Elite Running Foundation's roots.
Humble beginnings
Eliud met coach Ngata as a junior in high school, just outside of Nairobi. At that time, Coach Ngata was the director of athletics at a local university who trained and sent talented students to the United States for athletic scholarships. He also coached the Kenyan Olympic team in 1984 and 1988. Coach Ngata's students include Bernard Lagat (Kenyan 1500m record holder), Paul Ereng (800m Olympic gold medalist), John Ngugi (5x World CC champ), Jackson Lagat (NCAA champion), Eric Kamau (NCAA All American), and Coach Eliud. Coach Ngata was one of the most influential mentors in Eliud's early life and running career.
A life transformed
When they met, Coach Ngata immediately recognized Eliud's talent and began training him for a collegiate career in the United States. This combination of talent, hard work, and dedicated coaching enabled Eliud to come to the United States as a collegiate athlete and set numerous school records, both at Dodge City College and TCU.
Passing the torch
After his professional running career, Coach Eliud began following in Coach Ngata's footsteps, training up the next generation of talented athletes and giving them an opportunity to better their lives through running. A big part of this mission is local to the Fort Worth metroplex, but Eliud also works with Coach Ngata to help Kenyan runners compete in the United States. Along with talent scouting and connections with American colleges, Eliud and Coach Ngata provide mentorship and advocacy for these athletes. This support helps Kenyan runners culturally adjust, plan for the future, and continue in success well after their collegiate running careers.