Originally from Kenya, Ngetich, who has attended
Central Methodist University in Missouri, decided to enroll
at HPU with a friend who planned to play volleyball here. The
friend never made it. She wound up making an Olympic squad
and opted to hold off on college. Lucky for HPU, Ngetich came
anyway, as he has run away with four individual titles this
season on the cross country course. Once Ngetich showed his
impressive 5,000 meter time to former Head Coach Vien Schwinn,
HPU invited him into the program.
Although, many successful runners have certain
rituals or diets leading up to a race, Ngetich claims he does
nothing special
the night before a meet.
“
I just train with the team the week leading up to the race and try to relax
the night before,” said Ngetich.
While at Central Methodist, Ngetich earned
All-American status in his first love, track and field, after
winning the 5,000
meter race at the NAIA Nationals.
“
My favorite events are the 800 and the 1500 though,” said Ngetich. “I’m
running cross country because it’s the best way to stay in shape for
track season.”
Since HPU doesn’t have a track team,
Ngetich plans to enter the UH-Manoa open invitational events
as an individual competitor.
Success on the track in Ngetich’s
family doesn’t stop with, nor did
it begin with William. Ngetich’s uncle won a Bronze medal in the 800
meter for Kenya in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Ngetich’s younger
brother, currently in high school, is clocking times on the track faster
than most
high-ranked NCAA runners, and he is already being offered professional
contracts.
Kenyan runners have a storied success in
distance running, but Ngetich doesn’t
read much into the idea that they are born with the ability or have special
training methods.
“
Kenyans train just like anyone else,” said Ngetich. “We were
always just told growing up to train hard and win easy.”
With so many different ethnicities co-existing
on the HPU cross country team, one might think it would create
barriers, but
according to Ngetich,
the diversity
helps the chemistry. He says that since they all came from such different
places, they know what it’s like to be abroad and to have to get
along with people. Ngetich also says it is interesting to see all of
the different training disciplines
and styles of preparation.
“
My teammates from places like Denmark and Morrocco like to train and
run a lot more mileage per week,” said Ngetich. “I don’t
really like to train all that much. I would like to do as little as
possible, so I have a
lot left for the actual race.”
Look for Ngetich and the rest of the Sea
Warrior squad to come away with another big victory as they
travel to Pomona,
Calif. to compete
NCAA
II West Regionals
Nov. 8, in hopes of a berth at the national championships in North
Carolina Nov. 22. |
