Mbarak Hussein was recruited by a number of top Division I cross-country programs, but came to Lubbock Christian after a successful two years, helping to spark the Chap cross-country dynasty of the 1990s.
Hussein's recruitment to LCU by coach and fellow Hall of Honor inductee Darrell Price was mainly thanks to Peter Biwott, a Kenyan runner who was already on the team when Price took over in the fall of 1988. Prior to his third year of coaching the cross-country team. Biwott took Price to Albuquerque to meet some influential individuals from his home country.
"It turned out that some of them had run for Division I schools like Washington State, and Peter wanted to help bring some athletes to our program," Price remembered. "I was in a room that, if you were from that running sub-culture, either in the states or worldwide, you probably would have been in awe of who was there and what they had accomplished."
Two of the young men in the room however, were Mbarak Hussein and his brother Ibrahim, who had won the Boston Marathon in 1988 and would again in '91 and '92. Ibrahim had run at New Mexico State, and Mbarak was being recruited by a number of NCAA Division I programs, but Ibrahim was in that room with Price in Albuquerque, and after talking to Peter about the atmosphere and environment at LCU, decided that his brother needed to continue his education there.
Mbarak had a highly successful career at South Plains College, winning the Individual Title at the NJCAA National Championships as a freshman in 1988 and following up with a National Championship in the 1500-meter that spring. In his sophomore year, he just missed out on repeating as the NJCAA Individual National Champion, finishing second at the meet, and he went on to graduate with his associate's degree that December, joining the Chaps for the spring of 1990.
At LCU, Mbarak made an impact immediately, becoming a three-time All-American in just his first semester with the team. He earned one all American honor in the mile during Indoor Track & Field season before winning two individual titles during outdoor season - the first two track and field titles by an LCU athlete ever. He ran the fastest time of the field in both the 800-meter (1:48.67) and the 1500-meter (3:46.90), setting the tone for his next two years in a Chap uniform.
"I think the 800 and the 1500 are just right for me," Mbarak commented after the 1990 spring season. "You have to have the capability to run a distance race as well as the speed of the shorter distance."
Although Mbarak had individual success during the spring of 1990, that fall is when Lubbock Christian really began its distance-running dynasty. Joined by Derek Kite, Banire Haffis and James Bungei, among several other new runners, Lubbock Christian did not lose a cross-country meet all season, including a win at the University of Arkansas, who would end up winning the NCAA Division I National Championship. The cross-country season culminated with LCU, an unranked team coming in, upsetting heavily favored Adams State to win the first of eight straight NAIA Cross-Country National Championships.
The 1990-91 LCU Cross-Country/Track team. Hussein is back row, 3rd from left.
Mbarak finished sixth at the national meet that year, earning his fourth All-American honor. The Chaps then claimed the NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championship that spring, with Mbarak leading the way. He was named the outstanding performer of the meet, winning the 880-yard (1:52.86) and the 1000-yard (2:11.06). He added one more Individual Championship that year during outdoor season also in the 800-meter winning with a time of 1:48.29. Lubbock Christian finished the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field in second place, just missing a sweep on the titles for the year.
As a senior, Mbarak was the national runner-up behind teammate James Bungei, who was in the middle of a run of four straight individual cross-country titles. Mbarak was also an Academic All-American selection for cross-country that season as LCU again captured the team title. The Chaps missed out on repeating as indoor national champions, but Mbarak was again named the outstanding performer of the meet. He again won the 880-yard (1:52.02) and the 1000-yard (2:09.86), while also participating in the distance medley that finished second. His 1000-yard time from 1992 still stands as the NAIA National Meet record, although the event was discontinued after the 1994 season.
After graduating, Mbarak followed in his brother Ibrahim's footsteps and began running marathons. He won the Honolulu Marathon three times (1998, 2001, 2002) and the Twin Cities Marathon. His highest finish at the Boston Marathon was fourth in 2004, and he finished 21st at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics.
Mbarak now resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was inducted into the LCU Athletic Hall of Honor in 2007.
