Former Lumberjack Lopez Lomong Writes New Chapters; Movie Project to Showcase His Life

By Steve Shaff, NAU Media Relations

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – NAU Olympian Lopez Lomong has an amazing story that adds new chapters with each accomplishment in his life. New Line Cinema announced on May 21 plans for a biopic about the life of the former Northern Arizona runner to hit the big screen sometime in 2012 prior to the next Summer Olympics in London.

“It is a blessing,” said Lomong of the movie project. “It is not just my story but the journey that I took and the good people that helped me thru, especially NAU giving me the opportunity with the coaches to reach the next level.”

Lopez was a two-time National Champion (1,500m, Outdoors, 2007; 3,000m., Indoors, 2007), five-time All-American, 12-time Big Sky Conference individual champion and holder of five school records at Northern Arizona. He competed for the cross country team from 2005-07 and the track and field program for the 2006-07 seasons.

 “I give all my credit to Flagstaff and the NAU community, as well as my parents. They did not give up on me when I went all the way out to the wild, wild west in Flagstaff (from New York),” said Lomong.

He enjoyed his best year in 2007, winning the NCAA Indoor 3,000m title in upsetting two-time NCAA champion Chris Solinsky in 7:49.74, and taking the NCAA Outdoor men’s 1,500m crown in 3:37.07. He set a personal best and an NAU school record of 1:45.79 in placing fifth in the 800 meters at the 2007 AT&T USA Track and Field Championships, and he was named NCAA Mountain Region Male Track Athlete of the year by the USTFCCCA.

Since his arrival on campus in 2005, Lomong’s story was shared nationally by outlets like the New York Times, USA Today and HBO Sports as he has developed his athletic talents under the NAU coaching staff that included then coaches JW Hardy and John Hayes and later current head coach Eric Heins.

Lomong turned professional in 2008 and continued to represent NAU on the national and world stage.

Lomong was the flag bearer for the United States Friday in the Parade of Nations at the Opening Ceremonies for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games after qualifying for the United States squad. He was the first former Lumberjack to compete for the United States.

Lomong won his first career USA Outdoor title when he finished first in the men’s 1,500 at the 2009 USA Outdoor Championships in 3:41.68. Later that summer he finished eighth in the final at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin, Germany. He ended the 2009 season after posting personal bests in both the 1,500m (3:32.94) and mile (3:53.35).

While he has become one of the top American middle distance runners, Lomong left school before finishing his course work for his degree in hotel and restaurant management. He has made plans to return to campus this fall to complete his degree.

“It will mean a lot,” said Lomong of his academic goals. “A degree is something that is so important. I knew it was something I did not finish, did not complete in my life. Being the first person to graduate even from my village or in my family (is important). I did not want give up on the final 400 meters. I have the last lap, the bell lap.”

Lomong is always pushing forward looking to finish another race in his life as shown by his work with Sudan Sunrise to build a church and school in the place he was born. Sudan Sunrise is a non-profit, non-denominational charity based in Kansas that promotes solidarity between Southern Sudanese Christians and Darfurian Muslims while also facilitating various educational, health care and community-development projects in Southern Sudan.

He wanted to give back to the community he fled in 1991 as a six-year old to avoid attacks by a militia group. Plans include a structure, which will have a 250-seat space for Roman Catholic church services, a multipurpose hall for hosting classes and meetings, and an area for a storage and distribution center for relief food programs. As part of the project, a well will also be drilled to provide the community with a clean water source.

Lopez Lomong helping the cause in Sudan (Video)