Abdullah Media Notes
Abdullah’s 2016 Heptathlon Top Performances
Abdullah’s 2016 Non-Heptathlon Top Performances
Heptathlon 60 Meter Dash Bilal Abdullah.................5891 pts New Mexico Classic Bilal Abdullah........................... 6.07; A-Sun Indoor Championship Bilal Abdullah.................5688 pts Gladstein Invitational Bilal Abdullah........................... 6.97; A-Sun Indoor Championship 60 Meters Bilal Abdullah.................6.89 New Mexico Classic Bilal Abdullah.................7.02 Gladstein Invitational 60 Meter Hurdles Bilal Abdullah.................8.04 New Mexico Classic Bilal Abdullah.................8.04 Gladstein Invitational 1000 Meters Bilal Abdullah.................2:56.86 New Mexico Classic Bilal Abdullah.................2:59.12 Gladstein Invitational Long Jump Bilal Abdullah.................7.75m 25’5.25 New Mexico Classic Bilal Abdullah.................7.27m 23’10.25” Gladstein Invitational Shot Put Bilal Abdullah.................11.96m 39.3 Gladstein Invitational Bilal Abdullah.................11.73m 38’6 New Mexico Classic High Jump Bilal Abdullah.................2.10m 6’10.75 New Mexico Classic Bilal Abdullah.................2.10m 6’10.75 Gladstein Invitational Pole Vault Bilal Abdullah.................4.70m 15’5 New Mexico Classic Bilal Abdullah.................4.60m 15’1 Gladstein Invitational
60 Meter Hurdles Bilal Abdullah........................... 7.90; Bilal Abdullah........................... 7.90; Bilal Abdullah........................... 7.92; Bilal Abdullah........................... 7.94; Bilal Abdullah........................... 7.96;
UAB Vulcan Invitational UAB Vulcan Invitational A-Sun Indoor Championship BSC Panther Icebreaker BSC Panther Icebreaker
High Jump Bilal Abdullah ............... 2.10m 6’10.75”; A-Sun Indoor Championship Bilal Abdullah ............... 2.05m 6’8.75”; UAB Blazer Invitational Pole Vault Bilal Abdullah................. 4.40m 14’5.25; David E. Walker Classic Bilal Abdullah................. 4.31m 14’1.25”; A-Sun Indoor Championship Bilal Abdullah................. 4.25m 13’11.25”; UAB Vulcan Invitational Long Jump Bilal Abdullah.................7.98m 26’2.25’’ UAB Vulcan Invitational Bilal Abdullah.................7.82m 25’8’’ David E. Walker Classic Bilal Abdullah.................7.63m 25’0.25’’ BSC Panther Icebreaker Bilal Abdullah.................7.52m 24’8.25’’ A-Sun Indoor Championship Triple Jump Bilal Abdullah.................14.18m 46’6.25’’ A-Sun Indoor Championship Shot Put Bilal Abdullah.................11.31m 37’1.25; David E. Walker Classic
Bilal’s Bullets • Five-Time A-Sun Champion • 2016 A-Sun Most Outstanding Indoor Performer • 2015 USTFCCCA First Team All-American (Heptathlon) • 12-Time A-Sun Performer of the Week • Holds Five School Records
ABDULLAH BIO 60m 100m 200m 400m 1000m 1500m 60h 110h- 400h High Jump Pole Vault Long Jump Triple Jump Shot Put Discus Weight Throw Javelin Heptathlon Decathlon
PERSONAL BESTS 6.89 A-Sun Indoor Championships 11.16 A-Sun Outdoor Championships 21.43 BSC Panther Icebreaker 47.93 BU Scarlet and White Invite* 2:47.55 NCAA Indoor Championships (Hepathlon) 5:15.52 A-Sun Outdoor Championships (Decathlon) 7.87 NCAA Indoor Championships (Heptathlon)* 14.23 A-Sun Outdoor Championships 52.47 Yellow Jacket Invitational 3.16m Florida Relays 4.70m New Mexico Classic (Heptathlon) 7.98m UAB Vulcan Invitational* 14.38m UAB Blazer Invitational 12.06m UAB Blazer Invitational 36.53mSouthern Miss Invitational 12.14m A-Sun Indoor Championships (Heptathlon) 36.53m A-Sun Outdoor Championships 5941 points NCAA Indoor Championships* 7145 points A-Sun Outdoor Championships *bold denotes school record
HONORS 2012-13 Outdoor 2013 A-Sun 2013 A-Sun 2013 A-Sun 2013 A-Sun 2013 A-Sun
Most Outstanding Freshman Performer Conference First Team All-Conference (110) Conference Second Team All-Conference (4x100m relay) Conference Third Team All-Conference (High Jump) Conference Field Athlete of the Week (4/10)
Indoor 2013 A-Sun 2013 A-Sun 2013 A-Sun 2013 A-Sun
Most Outstanding Freshman Performer Conference Second Team All-Conference (60m) Conference Second Team All-Conference (High Jump) Conference Track Athlete of the Week (2/13)
2013-14 Outdoor 2014 A-Sun 2014 A-Sun 2014 A-Sun 2014 A-Sun Indoor 2014 A-Sun 2014-15 Outdoor 2015 A-Sun 2015 A-Sun 2015 A-Sun 2015 A-Sun
Conference Conference Conference Conference
Second Team All-Conference (110h) Third Team All-Conference (High Jump) Third Team All-Conference (Long Jump) Track Athlete of the Week (4/23)
Conference Third Team All-Conference (60H)
Conference Conference Conference Conference
First Team All-Conference (Decathlon) Second Team All-Conference (Triple Jump) Third Team All-Conference (High Jump) Third Team All-Conference (110 Hurdles)
Indoor 2015 A-Sun Conference First Team All-Conference (Heptathlon) 2015 A-Sun Conference Second Team All-Conference (200m) 2015 A-Sun Conference Track Athlete of the Week (12/10, 2/11) USTFCCCA First Team All-American (Heptathlon) 2015-16 Indoor 2016 A-Sun 2016 A-Sun 2016 A-Sun 2016 A-Sun 2016 A-Sun
Conference Conference Conference Conference Conference
Most Outstanding Performer First Team All-Conference (long jump, 60m) Second Team All-Conference (HJ, TJ) Track Athlete of the Week (12/10, 1/20, 1/27, 2/11) Field Athlete of the Week (12/10, 1/20, 1/27) BIO INFORMATION
2015-16 Indoor Competed in seven meets during the season ... Competed in the heptathlon at the Gladstein Invitational and New Mexico Classic … Collected two wins at BSC Panther Indoor Icebreaker … Won the 60m-dash in a time of 7.94 at the BSC Panther Indoor Icebreaker … Won the long jump with a leap of 7.63m (25’0.5) at the BSC Panther Indoor Icebreaker… Was named A-Sun Conference Track and Field Athlete of the Week on 12/10 for his performance at the BSC Panther Indoor Icebreaker … Won the long jump, leaping 7.82m (25’8) at the David E. Walker Classic … Won the high jump at the UAB Blazer Invitational after clearing 2.05m (6’8.75) ... Had a big day
at the UAB Vulcan Invitational ... Won the long jump with a school record jump of 7.98m (26’2.25) which qualified him for NCAAs ... Finished second in the 60m-dash in 7.90 seconds ... Was third in the pole vault after clearing 4.25m (13’11.25) ... Was named A-Sun Track and Field Athlete of the Week for his performanes at UAB Blazer and UAB Vulcan Invitationals ... Won the heptathlon at the Gladstein Invitational, scoring 5688 points, collecting two wins in the 60m-dash and 60m hurdles ... Was top collegian in the pole vault and long jump ... Was the top collegian in the heptathlon at the New Mexico Classic with 5891 points ... Won the 60m-dash, 60m hurdles and the long jump in the heptathlon ... Was named Most Outstanding Performer at Atlantic Sun Indoor Championships after winning the 60m-dash (6.97) and the long jump (7.52m 24’8.25) and finished second in the high jump (2.10m 6’10.75) and the triple jump (14.18m 46’6.25). 2014-15 Outdoor Qualified for the NCAA Championships East Preliminary Round in the high jump and triple jump ... Anchor of the 4x400m relay team that set school record time of 3:12.40 finishing 13th overall. ... Finished top-15 in four events at the UNF Twilight, including a 7th place finish in the javelin with a toss of 42.75m (140-3) ... Competed in the decathlon, high jump, and triple jump at the A-Sun Championships ... Won the decathlon with conference record 4,781 points and won four events. Set a new A-Sun decathlon superlative in the 100-meter dash (10.94), long jump (7.44m, 24-5), high jump (2.08m, 6-9.75), and 110-meter hurdles (14.62). Indoor Became the first Owl ever to score in a NCAA Indoor Championship meet finishing 4th in the heptathlon. Set a school-record earning 5,941 points in the heptathlon at the NCAA Championships ... Competed in nine meets during the season. Competed in the heptathlon at the Jack Johnson Classic, A-Sun Championships, and the NCAA Championships … Collected two wins and two second place finishes at BSC Panther Indoor Icebreaker … Won the 200m in a career-best time of 21.43 at BSC Panther Indoor Icebreaker … Ran the third leg of the 4x400 team that won at the BSC Panther Indoor Icebreaker… Was named A-Sun Conference Track Athlete of the Week on 12/10 for his performance at the BSC Panther Indoor Icebreaker … Set a new school-record in the 60m hurdles (7.87), 400m (47.93), and 4x400 relay (3:13.17) banked track at the BU Scarlet and White Invite … Won the heptathlon at the A-Sun Championships establishing a new A-Sun heptathlon scoring record of 5600 points … Set new A-Sun heptathlon superlatives in the 60m dash (6.89), 60m hurdles (8.04), high jump (2.09m, 6-10.25), and long jump (7.01m, 23-0) which were good for four wins and helped earn him a trip to the NCAA Indoor Championships … Collected two wins in the 60m (6.90) and the long jump (7.65m, 25-1.25) and two second place finishes in the 60m hurdles and the high jump at the NCAA Indoor Championships. 2013-14 Indoor Finished third in the 60m hurdles at the A-Sun Championship with a time of 8.18… Cleared 2.14m (7’0.25”) at the Armory Collegiate… Competed in four different events at the A-Sun Championship. Outdoor Qualified for the NCAA East Regional in the 110m hurdles… Competed in six events at the Atlantic Sun Championships… Finished with two second place finishes in the 110m hurdles and the 400m hurdles. 2012-2013 Outdoor Earned the Men’s Most Outstanding Freshman Performer after tallying 27 points, which was second most in the meet... Won the Atlantic Sun Championship in the 110-meter hurdles (14.51)… Best high jump came at the Florida Relays (2.16m/7-03.0ft) where he placed second. Indoor Earned the Men’s Most Outstanding Freshmen Athlete award...Placed first in the heptathlon at the Samford Invitational with 4980 points, which was a school record and earned him A-Sun Athlete of the Week… Set two other school records at the Samford Invitational in the high jump (2.0m) and 60-meter dash (7.09)... Jumped 7.17m/23-06.25 ft. in the long jump at the BSC Invitational and finished in first place… Best finish at the Atlantic Sun Championships was second place in the 60-meter hurdles (8.30) and in the high jump (2.10m/6-10.75ft). Personal Bilal Abdullah was born to Mikal and Cerise Abdullah in Washington D.C…. Has 8 siblings: Salih, Tariq, Khalil, Suraiyah, Sayeed, Aliyyah, Ali, and Amir… Enjoys basketball and watching the Celtics…Likes eating Chick-fil-A and Jolly Ranchers…Favorite show is South Park…Computer Science Major
Bilal Abdullah Press Clipping
After late introduction to sport, Abdullah flourishes with Kennesaw State track team by John Bednarowski [email protected] Wednesday, February 24, 2016 As a high school senior, Bilal Abdullah moved from South Carolina to Gwinnett County. Now, the track and field standout could be on pace to go from Kennesaw State to the Olympics. First, though, the senior has a little work left to do. It starts this weekend with the Atlantic Sun Conference’s indoor championships in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and then the NCAA championships next month in Birmingham, Alabama.
“I get bored real easy,” he said. “I don’t like doing the same thing over and over again.” After solid performances in his events over his first two seasons in college, it took the death of his mother, Cerise, that helped spur Abdullah to take his lifestyle and performance to the next level. “He had a classical freshman lifestyle,” Eggerth said of the poor eating and sleeping habits Abdullah exhibited. “He was better his sophomore year.” With a better lifestyle, Abdullah’s performance level has soared. He has improved his heptathlon score by 400 points, and his long jump has increased more than 2 feet. The only thing that seems to be holding him back is his throws — the shot put, discus and javelin. “We have no idea why,” said Abdullah, who trains three hours a day, six days a week. “I have good form, but slow form.” Even with the struggles, Eggerth said there is a good chance Abdullah could get invited to the Olympic trials in July, following the NCAA outdoor championships. While Abdullah said he would love to compete in the Olympics this summer in Rio de Janeiro, the odds are much better for 2020 in Tokyo.
Abdullah appears to be the favorite to win A-Sun titles in the heptathlon and the long jump this weekend. He has posted the highest score in the heptathlon (5,891) in the conference by more than 400 points, and he has the third-best score in the country to this point.
Based on his improvement, he is right on track.
Kennesaw State coach Andy Eggerth has a different plan for Abdullah this weekend, and it doesn’t include his best event.
Once the NCAA championships are over this summer, Abdullah plans to stay close to the Kennesaw State program and help the team while continuing his training. Eggerth said Abdullah has already become a mentor for some of the Owls’ younger athletes.
“He would win the heptathlon easily,” said Eggerth, looking to guide the men’s team to its fifth straight A-Sun indoor title and seventh in nine years, “But we’re going to put him in a number of events to allow him to get more points and help the team.” That is fine with Abdullah. Since he has already posted a qualifying score for the NCAA championships in the heptathlon, he has his sights on leaving his mark in his final conference indoor meet. “I’d rather go out and try to break as many records as I can,” Abdullah said. Abdullah currently holds the best conference marks in the 60-meter hurdles (7.90 seconds), high jump (6 feet, 10¾ inches) and long jump (26-2¼). He is second in the 60-meter run (6.91), fourth in the pole vault (15-5) and ninth in the shot put (39-7). He is also part of the Kennesaw State relay teams. It is pretty heady stuff for someone who played basketball when he enrolled at Brookwood High School as a senior five years ago. “I didn’t know anything about track when I started,” said Abdullah, who ran the 400 and did the high jump in his one season at Brookwood. Abdullah was such a novice, he did not know he could complete in more than one event. But he caught the attention of Eggerth after winning a state title in the high jump, and the Owls’ coach though he had a lot of untapped potential. Eggerth already had plans to turn Abdullah into someone who could not only compete in the heptathlon, but the decathlon during the outdoor season. That was the best thing Abdullah could have heard.
“It takes eight years to master an event,” Abdullah said. “Things are starting to click. Coach always said I had it in me, and I’m halfway through the learning process.”
Freshman Dayo Akindele said Abdullah has told him to, “‘Love the sport. Don’t waste your time. Treat practice like it’s a meet.’ “I hear it every day,” Akindele said, “and he tells me, ‘Put into your body what you want to put out. Eat healthy.’” Abdullah wants to pass what he knows on to give back to the program that found him. “I’ve developed good discipline,” he said. “I know the things to avoid, the things to eat and the proper attitude. I didn’t realize it as a freshman, and now these guys are farther along than I was.” While Abdullah likes passing on his knowledge, he said potentially becoming a coach is a long way away. He wants to win the NCAA championship in the heptathlon, finish top-three in the long jump and have an equally successful outdoor season. “I’m going to put everything in God’s hands,” Abdullah said. “I always wanted to be the best as a kid. I’m going to do my best each and every day, and I’m either going to get there or at least be able to say I tried.”
Abdullah’s 2016 Non-Heptathlon Top Performances
Heptathlon 60 Meter Dash Bilal Abdullah.................5891 pts New Mexico Classic Bilal Abdullah........................... 6.07; A-Sun Indoor Championship Bilal Abdullah.................5688 pts Gladstein Invitational Bilal Abdullah........................... 6.97; A-Sun Indoor Championship 60 Meters Bilal Abdullah.................6.89 New Mexico Classic Bilal Abdullah.................7.02 Gladstein Invitational 60 Meter Hurdles Bilal Abdullah.................8.04 New Mexico Classic Bilal Abdullah.................8.04 Gladstein Invitational 1000 Meters Bilal Abdullah.................2:56.86 New Mexico Classic Bilal Abdullah.................2:59.12 Gladstein Invitational Long Jump Bilal Abdullah.................7.75m 25’5.25 New Mexico Classic Bilal Abdullah.................7.27m 23’10.25” Gladstein Invitational Shot Put Bilal Abdullah.................11.96m 39.3 Gladstein Invitational Bilal Abdullah.................11.73m 38’6 New Mexico Classic High Jump Bilal Abdullah.................2.10m 6’10.75 New Mexico Classic Bilal Abdullah.................2.10m 6’10.75 Gladstein Invitational Pole Vault Bilal Abdullah.................4.70m 15’5 New Mexico Classic Bilal Abdullah.................4.60m 15’1 Gladstein Invitational
60 Meter Hurdles Bilal Abdullah........................... 7.90; Bilal Abdullah........................... 7.90; Bilal Abdullah........................... 7.92; Bilal Abdullah........................... 7.94; Bilal Abdullah........................... 7.96;
UAB Vulcan Invitational UAB Vulcan Invitational A-Sun Indoor Championship BSC Panther Icebreaker BSC Panther Icebreaker
High Jump Bilal Abdullah ............... 2.10m 6’10.75”; A-Sun Indoor Championship Bilal Abdullah ............... 2.05m 6’8.75”; UAB Blazer Invitational Pole Vault Bilal Abdullah................. 4.40m 14’5.25; David E. Walker Classic Bilal Abdullah................. 4.31m 14’1.25”; A-Sun Indoor Championship Bilal Abdullah................. 4.25m 13’11.25”; UAB Vulcan Invitational Long Jump Bilal Abdullah.................7.98m 26’2.25’’ UAB Vulcan Invitational Bilal Abdullah.................7.82m 25’8’’ David E. Walker Classic Bilal Abdullah.................7.63m 25’0.25’’ BSC Panther Icebreaker Bilal Abdullah.................7.52m 24’8.25’’ A-Sun Indoor Championship Triple Jump Bilal Abdullah.................14.18m 46’6.25’’ A-Sun Indoor Championship Shot Put Bilal Abdullah.................11.31m 37’1.25; David E. Walker Classic
Bilal’s Bullets • Five-Time A-Sun Champion • 2016 A-Sun Most Outstanding Indoor Performer • 2015 USTFCCCA First Team All-American (Heptathlon) • 12-Time A-Sun Performer of the Week • Holds Five School Records
ABDULLAH BIO 60m 100m 200m 400m 1000m 1500m 60h 110h- 400h High Jump Pole Vault Long Jump Triple Jump Shot Put Discus Weight Throw Javelin Heptathlon Decathlon
PERSONAL BESTS 6.89 A-Sun Indoor Championships 11.16 A-Sun Outdoor Championships 21.43 BSC Panther Icebreaker 47.93 BU Scarlet and White Invite* 2:47.55 NCAA Indoor Championships (Hepathlon) 5:15.52 A-Sun Outdoor Championships (Decathlon) 7.87 NCAA Indoor Championships (Heptathlon)* 14.23 A-Sun Outdoor Championships 52.47 Yellow Jacket Invitational 3.16m Florida Relays 4.70m New Mexico Classic (Heptathlon) 7.98m UAB Vulcan Invitational* 14.38m UAB Blazer Invitational 12.06m UAB Blazer Invitational 36.53mSouthern Miss Invitational 12.14m A-Sun Indoor Championships (Heptathlon) 36.53m A-Sun Outdoor Championships 5941 points NCAA Indoor Championships* 7145 points A-Sun Outdoor Championships *bold denotes school record
HONORS 2012-13 Outdoor 2013 A-Sun 2013 A-Sun 2013 A-Sun 2013 A-Sun 2013 A-Sun
Most Outstanding Freshman Performer Conference First Team All-Conference (110) Conference Second Team All-Conference (4x100m relay) Conference Third Team All-Conference (High Jump) Conference Field Athlete of the Week (4/10)
Indoor 2013 A-Sun 2013 A-Sun 2013 A-Sun 2013 A-Sun
Most Outstanding Freshman Performer Conference Second Team All-Conference (60m) Conference Second Team All-Conference (High Jump) Conference Track Athlete of the Week (2/13)
2013-14 Outdoor 2014 A-Sun 2014 A-Sun 2014 A-Sun 2014 A-Sun Indoor 2014 A-Sun 2014-15 Outdoor 2015 A-Sun 2015 A-Sun 2015 A-Sun 2015 A-Sun
Conference Conference Conference Conference
Second Team All-Conference (110h) Third Team All-Conference (High Jump) Third Team All-Conference (Long Jump) Track Athlete of the Week (4/23)
Conference Third Team All-Conference (60H)
Conference Conference Conference Conference
First Team All-Conference (Decathlon) Second Team All-Conference (Triple Jump) Third Team All-Conference (High Jump) Third Team All-Conference (110 Hurdles)
Indoor 2015 A-Sun Conference First Team All-Conference (Heptathlon) 2015 A-Sun Conference Second Team All-Conference (200m) 2015 A-Sun Conference Track Athlete of the Week (12/10, 2/11) USTFCCCA First Team All-American (Heptathlon) 2015-16 Indoor 2016 A-Sun 2016 A-Sun 2016 A-Sun 2016 A-Sun 2016 A-Sun
Conference Conference Conference Conference Conference
Most Outstanding Performer First Team All-Conference (long jump, 60m) Second Team All-Conference (HJ, TJ) Track Athlete of the Week (12/10, 1/20, 1/27, 2/11) Field Athlete of the Week (12/10, 1/20, 1/27) BIO INFORMATION
2015-16 Indoor Competed in seven meets during the season ... Competed in the heptathlon at the Gladstein Invitational and New Mexico Classic … Collected two wins at BSC Panther Indoor Icebreaker … Won the 60m-dash in a time of 7.94 at the BSC Panther Indoor Icebreaker … Won the long jump with a leap of 7.63m (25’0.5) at the BSC Panther Indoor Icebreaker… Was named A-Sun Conference Track and Field Athlete of the Week on 12/10 for his performance at the BSC Panther Indoor Icebreaker … Won the long jump, leaping 7.82m (25’8) at the David E. Walker Classic … Won the high jump at the UAB Blazer Invitational after clearing 2.05m (6’8.75) ... Had a big day
at the UAB Vulcan Invitational ... Won the long jump with a school record jump of 7.98m (26’2.25) which qualified him for NCAAs ... Finished second in the 60m-dash in 7.90 seconds ... Was third in the pole vault after clearing 4.25m (13’11.25) ... Was named A-Sun Track and Field Athlete of the Week for his performanes at UAB Blazer and UAB Vulcan Invitationals ... Won the heptathlon at the Gladstein Invitational, scoring 5688 points, collecting two wins in the 60m-dash and 60m hurdles ... Was top collegian in the pole vault and long jump ... Was the top collegian in the heptathlon at the New Mexico Classic with 5891 points ... Won the 60m-dash, 60m hurdles and the long jump in the heptathlon ... Was named Most Outstanding Performer at Atlantic Sun Indoor Championships after winning the 60m-dash (6.97) and the long jump (7.52m 24’8.25) and finished second in the high jump (2.10m 6’10.75) and the triple jump (14.18m 46’6.25). 2014-15 Outdoor Qualified for the NCAA Championships East Preliminary Round in the high jump and triple jump ... Anchor of the 4x400m relay team that set school record time of 3:12.40 finishing 13th overall. ... Finished top-15 in four events at the UNF Twilight, including a 7th place finish in the javelin with a toss of 42.75m (140-3) ... Competed in the decathlon, high jump, and triple jump at the A-Sun Championships ... Won the decathlon with conference record 4,781 points and won four events. Set a new A-Sun decathlon superlative in the 100-meter dash (10.94), long jump (7.44m, 24-5), high jump (2.08m, 6-9.75), and 110-meter hurdles (14.62). Indoor Became the first Owl ever to score in a NCAA Indoor Championship meet finishing 4th in the heptathlon. Set a school-record earning 5,941 points in the heptathlon at the NCAA Championships ... Competed in nine meets during the season. Competed in the heptathlon at the Jack Johnson Classic, A-Sun Championships, and the NCAA Championships … Collected two wins and two second place finishes at BSC Panther Indoor Icebreaker … Won the 200m in a career-best time of 21.43 at BSC Panther Indoor Icebreaker … Ran the third leg of the 4x400 team that won at the BSC Panther Indoor Icebreaker… Was named A-Sun Conference Track Athlete of the Week on 12/10 for his performance at the BSC Panther Indoor Icebreaker … Set a new school-record in the 60m hurdles (7.87), 400m (47.93), and 4x400 relay (3:13.17) banked track at the BU Scarlet and White Invite … Won the heptathlon at the A-Sun Championships establishing a new A-Sun heptathlon scoring record of 5600 points … Set new A-Sun heptathlon superlatives in the 60m dash (6.89), 60m hurdles (8.04), high jump (2.09m, 6-10.25), and long jump (7.01m, 23-0) which were good for four wins and helped earn him a trip to the NCAA Indoor Championships … Collected two wins in the 60m (6.90) and the long jump (7.65m, 25-1.25) and two second place finishes in the 60m hurdles and the high jump at the NCAA Indoor Championships. 2013-14 Indoor Finished third in the 60m hurdles at the A-Sun Championship with a time of 8.18… Cleared 2.14m (7’0.25”) at the Armory Collegiate… Competed in four different events at the A-Sun Championship. Outdoor Qualified for the NCAA East Regional in the 110m hurdles… Competed in six events at the Atlantic Sun Championships… Finished with two second place finishes in the 110m hurdles and the 400m hurdles. 2012-2013 Outdoor Earned the Men’s Most Outstanding Freshman Performer after tallying 27 points, which was second most in the meet... Won the Atlantic Sun Championship in the 110-meter hurdles (14.51)… Best high jump came at the Florida Relays (2.16m/7-03.0ft) where he placed second. Indoor Earned the Men’s Most Outstanding Freshmen Athlete award...Placed first in the heptathlon at the Samford Invitational with 4980 points, which was a school record and earned him A-Sun Athlete of the Week… Set two other school records at the Samford Invitational in the high jump (2.0m) and 60-meter dash (7.09)... Jumped 7.17m/23-06.25 ft. in the long jump at the BSC Invitational and finished in first place… Best finish at the Atlantic Sun Championships was second place in the 60-meter hurdles (8.30) and in the high jump (2.10m/6-10.75ft). Personal Bilal Abdullah was born to Mikal and Cerise Abdullah in Washington D.C…. Has 8 siblings: Salih, Tariq, Khalil, Suraiyah, Sayeed, Aliyyah, Ali, and Amir… Enjoys basketball and watching the Celtics…Likes eating Chick-fil-A and Jolly Ranchers…Favorite show is South Park…Computer Science Major
Bilal Abdullah Press Clipping
After late introduction to sport, Abdullah flourishes with Kennesaw State track team by John Bednarowski [email protected] Wednesday, February 24, 2016 As a high school senior, Bilal Abdullah moved from South Carolina to Gwinnett County. Now, the track and field standout could be on pace to go from Kennesaw State to the Olympics. First, though, the senior has a little work left to do. It starts this weekend with the Atlantic Sun Conference’s indoor championships in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and then the NCAA championships next month in Birmingham, Alabama.
“I get bored real easy,” he said. “I don’t like doing the same thing over and over again.” After solid performances in his events over his first two seasons in college, it took the death of his mother, Cerise, that helped spur Abdullah to take his lifestyle and performance to the next level. “He had a classical freshman lifestyle,” Eggerth said of the poor eating and sleeping habits Abdullah exhibited. “He was better his sophomore year.” With a better lifestyle, Abdullah’s performance level has soared. He has improved his heptathlon score by 400 points, and his long jump has increased more than 2 feet. The only thing that seems to be holding him back is his throws — the shot put, discus and javelin. “We have no idea why,” said Abdullah, who trains three hours a day, six days a week. “I have good form, but slow form.” Even with the struggles, Eggerth said there is a good chance Abdullah could get invited to the Olympic trials in July, following the NCAA outdoor championships. While Abdullah said he would love to compete in the Olympics this summer in Rio de Janeiro, the odds are much better for 2020 in Tokyo.
Abdullah appears to be the favorite to win A-Sun titles in the heptathlon and the long jump this weekend. He has posted the highest score in the heptathlon (5,891) in the conference by more than 400 points, and he has the third-best score in the country to this point.
Based on his improvement, he is right on track.
Kennesaw State coach Andy Eggerth has a different plan for Abdullah this weekend, and it doesn’t include his best event.
Once the NCAA championships are over this summer, Abdullah plans to stay close to the Kennesaw State program and help the team while continuing his training. Eggerth said Abdullah has already become a mentor for some of the Owls’ younger athletes.
“He would win the heptathlon easily,” said Eggerth, looking to guide the men’s team to its fifth straight A-Sun indoor title and seventh in nine years, “But we’re going to put him in a number of events to allow him to get more points and help the team.” That is fine with Abdullah. Since he has already posted a qualifying score for the NCAA championships in the heptathlon, he has his sights on leaving his mark in his final conference indoor meet. “I’d rather go out and try to break as many records as I can,” Abdullah said. Abdullah currently holds the best conference marks in the 60-meter hurdles (7.90 seconds), high jump (6 feet, 10¾ inches) and long jump (26-2¼). He is second in the 60-meter run (6.91), fourth in the pole vault (15-5) and ninth in the shot put (39-7). He is also part of the Kennesaw State relay teams. It is pretty heady stuff for someone who played basketball when he enrolled at Brookwood High School as a senior five years ago. “I didn’t know anything about track when I started,” said Abdullah, who ran the 400 and did the high jump in his one season at Brookwood. Abdullah was such a novice, he did not know he could complete in more than one event. But he caught the attention of Eggerth after winning a state title in the high jump, and the Owls’ coach though he had a lot of untapped potential. Eggerth already had plans to turn Abdullah into someone who could not only compete in the heptathlon, but the decathlon during the outdoor season. That was the best thing Abdullah could have heard.
“It takes eight years to master an event,” Abdullah said. “Things are starting to click. Coach always said I had it in me, and I’m halfway through the learning process.”
Freshman Dayo Akindele said Abdullah has told him to, “‘Love the sport. Don’t waste your time. Treat practice like it’s a meet.’ “I hear it every day,” Akindele said, “and he tells me, ‘Put into your body what you want to put out. Eat healthy.’” Abdullah wants to pass what he knows on to give back to the program that found him. “I’ve developed good discipline,” he said. “I know the things to avoid, the things to eat and the proper attitude. I didn’t realize it as a freshman, and now these guys are farther along than I was.” While Abdullah likes passing on his knowledge, he said potentially becoming a coach is a long way away. He wants to win the NCAA championship in the heptathlon, finish top-three in the long jump and have an equally successful outdoor season. “I’m going to put everything in God’s hands,” Abdullah said. “I always wanted to be the best as a kid. I’m going to do my best each and every day, and I’m either going to get there or at least be able to say I tried.”
