CMU’s All-American track star Abraham Mach is finding success in a career that he started off not enjoying at all.

Mach began running track because of a friend. A high school friend of his was always talking about track and how fast he was. In the early stages of his career, in his sophomore year of high school, Mach did not take pleasure in the sport of track.

“I did not like it at all, the practice – the whole track thing,” Mach said.

Those negative feelings changed when he began to feel like part of a team as a junior at East Lansing High School.

“When I started running 4×8 relays, it just became like I am part of a team,” Mach said. “If I was not there, the team would need me, so it made me feel like I had to be there.”

CMU coach Jim Knapp knew right away that Mach had talent.

“I knew he was going to be good – he has great speed and he is an intense competitor,” Knapp said. “He is very much a team player and he is an international student himself and he has been a great ambassador to the university.”

Mach achieved his All-American honors in the 800-meter run March 15 at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. Mach was in first place with 300m remaining, but was cut off by his opponents and fell to the track, finishing eighth.

“I was happy and it was a good feeling, but overall I am not pleased with how it went,” he said. “I know I have already run once, I can do it again.”

Mach’s time at CMU has seen him face some of the nation’s top track stars both at the professional and collegiate levels. When asked if he would consider running professionally, Mach said he is open to the idea.

“I always ask my teammates, ‘Am I a runner? Do I look like a runner?’” Mach joked. “I would take it if there was an opportunity I would take it, if not I would just focus with my school. I just need to run faster for the Chippewas now, I just want to be a Chippewa now and see what happens later.”

If Mach did decide to give up on a career that has proven to be very successful thus far, he has an idea of what he would have done instead.

“I think I would be a sweet wide receiver,” he joked. “I got a heart, I believe in heart, my hands are OK, but so far I am very happy with where I am now.”

Knapp agrees Mach has the heart to be a receiver but he believes that mach made the right decision to continue running.

“I definitely think he made the right decision. He does have the heart for it, but you have to realize that he is about 6′ 5″ and weighs 125,” Knapp said jokingly.

Mach will be heading to Des Moines, Iowa, this weekend for the Drake Relays, where he will be facing some of the nation’s best in his races.

“He is really looking forward to going to Drake this weekend, because some of the best half-milers are going to be there and he is just looking forward to being on the track with them,” Knapp said.

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