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11 set 2017

Jake and Zane Robertson

Jake and Zane Robertson were in many ways typical young Westerners with passion and talent for distance running. As national-class high school athletes in Hamilton, New Zealand, the twins' lives were built around the pursuit of excellence in their sport. Their commitment was commendable yet unremarkable. But when graduation in 2007 came and went and their peers fretted over which U.S. universities to attend, the Robertsons had other ideas. "The USA collegiate system was the safe option, but I'm an extremist," Zane, a 1500m specialist, says. "I have never played it safe."



If safety was the U.S., then danger was the Rift Valley in Kenya, a land of mists and altitude that held the secrets of the best runners in the world. Without First World amenities and reliable utilities, "It was the biggest risk of my life," Zane says.

It was brother Jake, a 5,000m runner, who made it possible. "I was in Fukuoka, Japan, in 2006 [for the world cross country championships] where I met a lot of the Kenyan athletes. I wanted to find out how they [were] training so I asked, 'Can I come train in Kenya with you?' They all said yes."

Amid outcry from their peers and bemusement from their parents, all of whom believed they'd return after a few months, the twins departed for the 2007 world cross country meet in Mombasa, Kenya, and never returned.

It wasn't just their countrymen who doubted their resolve; the Robertsons, after settling in Iten, had to fight for respect among the Kenyan athletes. "They thought we wouldn't last with the hard lifestyle and tough training," says Jake. But steeplechase world record-holder Saif Saaeed Shaheen noticed their promise and took special interest in the twins, offering them space in his home and sometimes paying their rent in the lean years. Training with Shaheen and 2008 Olympic 5,000m silver medalist Eliud Kipchoge, the twins began to prove themselves. "Now they all respect us. [They] know how hard we are working and the results are starting to come," Jake says.

They've lasted four years of life in Iten, where the twins now share their own small house. The training mecca for African athletes, with its 8,000-foot elevation and miles of rolling dirt roads, has suckled them from 17-year-old fledglings to mature and fast racers. Last May, Jake ran 13:32 for 5,000m in Nijmegen, Netherlands, an almost 45-second PR and 2 seconds from a Commonwealth Games qualifying time, vaulting him to 17th on the New Zealand all-time list. He was 20 years old. Brother Zane recorded a personal best of 3:45 in the 1500m at the meet.

"No one has done this before. [Our parents] are now proud of us. Even the critics are changing their comments," Jake says.

And it's not just fast times the Robertsons now boast; they show a racing maturity beyond their years. Last October, at Belgrade's Race Through History, while 26:56 10,000m runner Josephat Menjo recorded yet another victory, in fourth place was Jake, half a stride ahead of mentor Shaheen. On January 25, at the 12K Discovery Cross Country race in Eldoret--arguably one of the most competitive races in the world--Zane finished 32nd of 350 starters, the only non-African and a place ahead of former London and New York City Marathon champ Martin Lel. "This place has made me even stronger. Whenever I make it to the start line I'm ready," Zane says.

For the brothers, the hardships they acclimated to are now conditions they thrive under.

"There are regular power cuts even at night so you learn to live in the dark," Jake says. "Water is also a problem. It may be turned on to the tap line two times a week if we are lucky [and] it is only turned on for one hour. It's random so if we are out training and miss it we walk to friends' houses to collect and carry it back." His conclusion: "It's good strength training." Zane adds, "Walking at least 15 kilometers every day becomes normal."

It's the same environment that the best athletes in the world have developed in, which is exactly what the Robertson twins are becoming. They look expectantly to representing New Zealand at this summer's world track and field championships, but don't expect them to return to their native country any time soon.

"I have no plans on leaving," Jake says. "I love my life here."

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