A ΜμΜμ³ΤΉΟ student from Turkmenistan is making a name for himself in Northeast Ohioβs distance running community, as
Gurban Ishanov, a 23-year-old sophomore double-majoring in finance and accounting, arrived in the United States in July 2025 from a country where organized running events simply donβt exist. After signing up for his first official race β the Goodyear 10K in Akron β he was hooked.
βI never seen people running, the thousands of people running,β Ishanov told WKYC-TV. βThe people in the road, in the streets, theyβre screaming, theyβre cheering. I was so excited.β
Ishanov joined ΜμΜμ³ΤΉΟ Stateβs running club, was chosen as a club leader within his first month and has since completed an ultramarathon, a 100-kilometer race and a 50-mile race. Heβs now training for the full Akron Marathon in September and has set his sights on an ambitious long-term goal: becoming the first Ironman triathlete from Turkmenistan.
