Merchant of Vanice: Kerubo Sets Sights On 400m Hurdles World Record
13th September 2019
The second born in a family of three insists she doesn’t want to be swayed into marriage before she takes her education and athletics career to the next level
- The 18-year-old was progressing so well until she was put down with protracted injuries, but she never gave up
- The baby faced ‘assassin’ worked tirelessly hard and her efforts were realised when she punched her ticket to the Africa Games that were held in Rabat, Morocco last month
- Though she is proud of her 56.97 personal best from the event, Kerubo who completed her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education at Mugunga Secondary School in Kisii County last year says she is not done yet
NAIROBI, Kenya- Vanice Kerubo Nyagisera had big dreams to make it in athletics when she embraced high jump five years ago.
The 18-year-old was progressing so well until she was put down with protracted injuries, but she never gave up.
Her passion for the game was revived last year when she joined Vapour Athletics Club based in Ngong Hills.
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“This is where I met world 5000m champion Hellen Obiri who is not only my role model but my mentor,” Kerubo told SportPesa News.
“After sharing my plight with her, Obiri advised me to join sprints. We started running at the camp everyday and I became better. It was from Obiri’s advise that I started to embrace hurdles,” she underlined.
The baby faced ‘assassin’ worked tirelessly hard and her efforts were realised when she punched her ticket to the Africa Games that were held in Rabat, Morocco last month.
True to her words, Kerubo lived up to her billing. She became the first Kenyan female to bag gold in the women’s 400m hurdles.
“I could not belive my eyes, that I won a medal in my first ever continental outing. I’m happy the dream came through and I give credit to my mentor Obiri who gave me the confidence to face Africa’s best in the tough race,” she quipped.
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Though she is proud of her 56.97 personal best from the event, Kerubo who completed her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education at Mugunga Secondary School in Kisii County last year says she is not done yet.
“In the next five years, I want to be the world-record holder in the discipline.
“I admire Dalilah Mohammed of US who is the current title holder, her YouTube videos really inspires me,” she underlined.
For her to realise the target she has set, Obiri and Kerubo have come up with a demanding schedule which involves one hour road run in the rough terains of Ngong Hills on Mondays, which is followed with speed work on Tuesdays while Wednesdays are reserved for slopes.
She goes for aerobics on Thursdays then another speed work session on Fridays to end the week. She takes a complete rest at the weekend.
“I’m determined to break the world record, I also believe the practise timetable I have set will help me qualify for Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
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“Being Olympian is good but winning an Olympic gold is best,” she underscored.
The Kenya Police athlete believes the hard work she has put in place will soon open for her opportunities including scholarships to further her career and education.
The second born in a family of three insists she doesn’t want to be swayed into marriage before she takes her education and athletics career to the next level.
Just like any other profession, the discipline she has taken has a variety of challenges among them lack of kits and prolonged injuries.
“Good running spikes are very expensive to buy.I won gold in Rabat with a lot of struggle because my foot was aching.
“ I’m looking forward to that day I will lift a medal with no pain under my foot,” highlighted Kerubo while encouraging more Kenyan women to join the race saying it’s a category that can open for them more doors in life.
Kerubo advocates for hard work, discipline and total sacrifice for any person eager to excel in hurdles.