POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK. – Marist High School senior Girma Segni (Bronx, N.Y.) was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Men's Cross Country Co-Runner of the Week on Monday afternoon. This marks the second time Segni has been given the honor in the 2008 season.

Segni, a native of Ethiopia who immigrated to the U.S. 7 years ago, was the overall winner of the UAlbany Cross Country Invitational on Saturday, running past a field of 186 runners. The senior ran a course record 24:35.2 over the 8K course at the University at Albany, leading Marist to the team title. Marist compiled 23 points, beating Brandeis by 68 points. He shares the honor with Iona's Andrew Ledwith. Segni also was named MAAC Runner of the Week on September 22 when he shared the award with Iona's Mohamed Khadraoui.

The Marist men's and women's cross country teams will next compete at the 2008 MAAC Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships, which will be held on November 1st at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

Ethiopian Immigrant Dominates On The Track And In School

Source: NY1

Girma Segni travels from his home in the Bronx to Brooklyn every day to attend a Brooklyn High School. But that journey is nothing compared to the one he made in 2001, when he and his three siblings emigrated to the United States from Ethiopia, escaping civil warfare and the political and financial hardships they once endured.

His parents are deceased, so an older brother is now supporting Girma and two other siblings.

“If I work hard I think, ÎI will make him happier because he paid the price for it,’" says Girma.

“To have come from where he's come from and to have been through what he's been through and to still succeed at such a high level and persevere, I mean, those are the utmost qualities for success in the future," says internship advisor Daria Witt.

When Girma first moved to New York, he didn’t speak any English, but he was determined to excel in academics and sports. Today he has a 92.1 grade point average, and is a member of his high school's track teams.

For the last two years, Girma has been ranked as the city's fastest high school long distance runner.

"When you're out there running those miles, your mind is wandering and you want to stop, but you never see that in him,” says track coach Marc Cinamon, “All you see in him is he wants to go further."

Girma's also gone far as a leader to his peers. He's captain of his high school's cross country team, and he co-founded the African Club.

Girma is also involved with student government, and is a member of the National Honor Society.

“He works harder than almost any student I've ever seen in my life," says math teacher and cross country coach Jay Mellstron.

Girma hopes to become an international civil rights lawyer so he can someday help Ethiopians who are still suffering from political persecution, and he's already on the right track. He's interned at the Immigration Defense Fund and was a member of the City Hall Academy, where he acted as a liaison between Ethiopian immigrants and City Hall officials.

He also volunteers as a peer educator, where he helps to increase HIV and AIDS awareness.

“His commitment to the immigrant community and the Ethiopian and African community is very, very strong and apparent in everything he does," says Witt.

Girma says no matter which college he attends, he knows he'll achieve his dream of becoming a civil rights lawyer. And he'll also do his best to achieve his other goal, representing the U.S. in the 2012 Olympics.

“I want to run for America because it’s a free county. It's my country," he says.

So, for persevering though personal hardships, going after his dreams, and giving back to his community in New York and Ethiopia, Girma Segni is our NY1/Health Plus Scholar Athlete of the Week. hey