GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Former Gators distance runner Keith Brantly went on to have a career that UF freshman Kelvin Cheruiyot dreams about when he laces up his shoes.

Brantly won a gold medal in the 10K at the 1985 World University Games, represented the U.S. in the marathon at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and won numerous races during a distinguished career that landed him in the UF Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.

Brantly received a reminder on Oct. 31 of one of his most memorable achievements for the Gators: winning the 1983 Southeastern Conference men’s cross country championship. No UF runner had done it since Brantly until Cheruiyot pulled off the feat.

 

Brantly watched the race on television and cheered for the Gators’ freshman to join him, Don Gagnon (1955) and Frank Lagotic (1967) as the only Gators to claim the title.

“The way he actually won the race was kind of similar to the way I ran my race,” Brantly said Wednesday. “I waited for as long as I possibly could and ended up pulling it off at the end.”

Cheruiyot stayed off the pace for the first half of the 8K run over the Cherokee Farms (Tenn.) Cross Country Course. He turned up the intensity over the second half and charged to the front, pulling away over the final kilometer.

A Kenyan who came to UF to pursue a degree in sports management and test himself as a competitive runner, Cheruiyot is a novice in regard to the passion and history of college athletics.

Did he know it had been 42 years since a UF runner had won the SEC’s premier cross country event?

“I didn’t have an idea,” he said. “My teammates were telling me.”

Brantly captured the crown during his senior season, a veteran competitor who started running at the age of 13 while growing up in Polk County. His drive took him all the way to the Olympics.

He sees more victories ahead for Cheruiyot, a relatively new competitor in the running world.

“Kelvin is an incredibly talented runner,” Brantly said. “If he continues to improve like he is doing, he is obviously going to be world-class, if not already. I hope this is the first or four SEC Championships he gets.”

That is another dream to pursue for Cheruiyot, who continues to acclimate to America. The Gators are competing Friday in the NCAA South Regional in Huntsville, Ala.

Following his performance at the SEC Championships, Cheruiyot has raised awareness of his capabilities on the biggest stages. He is still adjusting to the extra attention, including an SEC Network interview after his win in Tennessee.

He is taking it all in stride (pun intended).

“I just wanted to further my studies and work on my talent,” Cheruiyot said this week. “It was a good opportunity for me.”

And a historic one for the Gators.

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RUNNER’S WORLD

Kelvin Cheruiyot and Keith Brantly are from different countries and generations apart. But they both are now SEC men’s cross country champions. A look a some comparisons between the two:

 

CATEGORY	KEITH BRANTLY	KELVIN CHERUIYOT
SEC men’s champion	1983 (Lexington, Ky.)	2025 (Knoxville, Tenn.)
Time	24:06.7 (5 miles)	23:08.26 (8K)
Hometown	Winter Haven, Fla.	Samitui, Kenya
Height	5-10	6-1
Weight	130	128
Miles per week training for SEC Championship	60 to 65	80 to 85
Pre-race routine	2-mile warmup	2-mile warmup
Pre-race meal	A banana, bagel or English muffin usually before a race	Typically eats protein, eggs, maybe a waffle morning of race
Shoe	Nike (special made)	Nike Dragonfly
Cost	$50-$60*	$170**
Moment you thought you would win?	“It wasn’t until about 400 meters to go. It was a competitive race.”	“At the 6K [mark], I say, ‘I’m gonna do this.’ And I stayed with them. The last K, I tried to push.”
Winner’s medal	“I’m pretty sure I got a medal. I keep them in a box. I haven’t looked at them in a long time.”	“I put it somewhere safely. I’m hoping to get more of them.”
Favorite course	UF’s cross-country course at Bostick Golf Course	Missouri’s Gans Creek Course in Columbia, Mo.
Best day as a runner	“Finishing third at the 1996 Olympic Marathon Trials to make the U.S. Olympic Team after failing to make the team five previous tries, two of which were fourth-place finishes.”	“I think it’s the SEC race, of course. That was the race I really wanted to make it count.”
Celebration after winning the SEC title	“I can guarantee you this, I probably went out with the guys, had a beer, enjoyed life a little.”	“Nothing much. I took a rest when we got back to Gainesville, woke up about 8 p.m., slept very early.”

*Standard running shoe, special-made insert due to foot injury; **Retail price on Nike.com.