The Sky is the Limit: Natnael Weldemichael
- Kyle Klingler
- Jul 14
- 5 min read
Natnael Weldemichael has spent the past few months cementing himself as one of the greats in Northern Kentucky University XC/Track history. He closed out his stellar career with double Horizon League Championship titles in the 5k and 10k this May, graduating with six conference wins and a collection of school records.
What’s often forgotten in the glow of titles and awards is the long, steady climb that leads to them. Nat’s college journey was defined by consistency and year‑over‑year progress. As a freshman in 2022, he posted modest times, but each season brought another step forward - eventually culminating in breaking the tape at championship meets. He concluded his college career with PR's of 4:09 in the mile, 8:03 in the 3k, 13:57 in the 5k, and 29:30 in the 10k.
His high school career didn’t follow quite the same smooth trajectory. As a freshman in Oklahoma, Nat ran a promising 16:51 5k in cross country, yet he wouldn’t surpass that PR for the rest of high school. It wasn’t until his senior track season in Kentucky that everything clicked: he claimed double KHSAA State titles and dropped standout PRs of 4:21 in the 1600M and 9:17 in the 3200M. A brilliant final chapter that launched him into Division I running.
Now, he steps into the world of post‑collegiate racing, where road events take center stage and race distances go further. Nat is approaching this new era with humble goals and a focus on enjoying the process. He’s already kicked things off with back‑to‑back road 5k wins this summer. I caught up with him to learn more about Cincinnatus Elite’s newest member.
You just took down one of the deepest fields in the history of the Hyde Park Blast Elite 5k back in June, what was that experience like?
It was an awesome experience. I’m really happy with the result, especially since I didn’t go into it with any specific goal other than competing and racing hard.
What a way to kick off your post-collegiate running career! After recently graduating from Northern Kentucky University and now being able to reflect, what was your time like at NKU?
It’s definitely different because there’s a lot more freedom in choosing races and training post-collegiately. I loved my time at Northern Kentucky University. I had great coaches, staff, and teammates, and it helped me grow a lot as both a runner and a person.
What were your top accomplishments during your time there?
I won six conference titles, had multiple All-Conference finishes, and a few runner-up finishes. I’m proud of everything I accomplished there.
What were your favorite memories as a Norse?
Traveling to races with my teammates and winning the DMR my freshman year stand out the most. Those are memories I’ll always hold onto.
You improved tremendously over your time there. What are the top things that you can attribute that improvement to?
Having the right people around me, a strong support system, and good training all played a big role. I also had some health issues in the past, and once I got those figured out, I kept improving.
Going back to earlier times, how did you get into running in the first place?
In sixth grade, I won a race called Rattlesnake in Oklahoma, and that’s when I realized I could be pretty good at running. After that, I kept with it.
Were you pretty fast early on?
I was decent, but I definitely wasn’t anything special at first. Most of my progress came from hard work, consistency, and staying patient.
You spent your high school years at Beechwood in Fort Mitchell. What was your high school career like?
My high school career at Beechwood High School was good overall. I didn’t make huge improvements until my senior year, but I learned a lot and had some great experiences.
What was the college recruitment process like? Was NKU always the plan or did you have other potential landing spots?
I looked at a few other schools, but NKU was close to home and it felt like the right fit for me.
Over the different stages, how have you grown as a runner? Both within your training but within your mindset of it as well?
I’ve grown a lot mentally and physically over the years. I focus on training smart and have learned what my body needs to run fast and stay healthy.
Now entering the post-collegiate world, what do you have your sights set on next in running?
Right now I want to break 68 minutes in the half marathon and continue chasing fast times in the 10K and 5K.
Have you done much racing on the roads prior to the recent Hyde Park Blast race?
I’ve raced a few road races before, like Fourth of July races and Thanksgiving 5Ks, but I haven’t done a lot of road racing overall.
Given your caliber, the OTQ seems like a reasonable goal. Is that a current thought in your mind before 2028?
I’d love to OTQ one day, but I try not to focus too much on one goal because there are always obstacles. I just take it day by day and keep improving.
Now with Cincinnatus Elite, are you eyeing any of the club record boards as potential goals to shoot for?
Records are cool, but I’ve always been more focused on competing and pushing myself. If records come with that, then that’s just a bonus.
Overall, what has running taught you most about yourself so far?
Running has taught me to never give up. No matter what happens, when it’s your time, nobody can take that away from you.
Who or what has inspired you the most to keep working at this sport to try and improve?
My best friend has inspired me the most. He’s always pushed me to believe in myself and keep going no matter what.
What is your greatest memory or moment in your running career thus far?
Winning the Hyde Park Blast is definitely one of my proudest moments so far because of how competitive the field was and what it meant to me.
Lastly, If you had to give advice to someone new to running with aspirations to get better, what would you say to them?
Do what’s best for you physically and mentally. Find what works for you, stay consistent, and don’t get discouraged. Running never really gets easier, you just get better at handling it. Most importantly, love the process.
To reflect on Nat’s own words, “when it’s your time, nobody can take that away from you.” Opening up his post-collegiate running career on an undefeated streak, he seems to be taking those words to heart. As he carries forward the same mantra that shaped his college rise and early running years—loving the process through its highs and lows and trusting in himself—You might wonder what’s next for Nat? Right now, the sky seems to be the limit.
Follow Natnael on social media @natnaelrunning to keep up on his training journey.
Comments