Eamonn Coghlan PresentsBrother Colm O'Connell: Man on a Mission

Here is the fantastic 55-minute documentary presented by former world indoor mile record holder, 1983 World Champion at 5000 meters, and Villanova legend Eamonn Coghlan. Inspired to take up running by Kenya’s two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Kip Keino, Coughlan travels to St. Patrick’s High School in Iten, Kenya, to meet Brother Colm O’Connell, an Irish Patrician missionary and former headmaster of the school. O’Connell was the man who coached Wilson Kipketer to a World Record in the 800 meters, and currently coaches the man who broke that World Record, David Rudisha, and former Commonwealth 5000m champion Augustine Choge, among others.

Coughlan wants to find out what it is about the Kenyan distance runners, and especially those living and training in Iten, which makes them produce so many world beaters. Through conversations with O’Connell, Rudisha, Keino, and his contemporary Mike Boit, Coughlan gives us a fascinating insight into the training practices, both mental and physical, which leave the Kenyan athletes a few steps ahead of the rest of the world. The video won the award for Irish Sports Programme of the Year at the 2011 Irish Film and Television Awards.

Presented by Eamonn Coghlan, Directed by Maurice Sweeney. Video from jamieleedalton, hosted on Vimeo HERE.