Top-3 finish at state eyed by Rosemount runner Alex Berhe

There isn't a gradual learning process for Rosemount senior Alex Berhe, whether it be on a cross-country trail, a running track or in the classroom. He is always living life in the fast lane.

The all-state distance runner is now focused on pushing himself to a top-three finish in the Class 2A boys' cross-country state meet Saturday at St. Olaf College in Northfield. It will be his third consecutive appearance in the event.

"I'm having an awesome season," Berhe said. He recently finished second to Burnsville senior Faysal Mahmoud in the Section 3 meet at Valleywood Golf Course in Apple Valley. "I'm having the most fun I've ever had."

Berhe enters the state meet ranked 11th in Class 2A. He took 16th a year ago, helping the Irish to a fourth-place finish. He posted a time of 16 minutes, 2.4 seconds over the 5-kilometer course.

"I can always improve as a runner," Berhe said. "The one thing with running is there is always somebody better than you."

His 2013 time was more than 35 seconds faster than in 2012, when the Irish finished fifth.

"Alex is an extremely hard worker," Irish coach Chris Harder said. "He has a bright future."

"He came to my classroom during the winter and said he wanted to run the 3,200 [meters] in track," Harder said. "I have had other athletes stop by and say they are interested in track, but never did someone come right out and say the 3,200."

Berhe had just arrived in the United States that summer to live with his father, Desbele. He moved to Rosemount from Eritrea, a country in the Horn of Africa.

"My father has been a big part of my transition," Berhe said. "He has helped me out a lot."

Desbele was instrumental in helping his son grasp the English language. They read books and watched television together.

"Alex is ELL [English Language Learner), but you would have a hard time knowing that during conversations with him," Harder said.

"He challenges himself academically," Harder said. "That determination can also get him into trouble."

An early glitch in the schedule couldn't keep him from developing into one of the state's top cross-country runners. He signed up for an accelerated geometry program, but the time of the class meant he could not train with his teammates over the summer before his sophomore year.

"Alex met with another runner [Ryan Brumm] at 6 a.m. all summer, so they both could attend the program and follow the summer training program at Lebanon Hills," Harder said.

It was with that kind of discipline that helped form Berhe into the runner he is today.

"Ryan helped me a lot," Berhe said. "He pushed me to limits that I didn't know was possible. If I wouldn't have run with him, I probably would have given up running. I wasn't very good."

"I think of cross-country as a team sport," Berhe said. "To finish in the top three at the state meet is the ultimate goal."

For both him, and his teammates.