Kongela gets a healthy start to the anticipated season
Kristin Gnile, Feature/Sports Editor
November 7, 2007
Track and field is gearing up for the spring season. On the track, the team gathers almost everyday to practice, test, and stay in shape. Among them is sophomore, Dakarai Kongela. He runs the 100 and 200 meter and participates in the long jump and triple jump.
He was on the team last season; however, he had to sit out many competitions because of injury. Now he's back and healthy. "I learned a lot from not competing [last season]," said Kongela. "It was a gift from God."
Despite the absence of sports scholarships, Kongela decided to come to George Fox because of track. "I came here for track which is weird because they don't give out scholarships [for track] but it just felt right," he said, "I felt that God was saying, 'hey, this is it.'"
Preparing for his fourth year in the sport, track means a lot to Kongela. His best time in the 100 meter is 10.95 and farthest distance in the triple jump is 45.11. Kongela prefers individual sports to team sports. "In team sports, if you mess up, you ruin it for other people, but in track you only ruin it for yourself. It goes the other way too," he said.
The graphic design major has a passion for running. "I really feel closest to God when I'm running. I feel that it is something that he wants me to do and I'm worshiping him by running. It feels like a gift God gave me. I know that sound cliché and corny but it's true," said Kongela.
He chose to come to George Fox at the last minute.
"Basically, I thought school was a waste of time but then I started to feel lost since all of my friends were signed up for school. I was asking myself, 'What am I supposed to do?' and that night the track coach [at Fox], John Smith, called and said that if I didn't have any plans then I should come here."
Kongela is looking forward to the upcoming season. "I pray that I stay healthy and that he'll let me run a few races at least," he said.
Be sure to support Kongela and the rest of the track and field team in the spring when the season starts up.