Student-Athlete Profile: Alfred Kangogo, Nursing

Not even a bout with cancer could derail UAA runner Alfred Kangogo, "Running is like drinking water for me," says Alfred. "I have to do it. It helps keep me focused."

Before and after his cancer scare last year, running has been his anchor.

Born and raised in Eldoret, Kenya, Alfred's upbringing was exotic by American standards. "I ran six miles to school every morning," he says. "It was fun."

Even as a young boy, Alfred noticed Kenya lacked sufficient medical care. He dreamed of coming to America to pursue nursing so he could return and help people in Eldoret. "I want to one day go back and help the people in my village. There are no hospitals, no nurses and no doctors. People have to travel very far away to get medical care," he says.

Alfred has now lived in Alaska for two years, and admits the adjustment to America was difficult. "People often struggled to understand me because of my accent. They'd ask me what I'm majoring in and when I say 'nursing' everyone thinks I say I want to major in 'nothing.' They'd ask 'You want to do nothing?'" he laughs.

Alfred needed a scholarship to pursue his college dream. Running was a potential source of support, and Alfred competed in timed tryouts for scholarship aid with other hopeful runners in Kenya. "They would time us and tell us if we were fast enough for college," he says. Alfred's speed attracted attention. Eventually, scholarship offers started flowing. His choices came down to UAA and Texas Tech. Alfred chose UAA because the cross country and track team needed a specific type of runner who could race different events; Alfred fit the bill. He says the decision came easy, and he's been happy with the choice.

Much of his sense of well being here derives from his sport. "Running is culture in Kenya," Alfred says. "Everyone does it. It's fun. You never need to exercise, because we're always running or doing some sort of work."

Still, the move to another country where he knew no one was tough, but he took it in stride. This independent 24-year-old learned to manage his time as a student and an athlete. "You really have to balance homework, running, and of course, other work all at the same time. There's not a lot of time to spare," he says. Alfred maintains a 3.4 GPA.

When he finds time to spare, Alfred spends it with friends and cross country and track team members who are also from Kenya. "It's nice because we will speak Swahili to each other and no one knows what we are saying. But more than that, we cook Kenyan food together." Alfred says even some of his American teammates have tried Kenyan food and liked it. "They always ask us when we are going to make more."

Last year, Alfred discovered a golf-ball sized benign tumor on his jaw. The surgery would normally call for doctors to remove bone fragments in Alfred's hip to replace part of his jaw, which would end Alfred's running career. "I thought 'This can't be happening. We need other options.'" He could not imagine giving up his dream of studying nursing and even competing in the Olympics; running was his ticket to fulfilling his future. Doctors decided to use bone from a cadaver, allowing Alfred to continue to run. "Going to Olympics is my ultimate goal. But without being able to run at all, I couldn't do anything because I wouldn't be able to concentrate. After I run, everything is great."

The surgery was completed in September, making Alfred ineligible to compete with his cross country teammates last season. But they did well without him. For the first time in UAA and the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) history, one school won both Cross Country Championships-UAA's men and women teams are the GNAC Champions. "I am so proud," he says. "I wish I could have been out there with them, but I told them 'run for me' and they did great!"

Alfred says the blending of cultures is easy on a team whose members share the same drive. "We walk in unity, because we have one goal. And we know we must run hard."

As a member of the track and field team, Alfred is looking forward to competing in the spring. "UAA gave me the opportunity to get a degree, run, compete with other schools and start my career. And of course, the scholarship they gave is very nice."

Alfred is proud of his progress. "My education is still prospering and will continue, and so will my running."

This athlete admits that running keeps him going. "It can be tiring, but I know that I can do anything. Running is part of me, of who I am."

Watch a KTUU Channel 2 interview with Alfred here.