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SPORTS 11 Kosgei flnishes strong SEPTEMBER 2, 2011 By Colleen Gonzalez Staff Writer Some athletes stand out in their sport more than others. Senior Derick Kosgei is a primary example. Kosgei has been a prominent cross country runner at Guilford since the 2009 season, after he transferred from East Central University. Guilfor's campus and academic standing swayed Kosgei to transfer and he became an integral part of the cross country team. Last year, in his junior cross country season, Kosgei earned numerous achievements and awards. Notable accomplishments were three school records set in the five-, six-, and eight- kilometer races, in which he clocked times of 15 minutes and 51 seconds, 20 minutes and 48.34 seconds, and 25 minutes and 7.1 seconds respectively. Kosgei went on to win the title of Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Cross Country Champion as well as become the first Guilford competitor to enter the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship. "The main goal when I'm racing is to win, but it really depends with the race. Some are more competitive than others," said Kosgei. "So it comes down to running your best. If I don't win and I feel like I did my best, I will be satisfied." Although winning is wonderful, it is Kosgei's passion for running that helps him to win races. "I love cross country," said Kosgei. "Being able to maintain a sub-five minute mile for five miles feels good." Cross Country Coach Bill Cason agrees it is Kosgei's passion for running that makes him a winner and a leader for his teammates. While Kosgei himself is very humble and quiet about his abilities. Coach Cason admits that Kosgei's running speaks for itself. Cason has emphasized a winning tradition for Guilford's cross country team and has felt that Kosgei is the main example of what he wants the team to achieve. "Derick has set a standard of excellence on the team, and in the ODAC, that has raised the standards of his current team mates and all future Guilford College runners," said Cason. When one of Kosgei's teammates beats him in at least one workout they have confidence in the fact they are getting stronger because, "Derick gives 100 percent every day," said Cason. In the same way that Kosgei gives 100 percent at running, he gives the same with academics. A senior this year, he will be heading on to bigger and better things once he is a Guilford alumnus. "My plan is find a job and go to graduate school," said Kosgei. "However, I'm flexible if things work out in another direction. Running is part of me. I will still run and race regardless what I will be doing then." In addition to his studies, some of his volunteer work outside of Guilford consists of helping African refugees who live in Downtown Greensboro; something that seems very close to his heart. Originally from Kenya, Kosgei finds education in the U.S. more accessible than in Kenya, due to the resources sdch as technology and money to fund programs colleges and universities receive. Of course, the downside to attending school in the States is not being able to visit or go home as much as he would like to. Despite being so far away from home, Kosgei has shown how hard work pays off and has made the most of what Guilford has offered. "I just want to thank everyone who has been part of my journey since I joined Guilford," said Kosgei. "Coach Bill, Coach Cash, Coach Wade, my teammates, and the entire Guilford community. Thank you. God bless Guilford College!" Derick Kosgei 12 prepares for his last at Guilford. One Met lenRiites One Low Mce NC MULTI M RIDER H Travel Anytime. 10 nil tidietsggfaw as: Raleigh £o Charto - Gre-ensborii to Raiagh - $10B Dsriotte to Gresnsbtro - $149 CerytoQ>^eosboro-SSg Tic4gt ft' ix 19 fioes 'C '.■Jic-. cr 74. "H. 7S. ?s i-u North Carolina's AMTRAIT III mu pinf mmly'iiijif iiiji I mi, . bytrain.org Sports Boosters: Help or hamper? just want to support their children's athletic experiences," said Sports Information Director Dave Walters. "In most cases, within my Guilford does not guarantee a professional career in their sport." "In most cases, within my experience, student athletes at Guilford are students first and athletes second, or sometimes make it a priority further down the line," said Walters. Some would argue that giving extra money to athletes is unethical. In addition, money is spent on equipping players and teams with necessary funds. "First-year football players tend to receive more financial aid than the returning players," said Senior Andrew Johnson. He speculated that this was an incentive to entice athletes to come to Guilford. "...student athletes at Guilford *ese‘atwXs . I , O , I .11. don't come from 016 StUuGntS first ond OthlGtGS backgrounds with a lot of money. By Bryan Dooley Staff Writer On Aug. 10, the University of Miami became the latest NCAA sports program to be embroiled in a scandal involving inappropriate activity of boosters. As reported by Yahoo! Sports, the inappropriate activity involved former booster Nevin Shapiro, now serving a 20- year sentence for involvement in a Ponzi scheme. Allegedly, Shapiro spent millions on the Miami football team between 2002 and 2010; providing players with money, jewelry, prostitutes, and even funding the cost of an abortion for a player's girlfriend. Participation in inappropriate activity is not limited to only the Division I athletic programs. It occurs in some form on every level of competition, including Division III. "At the Division III level and at Guilford, our budgets are primarily designed with an eye toward providing the necessities," said Associate Professor of Sport Studies Bob Malekoff. "Division I athletic departments feel so much pressure to have great teams that we now have an unwinnable arms race in terms of providing everything from lavish locker rooms to specialized support staffs," said Malekoff. "The fact that all of this is happening when academic and student service programs are being severely cut makes some wonder about priorities in higher education." "Most Guilford boosters are parents who second..." Dave Walters So when people offer you things it's hard not to take them," said Johnson. As the NCAA continues to police the ethics of boosters and athletes, the violations continue to occur. Should athletes be paid in some manner for the revenue that their play affords their respective schools? Would the school's sports programs survive if the athletes took the professional rout? What happens if college players form a union, only to be eventually become locked out because they feel that their skills and earning potential are being taken advantage of? The debate rages on, and so do the violations.
The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.)
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Sept. 2, 2011, edition 1
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