Godfrey Siamusiye
Encyclopedia
Godfrey Malumo Siamusiye (born September 23, 1972) is a cross country
and track and field
runner
from Choma, Zambia
. He has competed in the Olympics in 1992 and 1996. He was also NCAA Division I Cross Country National Champion in 1995 and 1996. He was a member of the 1995 Arkansas Razorback
cross country National Champion team. He is now head cross country coach
at Shiloh Christian School in Springdale, Arkansas
.
, located in Brenham Texas
, in 1993 and 1994. In 1990s Godfrey was an All-American in 4 different events: Cross Country, 3000m, 3000m Steeplechase, and the 5000m. In 1994 Siamusiye was the NJCAA
Division I cross country National Champion, competing the 8k course in 26:10.80 in addition to being an All-American in 6 events: Cross Country, the Mile, 3000m, 3000m steeplechase, 5000m and 10000m.
. He was an All-American on six occasions, and won four National Championships. In cross country, he won the national championship both years at the school. He was inducted into the Arkansas Track and Field Hall of Fame
in 2008. In the 1995 championship
, hosted by Iowa State in Ames Iowa
, he finished in 30:09, nearly a minute ahead of the next competitor, and led the Razorbacks to a National Championship. In 1996 he repeated as cross country National Champion, completing the Tucson, Arizona
course in 29:49. In 1996 Godfrey finished 2nd in the 5000 meters at the NCAA championships hosted by the University of Oregon
at Historic Hayward Field
. That year, he was nominated for Southeastern Conference
athlete of the year for his performance in track and field.
"Godfrey Siamusiye was probably the greatest distance runner in Razorback history." said Rick Schaeffer who put the runner at #14 on his 2005 list of the best Razorbacks in any sport in history.
. He competed in the 5000 meters. He finished 11th in the first of four heats in round one and did not qualify for the finals
.
who went on to win the gold medal
. In the semi-finals, He ran a time of 8:37.41 and did not advance to the finals
, finishing 10th.
in Cross Country, winning the class AAA title. His 2008 team had many key returners from the 2007 championship. However, Heber Springs beat the Saints by one point for the Arkansas class 4A State Championship in 2008. Godfrey Siamusiye's 2008 Saints had four runners make All-State. In 2009 he picked up his second and third state championships as the boys team won by a large margin taking the first, second, third, and fifth individual spots, and the girls team won in a close race.
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
and track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
runner
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
from Choma, Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
. He has competed in the Olympics in 1992 and 1996. He was also NCAA Division I Cross Country National Champion in 1995 and 1996. He was a member of the 1995 Arkansas Razorback
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
cross country National Champion team. He is now head cross country coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
at Shiloh Christian School in Springdale, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
.
Blinn College
Godfrey Siamusiye attended Blinn CollegeBlinn College
Blinn College is a two-year academic institution based in Brenham, Texas with campuses in Brenham, Bryan, Schulenburg, and Sealy. While the Brenham campus is Blinn's main campus, more than 70% of students attend the Bryan campus....
, located in Brenham Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, in 1993 and 1994. In 1990s Godfrey was an All-American in 4 different events: Cross Country, 3000m, 3000m Steeplechase, and the 5000m. In 1994 Siamusiye was the NJCAA
National Junior College Athletic Association
The National Junior College Athletic Association , founded in 1938, is an association of community college and junior college athletic departments throughout the United States. It is held as Divisions and Regions. The current NJCAA holds 24 separate regions.-History:The idea for the NJCAA was...
Division I cross country National Champion, competing the 8k course in 26:10.80 in addition to being an All-American in 6 events: Cross Country, the Mile, 3000m, 3000m steeplechase, 5000m and 10000m.
University of Arkansas
Godfrey Siamusiye excelled during his two years at the University of Arkansas under legendary coach John McDonnellJohn McDonnell
John McDonnell may refer to:* John F. McDonnell , chairman and CEO at McDonnell Douglas and Boeing* John McDonnell , retired track coach for the Arkansas Razorbacks...
. He was an All-American on six occasions, and won four National Championships. In cross country, he won the national championship both years at the school. He was inducted into the Arkansas Track and Field Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame
A hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
in 2008. In the 1995 championship
Championship
Championship is a term used in sport to refer to various forms of competition in which the aim is to decide which individual or team is the champion.- Title match system :...
, hosted by Iowa State in Ames Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, he finished in 30:09, nearly a minute ahead of the next competitor, and led the Razorbacks to a National Championship. In 1996 he repeated as cross country National Champion, completing the Tucson, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
course in 29:49. In 1996 Godfrey finished 2nd in the 5000 meters at the NCAA championships hosted by the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
at Historic Hayward Field
Hayward Field
Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, is one of the best-known historic track and field stadiums in the United States. Nearly a century in age, it was the home of the University of Oregon's football team from 1919 through 1966, and has been the home to the Ducks' track and field teams since 1921...
. That year, he was nominated for Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
athlete of the year for his performance in track and field.
"Godfrey Siamusiye was probably the greatest distance runner in Razorback history." said Rick Schaeffer who put the runner at #14 on his 2005 list of the best Razorbacks in any sport in history.
Olympics
1992 Barcelona
Godfrey Siamusiye represented Zambia for the first time at the 1992 Olympics in BarcelonaBarcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
. He competed in the 5000 meters. He finished 11th in the first of four heats in round one and did not qualify for the finals
Finals
Finals may refer to:* Final , the final stages of a sporting competition* Final examinations, tests given to students at the end of a course of study or training.* Finals , a four-issue comic book mini-series....
.
| Round | Heat | Time | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| One | 1 | 14:08.83 | 11 |
1996 Atlanta
Godfrey Siamusiye returned to the Olympics in 1996 where he competed in the 3000 meter steeplechase. In the first found, he finished in 8 minutes and 30 seconds, less than a quarter second behind Kenyan Joseph KeterJoseph Keter
Joseph Keter is a former Kenyan athlete, winner of 3000 m steeplechase at the 1996 Summer Olympics.Born in Lessos, Nandi District, Joseph Keter, an officer of Kenyan Army, had only one good season throughout his athletics career, which culminated with an Olympic gold medal.In Atlanta, the hot...
who went on to win the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
. In the semi-finals, He ran a time of 8:37.41 and did not advance to the finals
Finals
Finals may refer to:* Final , the final stages of a sporting competition* Final examinations, tests given to students at the end of a course of study or training.* Finals , a four-issue comic book mini-series....
, finishing 10th.
| Round | Heat | Time | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| One | 1 | 8:30.56 | 2 |
| Semi-Finals | 1 | 8:37.41 | 10 |
Coaching career
Godfrey Siamusiye is currently the Head Cross Country Coach and assistant track and field coach at Shiloh Christian School in Springdale, Arkansas. He first came to Shiloh in 2006 as a volunteer head coach for cross country. In 2007, his second year, he led the Shiloh Saints to first ever State ChampionshipState Championship
New Zealand has had a domestic first-class cricket championship since the 1906–07 season. It is currently known as the Plunket Shield, reintroducing the name used in the early stages for the 2009–10 season.-Plunket Shield:...
in Cross Country, winning the class AAA title. His 2008 team had many key returners from the 2007 championship. However, Heber Springs beat the Saints by one point for the Arkansas class 4A State Championship in 2008. Godfrey Siamusiye's 2008 Saints had four runners make All-State. In 2009 he picked up his second and third state championships as the boys team won by a large margin taking the first, second, third, and fifth individual spots, and the girls team won in a close race.