Newsletter: August 1, 2025
Contents Competition Calendar Coach's Corner: Swanson Takes the Win at Ryan Shay Spotlight: USATF Outdoor Track & Field Championships...
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Merga Gemeda
Residence: Minnetonka, MN
Date of birth: 8/14/1999
Hometown: Sioux City, IA
Occupation: Sports Marketing
College: University of South Dakota, Sports Marketing and Media, & Computer science - 2023
Favorite Pre-Race Meal: Otmeal with peanut butter, banana and honey
Favorite Pump-Up Song: Wolves by Big Sean ft. Post Malone
Funniest Mid-Race Thought: They should put motivational quotes on the back of every mile marker, like “You’re not dead yet!”
Personal Bests
3000m
5,000m
10,000m
10 Mile
20k
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8:16.11
13:53.09
28:58.12
48:35
59:45
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Achievements
12x Summit league athlete of the week
2024 - USATF 10k Championships, 15th
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Merga is from Sioux City, Iowa where he attended Sioux City North High School. He got a reluctant start to running, originally hoping to be a soccer star. Having only joined track as a sophomore, and cross country as a junior, his results are impressive. He was a conference champion, placed 5th in the state cross country meet, placed 5th at state in the 3200, and 3rd at state in the 1600. His personal bests in high school were 15:25 (5k cross country), 4:22 (1600m) and 9:28 (3200m).
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Merga attended the University of South Dakota from 2018-2023, where he majored in Sport Marketing & Media and Computer Science. His collegiate career highlights include qualifying for the NCAA West Regional Championships in the 10,000m, setting a school record in the 10,000m en route to a win in his heat at the Raleigh Relays, and taking runner-up finishes in his conference championships in the 5000m (both indoor and outdoor) and 10,000m (outdoor). His personal bests in college included 14:00 (5000m) and 28:58 (10,000m).
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Merga joined Minnesota Distance Elite the fall after he completed his collegiate career and has been pushing his limits on the track and the roads. He has experienced local success at the MN Open Cross Country Championships, Tracksmith Twin Cities Twilight 5000m, Firecracker Run 10k. He has also tested himself nationally with strong performances at the USA 20K Road Running Championships and Save the 10,000m with Des and Kara. He looks to continue this success in the long distances in the coming seasons.
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