Heading out the door, running shoes in hand, Jeremy Mbogo could not have anticipated how a chance encounter with a tight-knit group of local Poughkeepsie runners would alter the trajectory of his collegiate running career.
A graduate student and cross-country team captain, Mbogo’s journey to Marist College and a Division I athletic career did not follow a conventional path. His journey included two countries, two universities, a fortuitous encounter with a Marist alumni and an open-minded college coach who witnessed Mbogo gain American citizenship.
The youngest of four siblings, Mbogo and his family arrived in the United States from Kenya in December of 2016, settling in Poughkeepsie for his freshman year of high school. It would not be until the winter track of his senior year of high school, however, that Mbogo would lace up his shoes and put on a uniform for Poughkeepsie High School.
“I didn’t start running until my senior year of high school,” said Mbogo.
In the months when the world retreated into pandemic-imposed isolation, Mbogo did the opposite, taking himself and his running shoes to the Poughkeepsie High School track, even after he graduated and began attending SUNY New Paltz. During one of his self-guided training sessions, Mbogo was befriended by Marist alum David Swift, a record-setting Marist runner during the 1990s.
“Swift invited me to run with a group of Poughkeepsie-based runners, which is how I eventually met [Mairst director of cross country and track & field] Pete Colaizzo,” said Mbogo.
Colaizzo coincidentally was Swift’s former Marist coach and occasional running mate.
Swift and his cohort of older local runners urged Mbogo to run for Colaizzo at Marist, even though Mbogo was then enrolled as a freshman at SUNY New Paltz.
“The first time we ran together was actually kind of awkward as I’m a rule follower and because [Mbogo] was enrolled in another school, I technically couldn’t talk to him about Marist’s program,” said Colaizzo. “That first run that we did though… you could immediately tell he was a runner. What he did compared to us older guys is like apples and oranges… I told him [he] should stride up the hill and it was like watching a gazelle stride up a hill.”
Fast forward a year and multiple Zoom calls later, the Poughkeepsie old-timers would get their wish when Mbogo chose to join Colaizzo at Marist for his sophomore year. Colaizzo feels as though it has been a seamless fit.
“Being from a non-traditional background, he has adapted exceptionally well to what it means to be a DI athlete in the United States,” said Colaizzo. “Most collegiate runners learn the methodology of a running program in high school – hard days, easy days, race prep, long runs, pre-meet – Jeremy had none of that.”
At Marist, Mbogo has made significant progress as both a runner and a leader. Initially, he was not very competitive, but through effort and guidance, he developed into one of the team’s top athletes and a captain, placing fifth for the Red Foxes during the season-opening Marist Invitational.
For many DI student-athletes, balancing academics and sports is no easy task, as they must juggle daily practices, lifting sessions, team meetings and weekend travel. Nowhere is this truer than for collegiate runners who train and compete 10 out of the 12 months of the year. Marist’s cross-country season runs from August to November while indoor and outdoor track & field runs from December to May.
“Running gives order to my days; the busier I am, the more productive I can be,” said Mbogo. “If I had all this free time, it would be harder to succeed academically and in other ways.”
In April 2024, Mbogo became an official American citizen along with his mom and brother, with with Colaizzo in attendance to witness the ceremony. Mbogo had the opportunity to invite two people to the swearing-in ceremony. For him, Colaizzo was an obvious choice.
“I got to know Coach Pete first as a running partner and we became friends initially before he became my coach,” said Mbogo. “It’s deeply hard sometimes to differentiate him from being my friend and my coach, but I invited him as my friend, and he showed up. I wouldn’t change that. It’s one of the best things that has ever happened in my life. He’s a great guy.”
“It was one of the coolest experiences I’ve had in 34 years of coaching, driving up to Albany and witnessing [Mbogo] and his mother and brother become U.S. citizens,” added Colaizzo. “I have fond memories of that special day.”
Beyond their love of running, Colaizzo and Mbogo aim to stay committed to the core Marist ideals of service and community. After graduating, Mbogo hopes to teach history at Poughkeepsie High School and one day possibly even coach the track team there.
“I met some incredible people at Poughkeepsie High School. The teachers and the school community surrounding them, everyone wants you to succeed,” said Mbogo. “For me it’s just one way that I can reciprocate and return all the kindness and all the good that is in the school.”
“Jeremy has done well academically and is set up for a career hopefully in teaching and giving back to his community, ” added Colaizzo. “He is from Poughkeepsie and is eager to give back.”
Edited by Ben Leeds and Luke Sassa
Graphic by Gabriella Cortes; Photos from Jeremy Mbogo and Caitlin Bombassei
For more coverage of Marist athletics, follow @cfmarist on Instagram, X and TikTok, and sign up to receive daily alerts here.