Athletes juggle education with running

By Mutwiri Mutuota

Undoubtedly blessed with talent, some athletes in the national team for the Amman World Cross also realise education is key if they have to reap maximum gains from their careers.

Unlike most young Kenyans who concentrate on their studies before embarking on occupation hunting, these runners have to balance between rigorous training, competing at the highest level for their country or at money events while finding time for their school work.

After punishing long run, speed work and fat leg morning exercises, junior 8km national champion, John Kemboi, retreats to the room he shares with senior runner, Mangata Ndiwa and digs into Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics text books strewn over the table.

"I am sitting for my KCSE this year and I would be delighted to win for Kenya and perform well in the exams," the Form Four student at Kemeliet Secondary explained.

An early riser

"I wake up very early to train, then go to class before training again in the evening," Delvin Meringor, a class seven pupil at Kaptabuk Primary, disclosed.

"I want to have the best out of my talent and school. Learning is important to me because it will help sustain my future," said the athlete who learnt last week she would compete for her country in place of injured Judith Chepkoech.

"After the trials, I returned to school to concentrate on my studies while training for the track season. It is difficult to balance between education and learning but it is possible is one is determined."

O-Level education

Meringor, 17, who will represent Kenya at the World Cross for the second successive time is keen to see her O-Level education through.

"I want to finish Form four then think of where to study next. I started running so that I could help my family and it is my intention to be the best in my career to fulfil that," said the runner born to peasant farmers.

Her 6km junior women teammate and World Junior champion, Mercy Cherono (17), is a Form two student at Saseta Secondary. "It’s not always about competing. If anything happened and you can not compete, it is important to have something to fall back on and education can help in that," she revealed.

Upon finishing Standard eight at Mau Primary, Paul Tanui (junior men 8km) could not join high school due to financial constraints. With his good legs, he has managed to earn enough to secure him a place at Keroka Technical Training Institute, where he is pursuing computer studies.

"It is important to have an alternative in life, that is why I chose to continue studying," Tanui, who is in the second year at Keroka disclosed.

The spirit of balancing education and athletics career is espoused by senior women runner, Pauline Korikwiang, 21, who resumed learning at Nairobi’s Riruta Satellite Secondary reputed for nurturing talent while nourishing the mind.

"To be a model runner, one has to take education seriously because you interact with many people and need to express yourself," said Korikwiang who joined Riruta from Kapkenda Girls last year.

 

 

Read all about: Athletes World Cross country Championships

 

 

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