Track talent spans the world
By Danny Gillham
Skiff Staff

Just like ABC’s Wide World of Sports used to say, the TCU track and field teams are always “spanning the globe” in search of new talent to add to their roster.

FILE PHOTO Senior Herbert Mwangi, from Kangema, Kenya, runs in distance races for the Horned Frog track teams. Mwangi is one of 12 foreign athletes on the men’s and women’s track teams.

A mainstay in the national rankings, the Flyin’ Frogs continue to find exceptional athletes in various places around the world. Even though the majority of the team comes from Texas, and a little from surrounding states, the Frogs have top performers from different countries.

Whether its the Far East, the Caribbean or Africa, the teams seems to cover all bases. With talent coming from three continents and nine countries, the question to ask head coach Monte Stratton is this: How do they do it?

“Its relatively easier than it used to be,” Stratton said. “With the Internet, there is the ability to find out about anyone who has talent in a short period of time. I’m not a computer person, but I can get online and find immediately sites profiling top athletes from other countries.”

The team also picks talent from junior colleges in Kansas. Currently there are seven team members who previously went to Barton County, Garden City, and Dodge City community colleges, all of which are in Kansas.

Senior distance runner Eluid Njubi, a native of Kenya, went to Dodge City. He said that he has enjoyed his TCU experience.

“This is a good school, with good weather,” Njubi said. “We have nice facilities and there is a good quality of people.”

Stratton said that a simple yet important factor is word of mouth.

“When you have a person from a country, and there are athletes back in that country with exceptional ability, you have an automatic pipeline.”

Senior sprinter Steve Slowly, a Jamaican native, said that words from others really help in the decision where to go.

“I was interested in TCU because of past track athletes,” Slowly said.

“Back in high school I had a lot of athletes I knew that went to TCU, so it’s like a tradition. I tell people how great TCU is, and how good our coach is, and about our program. It’s a comfortable place to be.”

Stratton said the things that interest foreign athletes aren’t much different from the American runners.

“They like that it’s a small, intimate place,” Stratton said. “We have strong educational background, and a large track reputation, especially on the men’s side. It’s really a good situation to be in.”

Danny Gillham
d.r.gillham@student.tcu.edu

credits

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