Habtom Samuel, a 5-time NCAA champion, leaving UNM to start pro career

Habtom Samuel has run his last race as a Lobo.

>New Mexico’s star junior distance runner and five-time NCAA champion is opting out of his final year of eligibility to turn professional, he announced Tuesday via social media.

>After winning NCAA championships in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters last month, Samuel told reporters at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships he would “definitely” return for his final year as a Lobo.

>But Tuesday, the most-decorated athlete in program history wrote this is the “right time” to move onto a professional career while completing his final semester of coursework at UNM.

>“Finishing my education remains a priority, and I’m proud to continue working toward my degree while pursuing my professional goals,” he wrote in a post on Instagram. “I’m incredibly grateful to my family, coaches, teammates, (UNM) and everyone else who has supported me throughout this journey.”

>Despite announcing he would turn professional immediately, Samuel has not yet signed with a brand, the Journal learned Tuesday. He has been on an NIL deal with HOKA for the last two years, but is expected to attract a high amount of interest after winning national titles in cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field as a Lobo last season.

>Some big Lobo T&F news: Habtom Samuel is opting out of his last year of eligibility and turning pro.

>Five-time NCAA champ said in June that he planned to return for his senior season at UNM. Now it appears he’s signed with HOKA, who he had an NIL deal with the last two years. pic.twitter.com/imRUNcmfSz

>— Sean Reider (@lenaweereider) July 7, 2026

>UNM head track and field coach Darren Gauson said he talked with Samuel a “good amount” about his decision to pursue a professional career, but found out about his decision only Tuesday. He added that Samuel consulted with former Lobo great Josh Kerr and other pros in his circle before announcing his plan.

>“I think it was one of those (situations) where … your market value is really high and there’s really nothing left to prove or do, I think he just started to have some doubts (about coming back),” he said. “ … You like to think you’re indestructible, you’re never going to get an injury but … I think when you’ve dominated the NCAA like he has, it’s like, ‘alright, it’s time to move on and test myself against the next level of athletes.’”

>Gauson said he expects the majority of brands to be interested in Samuel, who’s already fared well against professionals. In May, he notably ran the then-world-leading 5K against a field partially comprised of former Olympians at the Sound Running L.A. Track Festival.

>“I think anyone will want to sign him,” Gauson said. “Obviously he has an NIL (deal) with HOKA, so they’re going to be desperate to hold on to them but I’m sure other brands, other companies will have a high interest level in him.

>“We just wanted (Samuel) to make the right decision and take care of his future. He’s from humble beginnings and this is just an amazing, life-changing situation for him.”

>A Keren, Eritrea native, Samuel joined UNM for his freshman season in 2023 after a distinguished youth career representing his home country. He went on to finish as the NCAA runner-up in men’s cross country before surviving a late fall to win the men’s outdoor 10K final, delivering UNM’s first outdoor track title since 2019.

>Samuel’s second year as a Lobo was marked by a series of close finishes: Despite losing a shoe, he placed second again in the NCAA cross country final and finished as the runner-up in the indoor and outdoor 5K finals and the men’s 10K final, the latter to former teammate Ishmael Kipkurui.

>As a junior, Samuel authored perhaps the greatest year of any athlete in school history, winning the NCAA individual cross country title and national championships in the indoor 5K and the outdoor 5K and 10K. He also set a new NCAA record in the outdoor 5K, closing in 13 minutes and 3.47 seconds to beat his previous best.

>No athlete in program history has won more national championships than Samuel.

>“I think this year he proved he can win kind of any way he wants to run the race,” Gauson said. “He just turned into more of a complete athlete this year, and I think that’s why he (had so much success). He’s just ready to challenge himself and yeah, run some pro races and obviously make some pretty good money as well.”

>Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at @lenaweereider.