In 2010-11, Park University was treated to one of the greatest individual seasons by any student-athlete to wear the Pirate uniform. Daniel Tubei, a member of Park’s cross country and track team for two years, became a two-sport All-American this past season and helped bring a national championship to Parkville.

It’s been a long road to success for Tubei, however he has had some help from a fellow Kapsabet, Kenya, native and teammate.

In high school, Daniel Tubei enjoyed the competition in running, and strived to do better; to use his talent. The sophomore heard about Park University from a past student named Cornelius Serum.

“Cornelius told me I would do well and I would like it,” Tubei said. “He met with my father and I and told us all about it.”

Currently Serum is back home and has a good job upon graduating so Tubei feels encouraged that he made the right choice.  

Upon his arrival to Parkville, Tubei was given a big surprise.

“I was not used to the food here,” Tubei said. “Even on the airplane, I didn’t know what to do with it.”

Tubei may have been homesick, but who can blame him. Here he was coming to a new place, where he knew no one, and thousands of miles away from home.

“It was hard at first,” he said. “I missed my family but after about 2 to 3 weeks in, I got used to everything.”

Tubei’s teammate, Thomas Chelulei, comes from the same city, but didn’t know Tubei. “I was looking for a school,” Chelulei said. “I saw that Daniel had done well, and I wanted to join him and the rest of the team at Park.”

A little friendly competition never hurt anyone. This proves true with Tubei and Chelulei.

“This was my first season on American soil,” Chelulei said. ”I wanted to test how fast I could run, and I wanted to break Daniel’s record.”

 The two trained together, Chelulei strived to beat his fellow Kenyan, which in the end pushed Tubei.

“I wake up early,” Tubei said. ”Sometimes around 6 a.m. to get my long runs in before it’s too hot.”

The preparation for Cross Country was intense, taking down 90 miles a week, and building endurance.

Weather is definitely an obstacle for the runners.

“Right now it is too hot,” Tubei said. “In the winter it is too cold. The weather here is always changing, so it’s hard. But Spring is nice.” 

Tubei was named a 2010 NAIA Men’s Cross Country All-American with his 18th-place finish at the 55th Annual NAIA Men’s Cross Country National Championship meet in Fort Vancouver, Wash. Tubei, just a sophomore, ran the 8K race in a time of 25:31. In the 2010 track season he qualified in the marathon and eventually finished 10th.

After wrapping up the Cross Country season, training for track began. Tubei and Chelulei had a running schedule to follow over the winter break. The effort put in again proved worth the work

At the 60th Annual NAIA National Track and Field Championships in Marion, Indiana, Tubei won the men’s marathon race and took home the national championship with his time of 2:27.12. He now holds the second fastest time in Park University track and field history in that race.

Chelulei finished the race in seventh-place with a time of 2:32.05. He earned the fourth fastest marathon time in school history.

Head Coach Brian Renshaw is very proud of his hardworking duo. “They are very coachable If they don’t understand, they ask questions. They give input on what they need as well.”

Renshaw has great expectations for his two successful runners.

“They have consistent work habits,” Renshaw said. “We just have a couple things to work on.”