OCR Text |
Show TheSalt Lake Tribune SUNDAYSPECIAL Sunday, April 7, 2002 Ge Mylong-term goal is to win an Olympic gold medal.It’s reallykind of a dream that’s going to come "99 Photos by Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune Nurani Sheikh, wearing socks with the Americanflag, stretches before a workout. Sheikh dreamsof runningfor the United Statesin the Olympics. Sheikh Has Received Support From ‘Coach Tony’ lowed Casillas to combinetheskills he developed training several national-caliber athletes in the Bay Area in the 1980s with Sheikh’s uniqueability and determination. @ Continued from C-1 Sheikh wonthe race in 9 minutes, 3.41 seconds — Casillas occasionally uses humor to motivate Sheikh. Prior to the NSIC last month, he reminded Sheikh thathis best 2-mile time wasn’t even in his athletes’ top 10. the fastest indoor time in Utah prep history — but only good enough for No. 3 on Coach Tony's's top 10. and a runningfuture as bright ashis situation was bleak 11 years ago in Somalia. Painful Memories: The time between the erup- ‘The duo— was reunited with his motherhasleft its mark on the 18-year-old ‘Thetragedy began whenheandanolder sister, Zeinab, were away from their house oneevening in southern Somalia. When they returned, there was no sign of their mother, father or seven othersiblings. Soldiers hadattacked the house. forcing the took some time and made the ACT (college admission test) a struggle onhisfirst attempt. Sheikh called ondtestresults. family to flee “You know beinga little kid andbeing separated from your momis the worst thing that can happen. right?” Sheikhsays. “How can you live without your mom or your sisters andbrothe Withthe help of neighbors, Nurani and Zeinab fled the country, eventualiy .17“.»¢ their way to Ye men. For the next seven years, tuey lived in a refu gee campthere. ‘That's when a merchant from Kenya, also a friend of an uncle, spotted Nurani and Zeinab, who had become teen-agers. On his next trip, he was Nurani Sheikh, right, sits at home with oie of ie family: (from left) sister Halima Sheikh, 1-year-old niece Farhiya Ofu, cousin Sharifa Mahamed Ofu and mother Sharifa Qadi Mohamed. trying. Casillas noticed his form begin to break down, head cocked to the side andhis arms tight against his body ‘That stance “\ meansthere's nothingleft, but I'm notgoingtogive up,” Casillasrecalls. “I said to myself, ‘look how far he’s able to bringthem to Kenya, where they re willingtogo. ceived more good news: Their mother wasalive andlivingin the United Becausehe was traveling, Sheikh says he was al lowed to break fast once hearrived in Florida, but he still hadto fast for the week leading up to the race. Following Ramadan, Casillas made sure Sheikh made up the fast days. CoachTony: Casillaswill never forget theday herealized his relationship with Sheikh had crossed the coach-athlete barrier. It wasthe afternoon Sheikh introduced him toa cousin, a cab driver who occasionally drops him off at practice. States Somalia. Sheiki had truly adopted his coach's Sharifa had been in Ke but wasrelocated to Utahthrough aprogram sponsored by Cath olic Charities. It took other mantra, “It only “He gives me a hug andsays, ‘He’s your son, he’s your son you have done so much for him,’ ” Casil- las says. “I couldn't forget that moment.” nearly two moreyears, gamebefore joining High- Sheikhrefers to “Coa ” as his “best friend andcoach and fat “Tean't just describe what| feelin just a couple of words, it’s —reeran words. He is a great but Nurani, the eighth of ninechildren, was granted a visa andal land's cross country team latein the 2000 season. He No argument oie Sheikh’s mother, Sharifa. ing 70th in hisfirst race, ” she says. “He's done a great job helping Nurani. Soccer was Sheikh’s now laughsaboutfinish. lowedto join his mother twobrothers Osman and Aweys and two sisters Khadija and Halima in Salt Lake Highland track coach Tony Casillas gives Sheikh advice following a recent race. City “Whenthey told me theywere goingto bring himhere,it wasthe best dayof mylife Sharifa through Nurani’s translation. Butthestory's ending is uncertain. Another brother, Rasheed, and Zeinab are still in Kenya, though Zeinab mayjoin the family this summer. Little is said about Nurani’s father, Mohamed, and his two eldest broth. ers, Abdirahma Ahmed, just that they re- “* ecto: Sheikh speaks fivelan mainmissing. guages of the right time. his native Bra va, Somali, Swahili, Ara upto thelectern, pretendingto teachthe course onlythis time under bright circumstances. Our relationship is not going to end,” Sheikh says.“He's the one, after eat bales helped me get this opportunity. . . .1 ‘Ahead: SI s running @ ” a wayto fund hiseducation. A habby he hopes wi carryhim to the Bejing Olympics in 2008,or perhaps even Athens in 2004. “Nothing is far, as long as you have confidence in yourself,” Sheikh says. He envisions wearingthe U.S. uniform —even runs in socks embroidered with little American flags. aeMy long-term goal is to win an Olympic gold He comeshere and picks him upandtakes him to medal,” Sheikh says.“It’s reallykind of a dream that's going to come true.” There is, he acknowledges, more to the dream ever to write a book abouthis coaching career, Lake City’s East High, welcomes therole. If he were than winning gold. He knowsCoach Tonywill see the moment, but he hopes that somehow, just may- But no one could have guessed what happenednext. Inthe Foot Locker be,his father willseeit, too. See him on TV, wher- Casillas says, “Nurani would bethe last chapter.” everheis, recognize the name, and find his way to ended upat Highlandatthe right time,” Casillas says. The timing wasperfect, he says, because ital. ‘The braces will be long gone by then. The smile will remain. “It’s like we both dropped out ofthe sky and his son. West Regional at Walnut, Calif., in December, Sheikh notonly qualified for the national meet, but also shocked the field by winning. Theyear before he hadfinished 50th. “The Western Region al, that’s whereNi Toberohinnu for nationals would havebeen good, but to emis tations.” ‘A week later, he faced Tony Casillas graspof theculture have evolvedwell WhenJason Thomas, his algebra teacher and also a co steps into the the hall for an interview Sheikh draws laughter from the class as he jumps intent with the school Wednesday. “It's not hard to let go at all, 1 justget to sit back and watch what happe illas ; A year later, he began finishing closer to the front in most races, includingthird in the Class meet. It’s like we both dropped out of the sky and ended up at Highlandat “Tlikethe way hehas becomepart of our fami Casillas as soon as hegothis secich, coach, I the ACT,1 didn’t want anyoneelse totell you.’ Casillas says. “That was thelast pieceof the puzzle.’ With the times and scores in hand, Sheikh narrowed his collegechoices to the University of Portland and NAU. Sheikh eventuallysettled on the Flagstaff,Ariz., school, citing the atmosphere and coach Ron Mann. The Lumberjackshave had four top-fivefinishes in cross countrysince 1988 and placed fourth in 2001. Sheikh will sign his letter of the MurrayInvitational. 4-A state cross country bic and now, English His English skills and Sheikh always says “we” when dis- cussing his races — is aimingfor the top spot on the list this Saturdayin Arcadia,Calif., with a time in the8:50 range. That feat would make him one of the fastest prep 2-milers in U.S. history. As thrilled asCasillas is for Sheikh’s running success and future, the coach is equally impressed with his academic development. Mastering English tionof the Somalian civil war in 1991 andtheday he daylight hours. twosimultaneouschal- lenges, the Foot Locker nationals and Ramadan, a month offasting during He set out to prove his regional win was no fluke, vowingnotto let any West qualifier beat him in Florida. None did, and Sheikhplaced fourth overall. Athletic success and an intriguing background have made Sheikh popular at school. It seemsall 2,000-plus students recognizehim as he wanders the hallway. He doesn't fit the stereotypeof a star ath. lete, standing only S-foot-8, witha typically slight runner's frame. He's talkative andfriendly, but not likely to be found at many dances, though he was voted as royaltyat one hedidn't attend earlier this year He is hardly a typical Americanteen-ager, ei ther. His social network is mostly family. A devout Muslim, Sheikh praysfive times a day, including oncediscreetly at school. He spends muchof his freetimereading the Koran. Andhestudies. Geometry teacher Bruce Grable calls him “mytopstudent. He's got the skills the study skills, the mental capacity and the thor to stick with a project ‘Then there’s running. Casillas says Sheikh’s suc cess has helped the younger membersof Highland's team a programnot traditionally knownfor dis tance running and warns that the Sheikh-less Rams will surprise someteams this fall It was last track season, during a relay against some of the top runners in Utah, when Casillas rea) ized Sheikh had the makings of greatness. His fit ness level was lacking, but that didn’t stop him from Sheikh and Highland teammate Travis Bailey run during a recent workout. Sheikh will attend Norther Arizona University in the fall. |