4 Kenyan schools that have produced current World Record holders

Kenya is one of the few countries in the world that is known for producing talented runners in both middle and long-distance races.

Some of the athletes from the famous East African nation such as the former world record holder Eliud Kipchoge, Hellen Obiri and Faith Kipyegon have become household names due to their prowess on the track and road races.

However, very few individuals have enough information regarding the education backgrounds of some of these stars.

SportPesa News takes a look at four girls’ secondary schools that have produced some of the big names in the athletics arena.

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Beatrice Chebet

Saramek Secondary School, a little-known learning institution domiciled in Kericho County, continues to produce talented runners.

Among them is the high-flying Beatrice Chebet, who currently holds the 5km road race world record holder.

The 24-year-old set the mark of 14:13 on Sunday, December 31, 2023 at the Spanish-based Cursa dels Nassos race.

Some of the other top runners who studied at the school include former U20 world champion Emily Chebet, Caren Chebet, and Sandrafelis Chebet.

Lilian Rengeruk Kasait, who won a silver medal at the recently held World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia is also an alumnus of the school.

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Agnes Jebet Ngetich

Another post-primary learning institution that continues to produce top female runners in the country is Kapkenda Girls Secondary School.

The school which is in Elgeyo Marakwet County is credited for nurturing runners such as the reigning 10km road race world record holder Agnes Jebet Ngetich.

Ngetich became the first woman to run a 10km road race in less than 29 minutes when she clocked 28:46 at the 10K Ibercaja event that was held in Valencia, Spain on January 14 this year.

Besides Ngetich, some of the other star runners who schooled at Kapkenda are the one-time New York City Marathon winner Sharon Lokedi, Salina Kosgei, and Prisca Jepleting.

Former 1500m Olympic Games gold medalist Nancy Jebet Lagat is also a product of the institution.

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Faith Kipyegon

Multiple world record holder Faith Kipyegon’s talent was nurtured at the Nakuru County-based Winners Girls High School.

Kipyegon entered into record books last year when she demolished three world records (5000m, 1500m and one mile within two months.

Her 1500m world record of 3:49.11 was set at the Florence Diamond League Meeting in Italy on Saturday, June 2, 2023.

A week later, Kipyegon set a novel 5000m world record of 14:05:20 which was lowered to by her Ethiopian rival Gudaf Tsegay 14:00.21 in September last year.

The mother of one later smashed the one-mile world record when she produced a scintillating performance to cross the finishing line in 4:07.64 at the Monaco Diamond League on July 21.

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Beatrice Chepkoech

The current 3000m steeplechase world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech attended Kamung’ei Secondary School in Sotik, Bomet County.

Chepkoech set the world record over the distance in 2018 at the Monaco Diamond League Meeting when she crossed the finishing line in 8:44.32.

The 32-year-old is seeking to win the elusive Olympic Games gold medal over the discipline at the upcoming 2024 Paris edition.

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