Chepsaita Youth Athletics Training Club, has been established in Uasin Gishu County to keep alive the inspiration of a little-known school that has produced some of the best world-beating athletes.
Albeit towered by Chepsaita Hills, Turbo Sub-County’s Chepkemel Primary School, takes pride in having nurtured some of the finest world-beating athletes, including former world steeplechase record holder and Kenyan-born Bahraini, Ruth Jebet.
Besides Jebet, the former world champion, the school also produced David Kiptoo Sing’oei, a retired 800-metre runner, and Mike Too, who ran the one-mile race.
On Saturday, the camp was launched with the aim of keeping the athletic talent production chain rolling and acting as a breeding ground for scholarships.
Uasin Gishu Governor, Jonathan Bii, says his government has just started discussions with school teachers to establish a training model that starts with schoolchildren at an early age.
“This camp, therefore, is the best model because, as my government works to identify and nurture talent, we shall be working together to ensure we grow talent, right from the grassroots,” said Governor Bii as he officially launched the camp on Saturday.
“The Department of Sports is working closely to ensure that talent is identified and nurtured in Uasin Gishu County,” said County Executive for Sports, Lucy Ng’endo.
Sports Chief Officer, Nahum Jelagat, said the Department is working with stakeholders to grow and strengthen sports in the County.
“This school, without much formal training, managed to produce world-beaters. It is for this reason that we decided to start this youth camp,” said Chairman, Stephen Kimaiyo.
Kimaiyo added that the camp will be open for training on August 12th and will be open during every school holiday.
Athletics Kenya’s North Rift Branch Chair, Abraham Mutai, said the camp is located at a good altitude.
“This area has a good climate and altitude, conditions that favour a good athletic training schedule,” said Mutai.
In addition to coaching, Kimaiyo said there will be scholarships to foreign countries.
Mutai added that Athletics Kenya will be monitoring the activities of the Club, including training on the dangers of using performance-enhancing drugs.
The Club will be a training camp for athletes between the ages of 13 and 19.
By Kiptanui Cherono
