COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – New Mexico distance runner Habtom Samuel has been named the ninth recipient of the Mountain West’s Hal Rothman Sportsmanship Award.

Established in 2005-06 and renamed in honor of the late UNLV faculty athletics representative Hal Rothman in 2007, the Mountain West Hal Rothman Sportsmanship Award is presented to a student-athlete in a MW-sponsored sport who has distinguished him or herself through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. The student-athlete also must demonstrate good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting and be in good academic standing.

Samuel, a freshman from Keren, Eritrea, had a dominant first season for the Lobos, punctuated by a national title in the 10,000-meter run at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. That accounted for just one of his five All-America citations in his first year in Albuquerque, as he was the runner-up at the 2023 NCAA Cross Country Championships before finishing fourth in the 5,000-meter run and seventh in the 3,000-meter run at the 2024 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. After his title run at the outdoor championships, he would add a sixth-place finish in the 5,000m race.

He swept the Conference’s postseason awards, as he was MW Men’s Athlete of the Year for the cross country, indoor and outdoor seasons.

In addition to his impressive athletic showing, Samuel demonstrated outstanding character and sportsmanship in his first collegiate season. After he finishes a race, Samuel always finds his competitors and gives them a hug and encouragement. At a home meet this season, in an event with only two people in it, he finished his race, then ran back 200 meters to cheer on his competitor to help him finish.

Perhaps his most noteworthy feat of sportsmanship came at the NCAA West Region Preliminary. Leading the pack early in the 5,000m race, Samuel saw that a teammate had fallen off the pace. The rookie stepped aside and dropped 10 places to run with and encourage his fellow Lobo before returning to the front of the pack and winning the race, punching his ticket to the NCAA outdoor championships in the event two days after winning the 10K regional title and ensuring he would race for the national title in that event, as well.

Past winners
2013-14: Chari Hawkins, Women’s Track & Field, Utah State
2012-13: William Kent, Men’s Track & Field, Air Force
2011-12: Dalton Boatright, Men’s Fencing, Air Force
2010-11: Daniel Trapani, Men’s Fencing, Air Force
2008-09: Erin Lorenzen, Rifle, TCU
2007-08: Peter French, Men’s Fencing, Air Force
2006-07: Kevin Bretting, Men’s Swimming & Diving, Wyoming
2005-06: Katie Battazzo, Women’s Soccer, Utah

Note: Award may not be presented annually.

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