Browse archives: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

Published on 01/18/1999 All articles from this issue

Seddiqui conquers England on foot

printer friendly version

By Pete Borello / Town Crier Staff Writer

Daniel Seddiqui clearly recalls that fall day when he received the letter.

It wasn't a notice from Publishers' Clearing House announcing he'd won millions of dollars, but the letter still changed his life for the better.

The World Sports Exchange had invited the 16-year-old Seddiqui to compete in a pair of 10-kilometer runs in England.

"I was pretty excited," the Los Altos resident said. "I'd never been to England."

Seddiqui had more than sightseeing on his mind, though. As the top cross-country runner at Homestead High, Seddiqui said he was eager to see how he'd measure up against international competition.

So Seddiqui found some sponsors to help finance his trip and off he went, accompanied by 82 other American runners.

Seddiqui didn't compete in the first race - which took place two days after Christmas in Birmingham - but he did make it across the pond in time for the Jan. 1 race at London's Hyde Park.

Running an unfamiliar course on foreign soil might effect some runners, but not Seddiqui.

The sophomore placed seventh out of 800 participants. He ran the race in a speedy 33 minutes, five seconds.

"He did very well and it was a good experience for him," said Seddiqui's father, Fred.

Seddiqui said he took up long-distance running about four years ago.

His training includes running 40-50 miles per week, often on the rigorous trails of Rancho San Antonio Park.

Seddiqui also is an integral member of the Homestead track and field team. He made the varsity squad as a freshman and quickly emerged as one of the team's top distance runners.

He ran the mile in an impressive 4 minutes, 28 seconds last spring and said he's looking forward to breaking that mark this season.

If he had to choose between cross country and track, Seddiqui said he would go with the latter.

"I like it better because there's more speed involved," he said.

But without cross country, Seddiqui probably wouldn't have been invited to England, a trip he won't soon forget.

"It was a lot of fun," he said. "I was able to run and also see some sights, like Big Ben, Oxford and Liverpool."