Late brother serves as inspiration for runner

In 1987, Riverside sophomore Keith Nyberg finished 55th in the State A/B cross country race run at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend. Keith died of undetermined causes in December the following year, devastating the family.

Twenty years later, Joey Nyberg is following the footfalls of a brother he never knew.

Born more than two years following Keith’s death, Joey finished fifth last weekend in the District 7 2A race and, like Keith, will compete at state. “Joey was a junior varsity runner last year who dedicated this season to running and qualifying for state,” said Riverside’s Bill Kemp, coach of both youngsters.

Joey’s mother Colleen said it was Kemp who told Joey of the anniversary of his brother’s run at state and to go for it.

Kemp would tell him stories of his brother, said Joey. He learned more when his sister, Kristine, older by 18 years, found a batch of Keith’s pictures and put together a photo album. Adults he didn’t know would come up to him in big meets this year and say, “I ran with him.”

Kemp said that there are several coincidences that will help bring this story full circle when Joey competes at state for the first time Saturday in Pasco. One, the coach could be seen Friday trudging around the course at Fairways Golf Course wearing a battered and faded 20-year-old corduroy team cap.

Joey carries a similar team cap, slightly less faded, that belonged to his late brother. Keith’s race shoes had been given away by his parents to another runner after his death.

“Ten years ago they were given to me and Joey has run in his old shoes,” said Kemp.

To this day, Riverside runners receive blue cards on which to write their season goals. Joey found and read Keith’s. He also carries a cross with him that was in his brother’s room as another reminder.

“You never get over losing a child,” Colleen said Tuesday night. She explained that you may worry about one being hit by a drunk driver, but never expect a circumstance like Keith’s, who died suddenly after originally being diagnosed with mononucleosis. An autopsy could not find anything wrong.

Colleen and her husband Dave’s decision to start a second family has helped ease the pain of Keith’s death, she said. Josh, a senior football player at Riverside, was born in 1990, Joey in 1991.

“We decided if we had one we were going to have two,” she said. “Dave and I were blessed.”

On the day Joey qualified, family members and coach wore T-shirts made in Riverside’s graphics shop that includes a superimposed photo of the two brothers running together.

Colleen held her emotions in check until Joey – who beat several runners who had finished ahead of him during the regular season – had secured a state berth.

Then the floodgates opened and tears flowed. “It was so awesome,” she said.

Twenty years of sorrow had given way to this divine moment of joy.

Keith Nyberg, who favored basketball, was the No. 1 runner on that Riverside team two decades back. It is as if Joey Nyberg has channeled his brother and is fulfilling the final two years of a career that was cut short.