Overcoming Hurdles To Go The Distance
When Mississippi State University track athlete Gedamu Ege arrived in the United States at the age of 13, he joined his refugee father, his Kenyan stepmother and five siblings in Atlanta, Ga. Just four years earlier, the elder siblings came to the U.S., leaving their youngest brother in Ethiopia with an uncle until he was old enough to apply for a visa.
"Everybody wants to come to America," Ege said. "That's why my dad came here. There weren't any problems between my uncle and me, but I wanted to be with my family. It was hard not knowing if I would see them again."
Growing up in a new culture and environment came with its disadvantages. In his first year in the United States, Ege took English as a Second Language (ESL) to help close an obvious language gap.
"It was hard when I came from Ethiopia to the United States ?€“?€“ especially with the language," Ege said. "I still have a hard time understanding some words. The culture is different. A lot of things are different. It's not just one culture in America ?€“?€“ it's a lot of different ones. The only English I knew when I came here was 'No/Yes, Sir/Ma'am' and 'Go' and 'Come.' If I didn't understand it, my dad would tell me what it meant. He would have a sheet of paper and write it down for me.
"I didn't know the alphabet. I listened to people talk to learn English. At home, I had to use English to communicate with my stepmother. She's from Kenya, and that's a different language than what's spoken in Ethiopia. If we couldn't understand her, she would point to what she was talking about. I took ESL classes for almost a whole year ?€“?€“ one on how to write, another on how to read."
Ege is thankful for the people placed along his path in life. Three people who are especially important to him are his former high school coach, Jeff Cramer, MSU Head Track and Field Coach Al Schmidt and MSU Associate Head Track/Head Men's Cross Country Coach Steve Dudley. He feels, because of their efforts to help him, he has become a success.
"My high school coach and I are close," he said. "Without him, I wouldn't have ended up in college. I might have dropped out of high school. Coach Dudley and I are real close. When I have a problem, I go to him first. He's my coach, friend and parent. Coach Schmidt is the same way. I can't go out to the track to run without joking with him. He's just like a friend to me."
"Gedamu has the 'never say die' attitude," said Schmidt. "He's battled educationally from the beginning. He worked as a fry cook and a dish washer - whatever it took to make ends meet. He's earned everything he's gotten. He went to junior college for a third year because he couldn't pay to go to school full-time. He's determined to be a success."
While Ethiopia is known for producing outstanding distance runners, such as world record holders Haile Gebrselassie (5,000-meters) and Kenenisa Bekele (10,000-meters), Ege came to America with a dream of becoming a success on and off the track. According to Dudley, what makes African natives great distance runners is heredity.
"It's an evolution of their genetic makeup," he said. "Running is a major sport there. In America, kids are introduced to football, basketball or baseball. In Africa, they run."
After arriving in the States, Ege was introduced to soccer and started running track in middle school as a part of a deal he made with a coach. Ege agreed to run track if the coach let him play basketball. Until his junior year of high school, he never received any formal distance training until Cramer was hired as the head coach at Grady High School. While Cramer worked with Ege to up his weekly mileage, it became the beginning of a relationship that exists today.
"I came to Grady the summer before Gedamu's junior year," Cramer said. "He's always been willing to do more than what is asked of him. He was working all the time. He had a part-time job at a grocery store. He was trying to pay for a car and take care of himself. Nothing seems to discourage him for long."
Ege's career at Grady was highlighted with four state championships. He was the team MVP and Atlanta's cross country and track MVP all four years of high school. During his junior and senior seasons, he garnered most valuable honors at the state track meet.
Following his graduation, Ege was recruited to Bevill State (Ala.) Community College. The head coach of the Bears at the time was Dudley. However, prior to the start of Ege's first season at BSCC, he accepted a position as an assistant track coach at Mississippi State University and headed to his alma mater in Starkville. Dudley's replacement at Bevill was his brother, Heath, who coached Ege for one season since the program was cut during his final two years.
During the lone season he competed at BSCC, Ege was named an NJCAA all-American after finishing third at the cross country national championships. His success resulted in being reunited with Dudley ?€“?€“ this time at Mississippi State.
While Ege realizes what a blessing it is to have overcome so many obstacles in his life, one thing he may not realize is the impact he has had on others.
"I was truly blessed to have Gedamu placed in my life," said Dudley. "I went from being a coach that calculated greatness by how many championships one had to realizing that greatness comes from the hearts of individuals that have had to battle just to exist. Some athletes compete with their muscle and mouth whereas Gedamu shows that true passion in sport comes from those who compete with their mind and heart. Having individuals like Gedamu come into your life make you a better coach and person."
"He's like a member of my family," Cramer added. "He was enthusiastic and was a leader because of his work ethic. When he was at Grady, I was worried he wouldn't make it academically. Tutors worked with him to make sure he would pass the Georgia Graduation Exam. Going to Bevill State during his first year of college was a big plus. I drove him over there and moved him in. He's made good strides since he's left here. We communicate via e-mail, and I see a drastic improvement in his writing.
"What makes our relationship work now is he has a good balance of just keeping in touch and not becoming dependent on me. As a coach or teacher, you want your kids to move on. It's gratifying to know you have that friendship."
Current teammates have learned lessons they apply to their own lives just by observing Ege's work ethic, character and attitude.
"With his remarkable background of growing up on his own without knowing his way around, it has really given me a perspective on how anything can be accomplished given enough motivation," said teammate Ryan Irwin.
Even those who have finished their tenure with the track program at MSU have not forgotten Ege. Former teammate Elmore McConnell (2001-04) describes him as a role model for people seeking hope.
"Gedamu has a good heart," said McConnell. "A lot of people don't know how to understand a person like him. I take it as a blessing. The reason that he is so successful now is because he has taken the road less traveled ?€“?€“ the straight and narrow. Everything negative in Gedamu's life has made him more determined to succeed, which gives a new meaning to the saying 'there is no success without struggle!'"
Considering Ege struggled academically, it is hard to suspect it now. He completed the 2004 fall semester with a perfect 4.0 grade point average, earning him the Newsom Academic Award, an award presented to the top male and female student-athlete in each MSU sport. He is scheduled to graduate in December 2005 with his Bachelor of Science degree in interdisciplinary studies. Athletically, Ege was named Southeastern Conference Athlete of the Week for cross country on Oct. 27, 2004, and has posted two top 10 finishes in the 5000-meter run, including one win, during the 2005 season.
Ege is aware he could apply for his U.S. citizenship at any time, but for now, his permanent green card will do until he has more time to complete the citizenship process. And while Americans, at times, seem to take their citizenship for granted, Ege is thankful to have a transplanted home.
"I can't forget who I am," he said. "I am African. I can't be American because I am not. I definitely think America has lived up to being the 'Land of Opportunity.' There's no doubt about that. And, it's not just for me ?€“?€“ that goes for a lot of people. When people ask for advice, I tell them my story. Everything's a part of life."