Kenyan Boys Team Journey to NTN

The morning opened with a mid 30s and flurries of snow replacing the usual light rain. The course was still muddy and slick from the day before as the Nike Team Nationals Boys open race took off. All the normal players were there with some guests, 2 teams from Kenya.

 

Within the first mile it was clear who the winners would be as the Kenyan boys team pulled far ahead of the pack. Justine Cheruiyot crossed the finish line with an amazing time of 15.24.06 taking first, followed closely behind by Joshua Toroitich.

 

After the race I was lucky enough to hear their story. The Kenyan Boys team logged hundreds of miles training for the Kenyan national eight-kilometer boys race, which qualified the best athletes for Nike Team Nationals 2007. The top five winners of the Kenyan national race were Joshua Toroitich, Justine Cheruiyot, Paul Lonyangata, Philemon Rono, and Philemon Yator, whose team would become top team of the NTN 2007 Boys Open.

 

While most teams just flew to NTN, the members of Kenyan Boys and Girls team started by walking 6 hours to the nearest major road, driving 9 hours to the capital city of Nairobi, and finishing by flying to Amsterdam, Seattle, and Portland. While in Portland they took part in the events of the week put on by Nike. Returning home, the Kenyan Boys team takes first place and high spirits for the rest of their running season.