In this episode of Pending Ratification, co-hosts Keenan Gray and Maddie Mooney catch up with American half marathon record holder Weini Kelati. Kelati shares her amazing story of competing at the World Junior Outdoor Championships in the United States in 2014, purposely staying in the U.S. and being granted asylum.

Kelati touches on her struggle to adjust to life in the United States, how she evolved as an athlete and person at the University of New Mexico, gaining American citizenship in 2021, and life as a pro athlete. The conversation then turns to Kelati’s Mt. Rushmore of the sport and what sport she’d want to set a world record in other than track and field.

Kelati reset her American half marathon record earlier this year, running 1:06:04 at the Hyundai Barcelona Half Marathon. The Flagstaff-based Nike pro won the 10,000m title at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, placed eighth in the event at the Olympic Games in Paris, and has established herself as one of the best American road runners having won numerous USATF road titles.

Make sure to follow Weini on Instagram at @weini_kelati and keep up to speed on her latest accomplishments on the track on Athletic.

Pending Ratification offers an in-depth look at the stars of track and field and cross country. Hosted by Keenan Gray and Maddie Mooney, the series moves beyond race results and records to explore the experiences, perspectives, and personal stories that shape the athletes at the center of the sport.

Find Pending Ratification on RunnerSpace.com, AthleticTV, youtube.com/runnerspace and your favorite podcast platforms like Spotify & Apple Podcasts.