Sometimes, sports seem to defy physics: the reluctant bend of a deep homerun that seems to stubbornly hang in air before disappearing into an ocean of fans; the golfer's perfect draw of an approach shot; Michael Jordan floating in for a dunk.

Watch a Ted Williams swing, watch him uncoil, and one might swear he could not have been created to do anything else in life. Purity comes to mind.

One stands in such awe when watching the Kenyan athletes of the local "Running Far" program.

They slip effortlessly past on a track as easily as running water, light as rain and pure as gold.

Many running fans have seen Kenyans they break the tape at marathon finish lines or in Olympic distance races. Seen up close, it can leave one breathless.

Ben Kurgat, coach and founder of the local Running Far program that currently hosts and trains four Kenyan runners began recently. These runners include Julius Kogo, 24, Isaac Birir, 30, Kirui Kipyegon, 29, and Kennedy Kemei, 32.

"We had an organized group of runners for several years, but with the start of Running Far, we're trying to do things a little differently," said Kurgat, a Kenyan who attended the University of Virginia."

Running Far is about far more than running, he said.

"We're refocusing the program, where 'Running Far' means running for a reason," he said. "Each person in the program now does something to give back both to the community they come from and the community where they're racing."

A recent example included a visit to a Chapel Hill / Carrboro Pacers Youth Running Club practice in May, where over a hundred young runners from the local community got to hear stories from the Kenyans. Afterwards, the Kenyans joined group runs with the young athletes.

"Our athletes enjoyed themselves and said that it was a good cultural exchange," Kurgat said of the event. "They felt like celebrities among the kids, but ... the athletes were also reminded that what they have accomplished in running is not small. The session actually magnified their running achievements."

Kurgat said Running Far also facilitates similar exchanges in Kenya between the athletes and those of their hometowns and villages.

"We've added (that requirement)," Kurgat explained. "They must also work with the kids back home -- to teach them about the benefits of running and the opportunities they've discovered, like getting to see the world and things others have accomplished.

"It's not just about coming (to the U.S.), racing, and then going back, coming, racing, and going back.

"We're trying to give the program more meaning and more direction. Every participant benefits, and then, with their success, they can also help other athletes to succeed."

Growing Interest

Isaac Birir said it was a great experience returning home, as many Kenyans dream of such an opportunity.

"They're excited," he said. "Many of them would love to be in such a place (as America)."While soccer and running are among the most popular sports activities countrywide, Birir said that it's running that reigns supreme in his hometown.

"It's just running where I come from," he said, adding that he's seen the sport grow even more popular. "Oh, yes, especially now when I find that so many children are interested in running. There are many athletes there, and many new programs like this one."

Kurgat said Running Far sprung from a passion he'd had since his running days at UVA when he was a standout middle distance runner, earning All-American honors in the 800-meter run (1989)."All my life, I've loved running, so it's hard to do anything except through running," he said. "When my competitive days ended, I still wanted to do something. So, I started helping people come here to go to school and run or finish college here."

Kurgat said the participating athletes are hand chosen and then put through the rigors of training before entering the US through Running Far.

"There are a lot of runners in Kenya," he said. "These in our program came through referrals, and then I arrange time trials back in Kenya. If they look promising, they enter a training program there, and then they still have to run some local races to make sure they're ready to race and train here."

Kurgat said the program also trains female runners.

"We started with women, and two girls have gone home already," he added. "Some ladies are waiting for their visas to be approved. There are five that are in training."

Red Hot Runners

The Kenyans have certainly made names for themselves over the course of 2010.

Running Far's Paul Langat, who returned to Kenya in June, won the Skirt Chaser 5K in Raleigh and also the Cinqo de Mayo 10K in Fayetteville this year.

Kirui Kipyegon won the Pittsburgh Marathon in May (2:17) and then followed that up with a fourth place finish in the Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota in June courtesy of an even faster time of 2:16:54. Teammate Kennedy Kemei was just one second behind Kipyegon in 2:16:55.

Since arriving just over a year ago, however, Julius Kogo has perhaps racked up the most impressive running resume.

"Julius Kogo has had a spectacular season," Kurgat said. "He's had solid performances at the Bloomsday 12K in May with a second place in 34:33 and the Healthy Kidney 10K in New York on May 16 in 28:19 for third place.

Kurgat said Kogo also won the Greater Clarksburg 10K (29:19), which served as the West Virginia State 10K Championships. He also posted a fourth-place finish in the Crazy 8s 8K in Kingsport, Tenn., in 22:39.

"That race was the (annual) race he ran first last year--he landed here in the U.S. last year and then ran that race," Kurgat explained. "Last year he ran 24:11, but this past week he ran 22:39 for an 8K. Last year he was tenth in that race; this year he was fourth."

The four runners represented two-thirds of the top six finishers at the Crystal City Twighlighter 5K in Arlington, Va., on July 24. Kogo (14:03) finished first in the race, with Birir (14:44) and Kipyegon (14:49) battling for second and third. Kemei (15:07) finished just off the pace in sixth place. While running (and winning) may come easy for the Kenyans, there have been necessary adjustments, both to the American culture and, surprisingly, to the weather.

"This is the second time coming here for me," Kogo said. "I come here for the races, but America's very big. I've seen so many things that I never saw in my home country of Kenya."

Like 110 percent humidity.

While much of Africa is equatorial in climate, runners say that adjusting to North Carolina's climate is still trying.

"In Kenya, it's a little hot, but it's even hotter here than in Kenya," Kipyegon said. "In Kenya, it can get hot, but it's not humid, and there's a big difference. But were drinking water and careful about hydration."

"They've been walking around with a bottle of water, hydrating when they're sitting around at home," Kurgat said, "and at practice they drink during workouts. This is a different kind of heat. It's hot in Kenya, yes, but we don't have the humidity. Africa's tough, but it's different here."

Cool sponsors

However, finding liquids to drink may be easier than finding liquid assets, and Kurgat is grateful for the sponsorships Running Far as procured so far, like the Spira Running Shoe Company and MarathonGuide.com. "We're still looking for more sponsors and supporters."

Kurgat said that anyone interested in sponsoring or supporting the program in any way, or even arranging for the runners to visit with local running teams or organizations can contact him by email at bkurgat@hotmail.com.

"When we're here as a group, we can easily go to visit with other running programs in the area," he said. "We can visit with area teams with the cross-country season coming up, or even go for a run with them."

Kurgat said he sees nothing but improvement in the future of the athletes he's training, and he doesn't rule out Olympic Trials for the London Games in 2012.

"I'd say (it's possible), given what we've accomplished so far," he said. "There are some youngsters, that if they stay long enough in the program as it is, they could be lined up for 2012.

"Julius is closer than the rest. He just missed making the Kenyan National Team by three spots, and last year he wasn't even in the picture."

In the short run, Kurgat hopes that the Kenyan woman runners will arrive in the U.S. in August, pending visa approvals.

"The guys (have headed) back to Kenya," he said, "but they should be back by October to take part in winter marathons and other road races."

Kipyegon's long-range goals are more concrete: "I'd like to break the world record for the marathon," he said, with a wide smile.

Don't count him out -- or any of these talented runners, for that matter.