by John Conley

This feature is a continuation of the Capitol 10,000 article on in the May 2002 issue of Runner Triathlete News. To get the "rest of the story" on the Capitol 10,000 and its winners, please read the Capitol 10,000 article in that issue.

Capitol 10,000 results

For Capitol 10,000 champion Gilbert Tuhabonye, running may be more than a way of life, it may have helped save his life.

The Burundi national high school 800 meter champion in 1992, Tuhabonye was attended a boarding school near Bujumbura, when the nations civil war erupted in all it's fury. With Hutus and Tutsi tribes pitted in mortal combat, boarding school seemed like a safe haven. Safe until Hutu militiamen staged a surprise attack on his school in 1993. The attackers herded Tuhabonye and his classmates and faculty into a small building, sealed the doors shut and set the building on fire. After spending nearly eight hours in the burning building, Tuhabonye was the only survivor, buried beneath the bodies of his classmates. Summoning all of his strength, Tuhabonye smashed a window with the charred femur bone of a classmate and fled into the night, chased briefly by machete-wielding Hutu's. Despite being severely burned and in great pain, Tuhabonye managed to run and then crawl to the nearest safety, a small hospital a mile away. After months of painful recovery, Tuhabonye resumed jogging and then gradually returned to competition.

In 1996, Tuhabonye came to the United States to attend a small Junior College in Georgia on a track scholarship. Tuhabonyes talent, grit and determination led to some fast 800 meter times and garnered attention from major college recruiters. It also landed him on the Burundi National team as an alternate competing in the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta. Recruited by Abiliene Christian University, Tuhabonye came to Texas and earned All-America honors 6-times. The Lonestar Conference Champion in the 1500 meters in 1999 and in the 8k Cross Country, Tuhabonye competed internationally in Europe and represented Burundi at the 1999 Chiba Ekiden Relay in Chiba, Japan.

With personal records ranging from 4:04 for the indoor mile to 1:04:08 for the half marathon, the 27 year old runner has great potential to excel at any distance he chooses. A careful and methodical trainer, Tuhabonye will run several 5k and 10k races this year while considering making his marathon debut at the 2003 Motorola Marathon. "I think I can do it. But if I do it, I want to run fast".