From sprinter, to track star, to prolific road racer, Tom Nyariki's
story is an unusual one. He made the unusual switch from sprinter to distance
runner in 1995. The following year he won the Kenyan Trials at 5000 meters,
earning him a spot on the 1996 Olympic Team. He finished 5th in Atlanta,
catapulting him to the top ranks of the sport. That year he ran 7:27 for 3000
meters before clocking a 12:55 5K the following year. In 1997 he
also earned bronze medals at the World Championships (5000m) and
World Cross Country Championships (long course). But Tom's success would come to
an abrupt stop. Twice. First, in 2000 Nyariki suffered a broken leg. Determined to get back on the track, he made a full recovery and went on to run a personal best in the 10K (27:30). Perhaps having lost a step from the broken leg, Nyariki decided to turn to the roads, where he notched three major victories in 2002. His future was again looking bright. Until the unthinkable happened in 2003. Driving home from a training session, Nyariki was car-jacked by a group of thugs outside Nairobi. He escaped with his life, but the incident left him blind in his right eye. Today he wears dark glasses in training and races to protect that eye. And for the second time, Nyariki has resurrected his career. Determined to compete at the highest level of the sport, Nyariki began a slow and frustrating comeback in 2004. But by the following year he was back on the roads racing for victory. Since returning to the sport he has won the NYC Half Marathon, Beach to Beacon 10K and a close 2nd in the Falmouth Road Race.
On May 17th of this year he won the 10,000m at the 28th Armed Forces Championships in Nairobi, clocking an impressive 28:31 at altitude. He arrived in Boulder a few days later to begin his summer road racing season. Nyariki is married to Jackline Maranga, a great runner herself, and together they have three kids. At the age of 36, who knows how much longer Tom can compete at this level. But if his past is any indicator, there is still a bright future ahead of this inspiring and resilient athlete.