PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland State track & field runners Abdi Ibrahim and Abdinajib Abade combined for one of the best media day photos captured during the cross country season last fall.
 
They were trying to recreate the classic photo of Dwyane Wade and Lebron James when they were both on the Miami Heat. The one where Wade has just dropped a pass off to Lebron on a fast break, then poses with his arms out wide while Lebron rises for a dunk behind him.
 
Ibrahim played the role of Wade, while Abade played the role of Lebron. There was no Chris Bosh – the third member of the Heat's Big Three back then – either in the original photo or this one.
 
There will be no Bosh this weekend for the Vikings, either, as they go with their own Wade-Lebron duo at the Husky Classic in Seattle, this Friday and Saturday. Ibrahim will run the 5k Friday at 5:25 p.m., while Abade will run the 800 meters Saturday at 12:05 p.m. 
 

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Abade had a strong showing in the 800 the last time the Vikings went up to Seattle. He put together a big kick over the final 50 meters at the UW Invitational on Jan. 27, moving to the shoulder of the leader before finishing second in his heat in 1:56.44. The time gave Abade a personal best by nearly half a second, bettering the mark he came into Portland State with.
 
Ibrahim, meanwhile, has yet to run a 5k this season. But he doubled in the mile and 3k last Sunday at the Portland Indoor Two and appeared to handle the load just fine. Ibrahim ran the 3k first then returned to the track less than 30 minutes later for the mile and set a personal best in 4:24.27.
 
Ibrahim set his 5k personal best at the WSU Open last season, finishing in 15:19.59. He likely would have finished even faster but got banged up a bit early in the race.
 
A top 10 mark might not be out of the question for either runner this weekend, though it'll still take a significant personal best. Abade would have to shave more than two seconds off his 800-meter best to catch the current No. 10 mark of 1:54.23, set by Collin Olcott in 2003. Ibrahim, meanwhile, would have to shave just over 12 seconds off his 5k best to surpass Chris Hollis' mark of 15:07.35 at No. 10.
 
It'll be tough, but not out of reach.
 
If Ibrahim does it first Friday, then maybe he'll set up his teammate, Abade, to do it Saturday. And if that happens, then they'll have recreated the Wade-Lebron photo once again.
 
MEET INFO
Feb. 9-10 – Husky Classic – Seattle, Wash. (Dempsey Indoor)
 
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MEET SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 9
Time (PT)        Event (PSU entries)
5:25 p.m.         Men's 5,000 Meters (Section 1 of 3 – Ibrahim)
 
Saturday, Feb. 10
Time (PT)        Event (PSU entries)
12:05 p.m.       Men's 800 Meters (Section 1 of 7 – Abade)