Arya Bahreini is a biomedical science senior with plans to go on to dental school. Aside from studying, you can find Bahreini practicing to maintain his reputation as one of the most successful runners to ever attend OCU.
“It’s great to know I’ve set a high bar for the OCU program,” Bahreini said.
Bahreini wasn’t always a runner.
Bahreini started out playing soccer as a child and as he began middle school his mom signed him up for cross country to help his endurance. He ended up winning a medal in his first race and participated in both sports until high school. As high school began, Bahreini had to make a choice between soccer and cross country.
“I fell in love with running,” Bahreini said. “The endorphin rush from running or seeing the self-improvement.”
Choosing cross country opened a lot of doors for him, Bahreini said. He’s met some of his best friends, bettered himself and has even had the chance to travel to Jamaica and represent the junior USA team competing against other countries.
Bahreini had no offers to run cross country at the college level until his senior year when he ran a 5K, in 15 minutes and 42 seconds.
Bahreini now prefers to run anything above a 5K.
Bahreini chose OCU due to the small class sizes, scholarship opportunities and his coach, Conor Holt.
“Aside from being a good runner, he is a big leader of our team,” said Reno Blum, exercise science senior and team captain. “He’s probably the hardest working person I know.”
Bahreini and the OCU cross country team hope to make both OCU and NAIA history this year by becoming three-time national champions.
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