Lydia Barasa, the reigning National Secondary Schools 800m champion, has set her sights on making history as the first Kenyan woman to compete in the 100m at the Olympic Games. Currently training at the Kaptama Athletics Kenya Junior Camp in Mt. Elgon, Bungoma County, Barasa expressed her ambitions of competing at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, USA.

“I am here to train hard and prepare myself to transition to the senior category. My ultimate goal is to represent Kenya at the Olympics,” said Barasa, who completed her secondary education this year at Kikai Girls. Barasa already has notable achievements, including a third-place finish at the East Africa School Games.

Rising Stars Shaping Their Futures

Sheril Jebet, a discus thrower from Kapcherop Girls, started her journey by learning techniques through YouTube videos. Despite initial challenges, she has shown remarkable progress, improving from a 19m throw in county games to a personal best of 33.26m, which earned her fourth place at the East Africa School Games this year.

“Watching Olympic discus competitions inspired me, even though I thought I didn’t have the right physique. This camp has helped me improve my technique, especially learning how to rotate. With more opportunities to train, I believe I can excel and inspire others like me,” said Jebet.

In the 5,000m, Kevin Kiplangat has his eyes on the Olympics after a second-place finish at the regional level.

“Training here has improved my speed, especially since I come from a flat area. My current personal best is 14:00, and I aim to qualify for the East Africa Games next year,” Kiplangat remarked.

Need for Expanded and Permanent Training Camps

Head of delegation Henry Lebo, who visited camps in Kaptama, Chewoyet, and Kamoi, highlighted the urgent need for more camps across Kenya.

“In Kaptama, we hosted 56 athletes, but the region is vast and requires additional camps to cater to more talent. This is a nationwide need, and I urge the government to consider setting up permanent camps in every county,” said Lebo.

He emphasized the benefits of permanent camps over holiday-only programs, citing the challenges of monitoring and nurturing talent on a temporary basis.

“A permanent camp allows for consistent talent development. For example, in Chewoyet, which is a high-altitude area, athletes face unique challenges like insecurity due to banditry. We also need camps in regions like Samburu, which has untapped talent,” he added.

The Kamoi camp stood out for its facilities and history of producing world-class steeplechase athletes, including Moses Kiptanui and Ezekiel Kemboi.

“Kamoi is an excellent model, especially with coaches like Mr. Tiren, who specializes in hurdles. Such expertise is invaluable for nurturing future champions,” said Lebo.

Preparing for Olympic Success

Lebo is optimistic that with proper resources, training kits, and year-round camps, Kenya could produce top-tier athletes for the 2028 Olympic Games.

“If we invest in these camps and train the athletes consistently, Kenya will undoubtedly have representatives who can compete for Olympic gold,” he concluded.

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