Pastoralist teens appeal for help to nature athletics talent
The two beat the odds and won medals in high jump regional level
3mon agoJILLO KADIDANorth-eastern
Kenya’s reputation as a powerhouse in athletics soared to new heights in 2024, with its athletes shattering records across multiple disciplines.
The Kenyan athletes dominated the local and world stages both in track and marathon events.
They demonstrated unparalleled excellence cementing the nation's legacy in global sports.
Ruth Chepng’etich
Chepngetich shaved almost two minutes off the previous world record of 2:11:53, which was set by Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa in September 2023, and secured her third-ever race win in Chicago.
This marked the first time a woman completed a marathon in under 2:10, further solidifying her position as one of the greatest marathoners in history.
Chepng’etich’s feat not only inspired fellow athletes but also highlighted Kenya’s unyielding dominance in long-distance running
Beatrice Chebet
She is unarguably one of the greatest in long-distance running history, which has deservedly earned her a spot on the nominee list of the World Athletics Female Track Athlete of the Year Award.
Beatrice Chebet on May 2024 broke the women’s 10,000m world record at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon.
She clocked 28 minutes and 54.14 seconds at Hayward Field in a race that was also billed as the Kenyan Olympic Trials ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games held between July and August 2024.
Chebet became the first woman to break 29 minutes in the event, beating Ethiopian Letesenbet Gidey’s previous world record of 29:01.03 from 2021.
“We did not come for a world record,” said Chebet, who raced a 10,000m for the first time since March 2020.
“For us Kenya, we came for trials in Paris.”
Beatrice Chebet kept her word when she delivered a standout performance at the Paris Olympics.
Chebet became the third woman in history to win gold medals in both the 5,000m and 10,000m events at a single Olympic Games.
“I am happy being a double Olympic champion in my first Olympic appearance. It was not easy getting that gold medal and I had to fight for it,” she stated.
At the Paris 2024 Olympics on August 10, Kipyegon won her third consecutive gold medal in the women's 1500m, setting a new Olympic record of 3:51.29.
She became the first athlete, male or female, to win three Olympic titles in the 1500m event.
Earlier in the year on July 2024, Kipyegon further extended her dominance by breaking the 1500m world record at the Paris Diamond League, improving her mark to 3:49.04.
Her exceptional performances and consistency earned her a nomination for the 2024 Laureus Sportswoman of the Year award, cementing her global influence in athletics.
