Following Footsteps: Mercy's Journey with Mercy Chelangat
1/19/2023 9:35:00 AM | Track & Field, Cross Country
My brother, Vincent (Kiprop), has had a tremendous impact on my life.
Technically, he is the reason I started running in the first place and why I'm at Alabama today.
You could even argue that Vincent is the reason I'm an NCAA champion — just four years after starting to run.
Crazy, right?
But it’s the truth.
Vincent has always been a great runner. He's only a year older than me, and we grew up together in Kenya.
I used to marvel at watching him run. It just came so naturally to him, and he had such a strong passion and desire for it.
I, however, did not have the same desire.
I enjoyed watching him compete, but I never had any interest in the sport.
I never ran in high school or anything like that.
In fact, prior to 2017, I had never run in my life.
If you were to tell me then that I'd be in the United States right now at the University of Alabama on a scholarship to run cross country, I would not have believed you.
And if you were to tell me I'd be seven months removed from winning the 2022 NCAA National Championship in the 10,000-meter race, I don't even know how I'd react to that.
I'd probably laugh hysterically.
But here I am.
Due in large part to Vincent's positive encouragement and influence, running became my gift, too.
Following his lead
I know many people associate Kenya with one of the top countries in the world in producing world-class runners.
While this is true, where I'm from in Kericho, there weren't any runners in that area of the country.
So, it's not like I had anyone to look up to or inspire me to get into running.
Until Vincent.
When he accepted a cross-country scholarship and moved to the United States as a student-athlete, that opened my eyes.
I was so proud of him for moving to a new country and creating all these opportunities for himself, and I wanted that experience, too.
In 2017, I started to train and began my own journey into running.
I didn't know what would become of it, especially since I was starting so late, but I just wanted to give myself a chance to have some of the same opportunities that Vincent had.
So, with his support, and following the path he created, I set out on a journey to change my life and open up a world of opportunities for me, too.
Running toward opportunity
There's this notion back in Kenya that once you leave, you never return home.
When I was training and improving my times at an accelerated rate – much quicker than I initially thought – my dad had some reservations about my aspirations of running competitively at a university in the United States like Vincent.
He feared we'd never come home again.
I understood his thought process, but as quick of progress as I was making, I wasn't on Vincent's level.
Not even close.
Vincent began his collegiate career running cross country at Missouri Southern State University, but he later transferred to Alabama starting in 2017.
I wasn't on Alabama's radar at this time, but that didn't bother me in the least. I was just hoping for an opportunity from any school that would give me a chance.
So when the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) made contact with me and offered me a scholarship, I was overcome with joy.
I had only been training and running for around a year at this point, and here I was, coming to the U.S. to run cross country.
Just like Vincent.
Just like I set out to do.
Almost giving up
Ever since I was a little girl, I had always dreamed of exploring a new country.
When I arrived in the United States during the fall of 2018 to run for UTRGV, while I was nervous, I was ecstatic to live out my dreams of residing in a new country.
I underestimated how difficult that transition would be, though.
Between the culture shock, language barrier, and not knowing a single person on campus, it was a tough adjustment for me.
Truthfully, even though I worked so hard to earn a scholarship in just a year of training, I felt like quitting and moving back home to Kenya.
It just wasn't working out for me.
I wasn't happy, and I wasn't in a good state of mind.
But once again, my big brother – just as he's always looked out for me – came to my rescue.
He was still running for Alabama at the time, and he put in a good word for me with his coaches. Somehow, he was able to convince them that I'd be a valuable member of the team.
My times were decent at UTRGV, but I wouldn't necessarily say they were to the standards of Alabama, as that's a much bigger university and a serious step up in competition.
Regardless, they trusted Vincent and took a chance on me, and I transferred to Alabama to run cross country in Tuscaloosa alongside Vincent.
Thriving in Tuscaloosa
Having Vincent by my side at Alabama made all the difference in the world for me.
He's been such a positive influence throughout my entire life, so having the chance to see him every day and lean on his support changed everything for the better.
Not only was I happier, but my times improved dramatically as well.
And I don't think that's a coincidence.
I came into my own at Alabama. It's almost as if all the work and dedication I put in when I started this wild dream in 2017 led me right here to Tuscaloosa.
I'm a senior now, and when I look back at all that I've accomplished here, it's hard to put into words.
To go from not running at all prior to 2017 to winning the 2022 NCAA title – it's a feeling I doubt I will ever get used to.
It just goes to show that if you put everything you have into something and stop at nothing to accomplish your goals despite the many obstacles along the way, you have the chance to create endless opportunities for yourself.
I never expected to be a champion, but I had a championship mindset and work ethic, and that put me on the fast track to the most success and fun I've had in my entire life at Alabama.
Not to mention, having an older brother who looked out for me in every phase of this journey.
I couldn't be more grateful to have followed in his footsteps.
