Written by Alexandra McClain
Harding cross-country runner Daniel Kirwa is on his way to being the most decorated athlete in Harding history. How he started running, however, was not so glamorous.In his native Kenya, Kirwa said all the children would run three miles to and from school, with his elder brother leading the pack.”If I was lazy or running slowly, my brother would punish me by making me carry his books while he led everyone home,” Kirwa said.Kirwa said his brother pushed him to run, telling him that running was where his future was.”I said to him, ‘What is running going to help me? I want to be a lawyer,'” Kirwa said.He said the first race he ran was 1,500 meters when he was in fourth grade. He came in last and everyone laughed at him, but by seventh grade, Kirwa was winning most of the races he ran.As he got older, Kirwa said he heard about scholarship opportunities in America.”I always wanted to come to America and I saw running as my way to get there,” Kirwa said.When Kirwa was a sophomore in high school, he went to the Kenyan national time trials where NCAA scouts showed interest in him.Kirwa said he chose Harding because he knew other runners who went here. One returned to Kenya and told him about Harding and its Christian environment.”It was important to me that Harding was a Christian school; when I found that out, I knew I wanted to come here,” Kirwa said.Kirwa said getting his visa approved was a stressful process, but it set his destination in stone. Since arriving at Harding, Kirwa has worked to impress the collegiate track world with his running prowess. While only two seasons into his collegiate career, Steve Guymon, head cross country coach, said he already has a full trophy case. He has won four NCAA titles, is the two-time GSC champion and two-time Regional champion, has earned 12 All-American honors and holds numerous Harding records.Kirwa has two more seasons of track and, after this season, another year of cross-country.Guymon said he believes that Kirwa will be one of the most successful Harding athletes of all time.”By the time he graduates, Daniel will probably be the most decorated runner, well, athlete, that Harding has ever had,” Guymon said.Kirwa is still on the path to becoming a public servant. He is majoring in political science and plans to get a graduate degree in international relations with a focus in conflict resolution.In addition to being a good athlete, Kirwa is also a good person, according to Guymon.”He is one of the best runners I have ever coached,” Guymon said. “He is also one of the friendliest, and he’s well liked by his peers.”Guymon also said that Kirwa is a leader on the team and he always pushes his teammates to be successful.Guymon said it has been an honor working with Kirwa.”He has represented Harding, his teammates and his family with honesty and integrity,” Guymon said.The Bison cross-country team is preparing right now for the beginning of the 2010 season, where they are expected to finish at the top of both the GSC and National standings.Going into the season, the Bisons are ranked No. 9 nationally and No. 1 in the South Region. They are the only team from the South Region to be ranked nationally.Kirwa and the rest of the cross-country team open the season at the Missouri Southern Stampede in Joplin, Mo., this Saturday, Sept. 18.
