Nyariki: A champ with a story to savor

Portland Press Herald Writer

Copyright © 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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	TOM NYARIKI AGE: 33 CITIZEN OF: Kenya RESIDENCE: Nakuru, Kenya BEST 10K: 27:30 OF NOTE: Last year's Beach to Beacon marked his return to the international racing scene for the first time since 2003 after a carjacking episode left him without sight in his right eye. Remarkably, he finished third with a 28:05. A former Olympian, he took fifth at 5,000 meters in the 1996 Olympics. Owns three victories in major 10K road races, including the 2003 Cooper River Bridge 10K (27:41). Finished sixth in 2002 Beach to Beacon (28:27). Took third in the 1997 world championships at 5,000 and also won the 1998 African Championship at 3,000. To top of story
	Staff photo by Shawn Patrick Ouellette Tom Nyariki had reason to smile while wearing the laurel wreath of victory Saturday. Three years ago his career was in doubt after a carjackingh, and now he's champion.
	Staff photo by Shawn Patrick Ouellette Tom Nyariki hits the finish line to become the seventh straight Kenyan to win the Beach to Beacon 10K. He was followed across the finish line by six fellow Kenyans.

CAPE ELIZABETH — A few hundred meters after they turned onto Shore Road on Saturday, 34-year-old Tom Nyariki pulled alongside 28-year-old Gilbert Okari and made a suggestion. "Let us run away from these young guys."

Okari, who had strained his left hamstring after zig-zagging his way up the Old Ocean House Road hill in Mile 3, shook his head in reply.

"No," Okari said. "I cannot push."

And so Okari passed his three-year mantle of supremacy to perhaps the most deserving runner in the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon field, a fellow Kenyan who lost the sight in his right eye during a 2003 carjacking in Nairobi, Kenya, and returned to competition only last August in Cape Elizabeth.

"Maine is my second home," said Nyariki. "I had no intention of winning. I just wanted to better my time."

Nyariki won the ninth edition of this popular 6.2-mile race from Crescent Beach to Portland Head Light in a time of 27 minutes, 47.5 seconds.

The victory is worth $10,000 in prize money and, for Nyariki, countless more to all the folks who supported him through a difficult recovery.

"I got encouragement from my people at home," Nyariki said. "They say, 'You can do it. You can do it.' . . . Due to their encouragement, I have come back."

Okari gamely managed to hold off one of the young guys - 24-year-old Evans Cheruiyot - to place third and collect $3,000. They had identical times of 28:08.9.

Lawrence Kiprotich, 20, followed up last weekend's Bix 7-miler victory with a second-place finish in 28:03.8 - well behind Nyariki but still worth $5,000.

Rounding out the top 10, all of whom broke 29 minutes on a sunny Saturday morning bereft of cloud and breeze, were John Korir, William Chebon, Ed Moran, Charles Kiama and Luke Kipkosgie.

Moran, a 2003 graduate of The College of William & Mary who serves as his school's assistant track and cross country coach, is the only non-Kenyan of the bunch.

Only one other American this year has run a faster 10K road race than Moran's 28:43, which earned him seventh place and $800.

"This is only my third road race," said Moran, who will compete next on European tracks at 5,000 meters. "I haven't run a 10K since college in cross country."

Saturday was not a race for the young, but for the old and wise. Nyariki, who prefers to stay slightly apart from packs because a jostle easily could throw him off balance, allowed others to set the pace with a pair of 4:30 miles.

When Okari weaved his way uphill in Mile 3, it was not to cut tangents but to entice the inexperienced into running longer. Nyariki wasn't fooled.

"When he goes this way," Nyariki said, making a serpentine gesture with his hand and chuckling, "I go straight. If you followed him directly, you would be very tired."

After his 4:22 third mile, Okari passed under the joint South Portland-Cape Elizabeth fire truck extension archway with a lead of 10 meters. He continued to run alone until Nyariki joined him just before Shore Road bends to the left.

By Beach Bluff Terrace, Nyariki had pulled ahead for the downhill stretch leading to Pond Cove.

Increasing the pace, Nyariki ignored the sparkling blue waters and concentrated on the final hills, what he called the "lumpy" part of the course.

Only then did he allow himself a peek to the rear.

"I didn't see anybody, you know," he said, almost apologetic in tone.

No, on this pristine morning, the sight not to be missed was Nyariki himself, pushing his past behind, reclaiming a future that was very nearly taken away and basking in cheers he had not heard in a long, long time.

"This," he said, "is very special to me."

Staff Writer Glenn Jordan can be contacted at 791-6425 or at:

gjordan@pressherald.com