D’Artagnan Johnson, contributor

Mohammed “Mo” Bati, who is best known as a dual sport Auggie athlete, participates on both the cross country and track teams. While originally from Dodola, Ethiopia, Bati had the opportunity to join Augsburg’s team out of high school on a recommendation from his old coach. In the regular cross country season, Bati races in the men’s five kilometer and 10 kilometer and the 1500 meter in the outdoor track and field season. Of these events, Bati’s favorite is the men’s five kilometer race. So far this season, he has found success in the eight kilometer race after winning the Carleton Running of the Cows meet on Oct. 5 with a time of 24:13.4, beating the runner up from Cornell College in Iowa by a whopping 42.2 seconds. 

I was able to get a chance to sit down and talk with Bati about his success. While he says that he is always glad of winning races, he is optimistic about how he can improve by the day to day training that he has. For Bati, running is about the community of athletes that he has built on the team alongside teammates such as Grayson Harris. His biggest support is through his mental health and not being brought down by life. He is known by the Auggie community as someone that pushes to the max and is never boastful about his accomplishments. 

Overall, Bati attributes his success to his parents as well as the training from head coach Nick Larson and assistant coach Chris Dixon who always seem to bring a profound personal touch to their coaching styles. To prepare for meet days, Bati’s favorite meal is the team’s pre-run pasta and red Gatorade. Bati’s biggest goal for the season is to qualify for the NCAA Division Three Cross Country Championship. If he qualifies for nationals, it will mark his second national race appearance. While this is his main goal, he also is seeking to maintain his crown at the MIAC tournament later this year.

During his time at Augsburg, Bati has accrued many accolades including the MIAC Student Athlete of the Week during the week of Oct. 8. In 2022 and 2023, Bati was awarded the distinction of MIAC Cross Country Athlete of the Year. In 2023, he was awarded an All-MIAC award. He was also named the MIAC Rookie of the Year. Bati even won at his collegiate debut at the Twin Cities Twilight with a three-mile time of 14:32.7.

As the cross country season starts to wind down to a close, we will be watching to see what other good things Bati will accomplish. Will he accomplish the top 100 mark in nationals? Only time will tell. Be sure to tune in to the results of the Auggies’ last regular season meet at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Jim Drews Invite on Oct. 19.