the next time."

"He's so calm," adds Naomi. "I'm the one who has the butterflies when he's running. The moment he takes off, I start crying, and when I see him win, I cry. He's my baby brother. He's grown up so fast." And it's all been worth it for Haile -- even if he's had to lose a little sleep in the process.

Jon Mahoney covers high school sports for ESPN RISE Magazine.