Two brothers in the Atlanta University Center are aspiring to make the 2012 Olympics a “Rasheed” family matter.

Folasade Omogun

Jibril and Hasaan Rasheed

Both have been training to run the 400-meter dash for the USA team.

“It will be something different for the world to see," Hasaan said. "I don’t know anybody in history that has seen two brothers make it to the Olympics and compete against each other.”

While they are only one year apart, Hasaan has inspired his younger brother since they began running AAU track as small children fifteen years ago.

“Since we were younger, we both have been pushing and inspiring each other,” Jibril said. “I know during college he has inspired me more. He has always told me to come out for track and put my best foot forward and never give up. He’s definitely been pushing me all my life.”

Hasaan became interested in running in the Olympics in 2007 when he was named a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) All-American team. Hasaan anchored Morehouse’s 4x400-meter relay team, which is the team that won the NCAA D-II national championship with a time of 3 minutes, 18.25 seconds. 

 “I figure why not go the distance and take it worldwide,” Hasaan said.

Hasaan practices three times a day, once in the morning and twice in the afternoon. A practice for him could be anything from pulling tires to running up hills. Jibril, who is going into his first year of collegiate level running due to an injury last year, has been conditioning with CAU’s cross-country team to prepare for track season. Jibril, who says his running improves every year, runs the 400m dash in 48.0. His goal is to get his time down to 44.0. The world record time is 43.18, run by Michael Johnson in the 1999 Olympics.

“I realize over the past few years without training, without preparation, motivation, you aren’t capable of achieving your goals,” Jibril said.

Since their preparation, Hasan and Jibril have been receiving words of advice from their coaches.

“Coach says ‘reach for the stars and anything I put my mind to I can do with hard work.” Hasaan said. “I’m just going to work hard and do whatever it takes to get to that next level.” 

“If you’re going to do it, know why you’re doing it and who you are doing it for,” said Pamela Page, the Clark Atlanta track & field coach and a 1984 Olympian. 

“A lot of those people happen to train a little bit harder and want it a little more than the next person.”

If these brothers make it to the Olympics they will be the first student-athletes from the AUC to participate in the Olympic Games since Edwin Moses. In 1976, Moses represented Morehouse College in Seoul, Korea. Moses, whose name is on  the Morehouse track stadium, was named to the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame in 1994. Moses also set a world record in the 400m hurdles with a time of 47.02.

 Folasade Omogun is a mass communications student at Clark Atlanta University.