Lopez Lomong

<strong>USA Championships</strong><br /> Two-time USA Outdoor 1,500m champion &ndash; 2009 (3:41.68); 2010 (3:50.83)<br /> 2012 USA Indoor 3,000m runner-up (7:51.75)<br /> Third at 2008 Olympic Trials 1,500m (3:41.00)<br /> &nbsp;<br /> <strong>Collegiate Championships</strong><br /> 2007 NCAA Outdoor 1,500m champion (3:37.07)<br /> 2007 NCAA Indoor 3,000m champion (7:49.74)<br /> Third at 2007 NCAA Cross Country Championships (29:45)<br /> &nbsp;<br /> <strong>Awards and Honors</strong><br /> 2007 NCAA Mountain Region Male Track Athlete of the Year<br /> &nbsp;<br /> <strong>About Lopez</strong><br /> The U.S. delegation flag bearer during the opening ceremonies at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing,&nbsp;Lopez Lomong has overcome an overwhelming array of obstacles in becoming a top American middle distance runner. When he was six years old, in 1991, his family fled Kimotong, Sudan, on foot to avoid an attack by the militia group, the Janjaweed. Lomong and his family ran for three days in the African wilderness to avoid the attackers. After being separated from his family upon arrival at the Sudan-Kenya border, he lived in a refugee camp run by Catholic missionaries for 10 years. Despite being separated from his family as one of the &ldquo;Lost Boys of Sudan,&rdquo; Lomong says he is considered one of the lucky children as thousands of boys drowned, were eaten by wild animals or were shot by military forces. An essay that he wrote in 2001 about what he would strive to accomplish if he lived in America prompted officials to give him that chance. Lomong was moved to the U.S. to live with a foster family in Tully, N.Y., and became one of the 3,800 resettled youngsters known as the &ldquo;Lost Boys of Sudan.&rdquo;&nbsp;Lomong became a U.S. citizen in July 2007, while becoming a star middle distance runner at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. Lomong, who turned pro after the 2007 NCAA Cross Country Championships, has fulfilled his dream to represent the USA in international competition, his way to thank those who have helped him. &quot;I came to this country without expecting anything,&quot; said Lomong to&nbsp;<em>USA TODAY</em>. &quot;Now I want to return the favor by being a good runner.&quot; Away from the track, Lomong, who enjoys hip-hop music, studied hotel management because he hopes to return to Africa to help revitalize the continent&#39;s tourism. He also wants to assist families confronted with multiple challenges in his home country.<br />