Michigan Runner recently sat down in Ypsilanti with seven-time NCAA All-American Boaz Cheboiywo. The Kenyan-turned Michigan resident has applied to become a U.S. citizen.

Changing citizenship has become a hot issue in world-class track and field. Athletes have limited time to be at their competitive peaks, hence a few years delay is not an option. In addition to competing on the European track circuit, in international cross country and road races, each wants to run in national and world championships and the Olympics.

Changing nationalities is not a simple, predictable process. Add the complexities of competing and you have issues about which all kinds of governing bodies - the IAAF, INS and USOC, among others - have a say.

Item: Two days before the World Championships in Helsinki, the IAAF amended its charter to say that an athlete who changes citizenship can't represent the new country for three years after having represented the old country. There are certain exceptions, but exceptions can be capricious.

Item: Saif Saaedf Shaheen, 2003 and 2005 world champion in the steeplechase, didn't compete in Athens because Qatar gave him a deal to run under its flag. Before Qatar bought him in August 2003, Shaheen was Stephen Cherono of Kenya. Pundits are full of opinions on this one.

Item: Bernard Lagat ran for his native Kenya in Athens in September 2004, winning a silver medal in the 1500. In March 2005 he revealed he'd become a U.S. citizen in May 2004, before the Olympics but too late to meet governing-body rules. Lagat is now suspended from international championships.

Cheboiywo, who won two NCAA titles competing for Eastern Michigan University, knows firsthand about these issues.

MR: You're having a good season; we saw (on WCSN Internet video) that Bislett 5000 where you set a PR.

Boaz: Yes, I qualified for Worlds in both the 1500 and the 5000 - the "A" standard in both. I didn't go to the Kenyan trials this year because I wanted to stay out of trouble with the citizenship application.

MR: Why are you becoming an American citizen? It can't be for the money, not like the $1,000 per month Shaheen gets for life, can it?

Boaz: My life is here. My girlfriend (Stacy Cohenour) is here, I'm buying a condo in Pittsfield Township, my coach (John Goodrdge) is here, the college cross-country team I'm coaching is here, and my training partners (Jordan Desilets, Gavin Thompson, Grant Robison, Josh Perrin, Neal Naughton, Corey Nowitzke) are here.

MR: What was it like growing up in Eldoret, Kenya?

Boaz: I grew up with all the best runners. We all ran when we went to school; it's just our lifestyle. My family is in Eldoret - two brothers (one his twin brother), two sisters and my mother. My sister, Consalata Kisang, will be a sophomore at Eastern Michigan. She transferred from Kenya in 2004, is studying nursing and is on the cross country team. I do miss my family, my Mom, my church, the community

MR: What do you like about living in the U.S.?

Boaz: I like the school system, the colleges, the friendly people, and the government is good too. Being in the U.S. means being treated fairly, not discriminated against. I like that I can work, own property and invest in the country.

MR: We first met you when you won the NCAA cross country regional in 2001, then went on to win the nationals. You were there without the team that year. What was winning that first title like?

Boaz: It was overwhelming, my teammates were not there. I wanted to do something special for the university and my teammates. I wanted the university to recognize what they were doing for me was important; I wanted to pay them back.

MR: The next year, the team placed third in nationals. It wasn't your year to win overall, but you still led the team.

Boaz: I had a migraine headache during that race, but I kept running. After the race I went straight to the medical tent. It was the best thing ever that the team got third.

MR: You run a lot of different distances. Are you still trying to decide what your best distance is?

Boaz: I can run a mile and a good 10K. I think the 5K might be my best distance, but I want to run a 27:00 10K.

MR: You turned pro after you used all your college eligibility. What do you think about athletes who turn pro before they graduate?

Boaz: If they get a good deal, that's how sports is. They can invest the money while they are still young and can still go to school. I doubt younger people know that they have to think about the future.

MR: You began running Michigan road races right after you turned pro, and you were invited to Peachtree in Atlanta. What's it like running road races after mostly running track?

Boaz: Road racing is easy, not as fast. You have to use speed and endurance. I have to train myself to drink, though, have to practice more.

MR: I know you qualified for the Kenyan Olympic trials. Have you been on a Kenyan team?

Boaz: I competed for Kenya at the World Championships Indoors in 2004 and qualified to compete in the Kenyan Olympic trials in the 10,000 meters. Representing Kenya was a dream come true; competing for your country is an honor. It's not easy to make the Kenyan team; it's the hardest team in the world. In Ethiopia about eight people have a chance; in Kenya about 1,000 do.

MR: Do you and your agent pick your events?

Boaz: I plan races with my agent (Ray Flynn) and Coach Goodridge. We look at distances and look for competitive fields. If you want to get better you have to run against the best.

MR: You've been busy since you turned pro. Have you had a chance to be a full-time athlete yet?

Boaz: Not yet. I have a teaching degree from Eastern in social studies and taught eighth-grade full time last year at Forsythe Middle School in Ann Arbor. I also took on the job of coaching Concordia College's first cross country team last fall. I have teaching and coaching certificates; I can teach or coach anywhere. I expect to be a full-time runner after the cross country season.

MR: What's it like being coach?

Boaz: I'm starting my second year at Corcordia. I like making a difference in people's lives, making people realize they have talent and helping them use it. It's possible to excel in the classroom and find excellence in athletics too. I want people to know that it's socially acceptable to do both. Coaches can change people's perception about sports; we're not just dumb jocks. People who are good in the classroom can take the same thing to athletics.

MR: Where do you recruit?

Boaz: I'm recruiting in Chicago, Wisconsin, and Boston.

MR: What's the timing on your citizenship application? Can it affect the 2008 Beijing Olympics?

Boaz: The citizenship process could take years; the sooner the better. I'm not going to worry about missing an Olympic year. My hope is to make the 2008 team. I'm just going to ignore it and hope things work out. MR