The Story of the Star Runner

Student’s Story Transcends Sports, Continents

Hagos+competes+at+the+Aquinas+Meet+on+Senior+Day.

Thomson Chew

Hagos competes at the Aquinas Meet on Senior Day.

Abel Hagos ‘19 has become a very successful runner since immigrating to the United States.

Hagos’ life in America started in 2013, when he emmigrated from Eritrea, a country located in East Africa on the coast of the Red Sea. He was 13 years old when he arrived in Baltimore, going into 7th grade. After being discontent with the school systems in Baltimore, Hagos and his family moved to Rochester and found McQuaid Jesuit, where he then started his eighth grade year.

Hagos had to adjust to American life. It was very different from his life in Africa, including a new language, culture, and people. “The language, technology, and weather are all very different,” Hagos stated. “There’s about seven different languages in Eritrea, even though the country is only the size of Pennsylvania. Eritrea is still developing and does not have much advanced technology like America. Most people use public transportation there. The government system is very different. In Eritrea there’s only one party, and it’s a dictatorship.”

Coming to America from Africa was difficult for Hagos. He faced many obstacles while adjusting to his new life in America. “The weather has been a big challenge, but I’m getting through it,” mentioned Hagos. “The summer is very hot and humid, even though I’m from Africa.”

Although the adjustment was difficult, Hagos enjoys his new life in America. He is grateful for the freedom and opportunities he has been provided since emmigrating from Africa. “What I like most about living in America is freedom,” Hagos noted. “You can do whatever you want as long as you are not breaking the law or harming others. Schools like McQuaid provide life changing opportunities. There’s also nothing better than seeing snow on Christmas.”

Hagos joined the indoor track team freshman year, kicking off his running career. He made the varsity team in his first season. From the very start, Mr. Todd Stewart, head coach of the cross-country team and distance coach of the indoor track team, saw potential in him. “When I first asked Abel to join indoor track his freshman year, it was because of how hard he played in everything we did during Physical Education,” commented Coach Stewart. “It wasn’t so much that he looked the part of a runner, but more importantly that he had an aggressive mentality to win.”

Over the years, Hagos has shown major improvements in his running ability. He has worked hard in training to become a better runner both mentally and physically. His times have improved considerably over his three years of running. “His level of maturity has truly come a long way by way of physical discipline as well as the discipline of being a true leader,” Coach Stewart said. “Consistency during workouts was really his kryptonite the first couple of seasons. He had great ability, but had a hard time adapting to an overall goal. These days, he has truly become one of the best I have ever coached when it comes to consistency and finishing the job. He has really done a tremendous job with self discipline.”

Coach Stewart has helped Hagos to reach the level he is currently at. Over the past three years, Hagos has enjoyed running under Coach Stewart. He believes that he could not have accomplished this much without Coach Stewart. “Coach Stewart is a great coach and a great man,” Hagos said. “He has taught me to become a better and more disciplined runner. Not just physically, but mentally too. During a race, it gets to that point where your form is breaking and you are mentally exhausted, and Coach Stewart has taught me to push past those limits and to the endure the pain. He has helped me achieve the goals and accomplishments I never thought I could.”

Hagos has achieved many great feats in his running career at McQuaid so far, recording notable times in his cross-country, indoor track, and outdoor track seasons. As the best distance runner at McQuaid, he currently holds an impressive personal record of 4:22 in the 1600m event. He also recorded an extraordinary time of 16:14 in the 5k. Hagos was selected to the Democrat & Chronicle First Team All-Greater Rochester for cross-country in the Fall of 2017. “This past season Abel really joined the ranks of some of the most elite runners that McQuaid has ever had (and that’s saying a lot),” Coach Stewart remarked. “Nothing was record breaking, but his name has moved up the list in comparison to other great Knights. Overall, if you say his name, most people are going to know who he is around the state.  He’s among the best.”

Hagos has been inspired by many to come as far as he has over the course of his running career at McQuaid. He works hard in both training and races to be the best runner he can be. “I have been truly inspired by God, my family, my teammates, and Coach Stewart to become a better runner,” Hagos reported. “They have all believed in me and supported me. After the seniors left last year, I realized it was my turn to step up.”

Although he has come a long way, Hagos isn’t finished quite yet. There is still much to be achieved in the remainder of his running career at McQuaid. He has set a few goals that he hopes to achieve. “I want to win sectionals and make it to states with the team next fall,” indicated Hagos. “I have been running for three years, and I aim to become a state champion. I hope to win states and run at the Nike New York Regional race to try to qualify for the Nike Cross Nationals race in Oregon. Another goal of mine is to break the McQuaid Invitational course record next fall.”

As a whole, Hagos has fallen in love with the running program at McQuaid Jesuit. He has grown very close to his teammates, coaches, and everyone involved in the program. He has had a very pleasant running experience at McQuaid so far. “I’m very close with my teammates and coaches,” declared Hagos. “We push each other beyond our limits during training and races, especially when it gets mentally and physically difficult. I’ve made a lot of good friends and learned many life lessons.”