No One Could Catch Me
The dream of becoming a professional athlete goes hand in hand with education in one of the most recognized schools in Kenya. Cornelius Kemboi attends Saint Patrick's High School in Iten, which is known for its discipline, high educational level and long history of Olympic medals and world records.
By Tobias Kobborg
The bunk beds squeak, the sheets are tightly stretched over the mattresses and the metal boxes with padlocks and peeled of blue or green paint are placed at the footboard of most of the top bunks. Clusters of lycra and white Adidas logos hang closely packed on a couple of clotheslines, in sharp contrast to the rest of the room. Every day, when the boys goes from their bunk beds to the classrooms, they pass the trees planted by former students who have won Olympic medals, world championships or set world records. All of them from competitive running.
Saint Patrick's High School in Iten is home for 1.210 teenage boys. The school is located in Kenya approximately 350 kilometres north-west of Nairobi. It is recognized and respected both for sports, academics and the discipline of the students. On the national scale, they are foremost selected for their academic results in primary school, but Cornelius is one of only two students who were selected because of their talent in running.
"My goal has always been to get accepted at this school," Cornelius says.
Saint Patrick's High School in Iten is home for 1.210 teenage boys. The school is located in Kenya approximately 350 kilometres north-west of Nairobi. It is recognized and respected both for sports, academics and the discipline of the students. On the national scale, they are foremost selected for their academic results in primary school, but Cornelius is one of only two students who were selected because of their talent in running.
"My goal has always been to get accepted at this school," Cornelius says.
Running was a part of his everyday life.
Running has for a long time been part of Cornelius' life, now eighteen years old. As a ten-year-old he did not like the lunch served at his school, so instead, he ran the two kilometres each way to enjoy his mother's cooking instead. At that age, it took about ten minutes each way for the little short-legged Cornelius.
"When we were playing in school no one could catch me – I was the fastest," Cornelius says with a smile on his lip.
Between the ages ten and fifteen, he only ran for fun and without any structure of practice. When he reached fifteen, he was scouted by a talent program and started running competitively.
"My parents are very supportive. They know, that I'm capable of running and they are impressed. They always came to watch me run, because I always was the fastest."
It is in his blood to become a fast runner. Cornelius has two older brothers, who both received scholarships in the United States because of their speed. Today, they are his role models, and Cornelius dreams of following in their footsteps and combine running with a good education.
Running has for a long time been part of Cornelius' life, now eighteen years old. As a ten-year-old he did not like the lunch served at his school, so instead, he ran the two kilometres each way to enjoy his mother's cooking instead. At that age, it took about ten minutes each way for the little short-legged Cornelius.
"When we were playing in school no one could catch me – I was the fastest," Cornelius says with a smile on his lip.
Between the ages ten and fifteen, he only ran for fun and without any structure of practice. When he reached fifteen, he was scouted by a talent program and started running competitively.
"My parents are very supportive. They know, that I'm capable of running and they are impressed. They always came to watch me run, because I always was the fastest."
It is in his blood to become a fast runner. Cornelius has two older brothers, who both received scholarships in the United States because of their speed. Today, they are his role models, and Cornelius dreams of following in their footsteps and combine running with a good education.
Cornelius has two metal boxes containing all of his belongings.
Phones and computers are banned from the school's premises.
A place among the greatest in the world
"In ten years, I want to be someone you see all over the world. Be a true champion and raise the flag of Kenya. I want to be a successful man, who others can admire and look up to," Cornelius says as he straightens his back.
He is the fastest runner at the school, which is a big pressure to have on his shoulders. St. Patrick's is looked upon as the most dominating school, with regard to medals and records in running.
Cornelius has already taken the first step in achieving his goal. He has been selected for a talent program run by 'The Godfather of running', Brother Colm O'Connell. The program runs training camps at St. Patrick's during the school holidays, where Cornelius are part of a group of approximately 50 young people who practice three times a day for six weeks.
Brother Colm's latest big success is David Rudisha, who also attended St. Patrick's High School. He is Cornelius' biggest idol, runs the 800 meters and has two Olympic medals as well as two world championship titles. He beat the world record set by Danish Wilson Kipketer, who is born in Kenya, went to St. Patrick's and was trained by Bother Colm.
"I am not trying to produce better athletes, I am trying to produce better people," Brother Colm humbly says about the secret behind his training method.
"In ten years, I want to be someone you see all over the world. Be a true champion and raise the flag of Kenya. I want to be a successful man, who others can admire and look up to," Cornelius says as he straightens his back.
He is the fastest runner at the school, which is a big pressure to have on his shoulders. St. Patrick's is looked upon as the most dominating school, with regard to medals and records in running.
Cornelius has already taken the first step in achieving his goal. He has been selected for a talent program run by 'The Godfather of running', Brother Colm O'Connell. The program runs training camps at St. Patrick's during the school holidays, where Cornelius are part of a group of approximately 50 young people who practice three times a day for six weeks.
Brother Colm's latest big success is David Rudisha, who also attended St. Patrick's High School. He is Cornelius' biggest idol, runs the 800 meters and has two Olympic medals as well as two world championship titles. He beat the world record set by Danish Wilson Kipketer, who is born in Kenya, went to St. Patrick's and was trained by Bother Colm.
"I am not trying to produce better athletes, I am trying to produce better people," Brother Colm humbly says about the secret behind his training method.
Discipline or nothing
The lower bunk in the middle of the 8th corridor, right before the second plywood separation wall, is the home of boy number 6667. Cornelius is lying askew but straight in the bed. A few friends are sitting on the edge of the bed, more on the neighbouring bed and even more are in the upper bunks. While the boys in the lower bunks lie and sit pell-mell, the boys in the upper bunks are lying with their heads over the edge, so they can follow everything going on underneath them. They hide their faces with their hands and twist their bodies, while their loud laughter and the squeaks from the beds fill up the room for a little while.
Suddenly, the group is breaking up and the atmosphere becomes somewhat hectic. A small snack is retrieved from the metal box, the green school jacket is put on and the leather shoes are laced up. They are on their way to class. With eyes wide open, they scout for teachers with canes before they run as fast as they can, past trees of past medallists, before they reach the classroom.
The first class starts at 4:30 a.m., where the students attend self-studies in the classrooms. The classrooms are occupied all day until their last class ends at 10 p.m. Tea breaks, three meals and 1,5 hours of sports, games or relaxation is the only interruption to the boys' intense studies.
"It is important the students learn to be good humans, with discipline in life. If they do not learn that, they will never get far," Peter Obwogd says – principal on St. Patrick's.
The consequence of delays, cheating or misdemeanours is whipping and caning. It does not worry Cornelius. He is just happy to get past it, so he can continue to focus on his running and academics.
The lower bunk in the middle of the 8th corridor, right before the second plywood separation wall, is the home of boy number 6667. Cornelius is lying askew but straight in the bed. A few friends are sitting on the edge of the bed, more on the neighbouring bed and even more are in the upper bunks. While the boys in the lower bunks lie and sit pell-mell, the boys in the upper bunks are lying with their heads over the edge, so they can follow everything going on underneath them. They hide their faces with their hands and twist their bodies, while their loud laughter and the squeaks from the beds fill up the room for a little while.
Suddenly, the group is breaking up and the atmosphere becomes somewhat hectic. A small snack is retrieved from the metal box, the green school jacket is put on and the leather shoes are laced up. They are on their way to class. With eyes wide open, they scout for teachers with canes before they run as fast as they can, past trees of past medallists, before they reach the classroom.
The first class starts at 4:30 a.m., where the students attend self-studies in the classrooms. The classrooms are occupied all day until their last class ends at 10 p.m. Tea breaks, three meals and 1,5 hours of sports, games or relaxation is the only interruption to the boys' intense studies.
"It is important the students learn to be good humans, with discipline in life. If they do not learn that, they will never get far," Peter Obwogd says – principal on St. Patrick's.
The consequence of delays, cheating or misdemeanours is whipping and caning. It does not worry Cornelius. He is just happy to get past it, so he can continue to focus on his running and academics.
Ever Saturday it is possible for the students to watch entertainment in the dining hall. The main part of the school sits around the one projector to watch wrestling.
Cornelius would love to practice more during the week
A difficult balance
"When I have studied all day, I get really tired even though I have not done anything. It sometimes makes me really annoyed," Cornelius says, when the talking about the relationship between education and his practice. He normally practices 45-60 minutes two times every day.
The wind is clam and a haze following yesterday's rain moves slowly around. It is 5:30 a.m. and Cornelius walks through the cold lights of the streetlights on campus. Outside the gate, where the streetlights cease, he stops and waits for the others. They are five students who have a special agreement to leave the classrooms before breakfast to do a morning run outside campus, even though the streetlights cease only a few meters from school.
45 minutes later they return. Short of breath they take a short break before they continue with stretching, cross movements and more advanced exercises.
They need to take a shower and have breakfast before they attend class again at 7:00. The breakfast is quick since it only consists of a cup of tea and a small piece of white bread.
"We only get small meals and it is not enough to sustain my body. When I am in school I just have to accept the food, but when we are in training camp we eat good. A big portion."
Whether Cornelius' efforts and talent are enough to get a scholarship in the United States, as it was for both of his brothers, Brother Colm does not doubt. The question whether Cornelius will achieve his goal and become one of the next great Kenyan star runners is harder to predict.
"When I have studied all day, I get really tired even though I have not done anything. It sometimes makes me really annoyed," Cornelius says, when the talking about the relationship between education and his practice. He normally practices 45-60 minutes two times every day.
The wind is clam and a haze following yesterday's rain moves slowly around. It is 5:30 a.m. and Cornelius walks through the cold lights of the streetlights on campus. Outside the gate, where the streetlights cease, he stops and waits for the others. They are five students who have a special agreement to leave the classrooms before breakfast to do a morning run outside campus, even though the streetlights cease only a few meters from school.
45 minutes later they return. Short of breath they take a short break before they continue with stretching, cross movements and more advanced exercises.
They need to take a shower and have breakfast before they attend class again at 7:00. The breakfast is quick since it only consists of a cup of tea and a small piece of white bread.
"We only get small meals and it is not enough to sustain my body. When I am in school I just have to accept the food, but when we are in training camp we eat good. A big portion."
Whether Cornelius' efforts and talent are enough to get a scholarship in the United States, as it was for both of his brothers, Brother Colm does not doubt. The question whether Cornelius will achieve his goal and become one of the next great Kenyan star runners is harder to predict.
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