More Kenyan athletes continue to win the hearts of US Universities

Others have ended up switching allegiance and representing the US in international championships.

From Mississippi State University to University of Alabama and from Texas to Auburn and to University of North Carolina, Kenyan student athletes have found their way to American institutions, enjoyed top-notch training and cruised to historic victories.

They follow in the footsteps of athletics legends including top scholars such Prof Rose Chepyator and Prof Mike Boit who joined American Universities of Wisconsin Madison and Eastern New Mexico early 1980s and late 1970s after completing their studies in Sing’ore Girls and St Patrick’s High School Iten respectively.

The duo won races on the track before stealing the shows in academia.

Last year alone, 70 Kenyan athletes secured scholarships and were already representing their respective Universities at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Nicholas Kipchirchir (Virginia Tech), Sylvia Chelangat (University of South Carolina) and Collins Kipngok (Kentucky) are among hundreds of Kenyan athletes making their American colleges proud.

This year, big names such as World Under-20 3,000m steeplechase silver medallist Matthew Kosgei, are in the list of stars heading to US varsities.

Kosgei, who is following in the footsteps of his father, legendary steeplechaser William Kosgei will be joining New Mexico.

Alongside World Under-20 champion Edmund Serem and his brother Amos, Kosgei, an alumnus of Kimuron Secondary School in Elgeyo Marakwet is among Kenyan stars tipped to help Kenya regain its steeplechase glory.

When asked about his future plans, Kosgei says he will continue listening to his father.

“I know my father is a happy man because he asked me to work hard and I have delivered. I promise to continue doing my best,” said Kosgei.

Kosgei and other beneficiaries follow in the footsteps of athletes such as Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Korir (also a Kimuron alumnus) and 2022 New York City Marathon winner Sharon Lokedi, who are making waves after achieving their dream of studying and nurturing their talents in the US.

Athletes such as Amon Malakwen (1:47.7 personal best in 800m), Viola Jepkemboi (9:47.7 personal best in 3000m) and Viola Jepleting (4:27.0 personal best in 1500m and 9:47.0 in 3000m) are among tens of other athletes flying to the US with gigantic dreams and ambitions.

They are set to join Baylor, San Francisco Mississippi State Universities respectively.

Their coach in Kaptagat, Japheth Kimutai, an 1998 800m Commonwealth champion and a former world junior record holder in the two-lap race said: “I’m very excited and I expect them to do well in their Universities, all the way to NCAA titles. Our pride is to see them succeed in both athletics and academics.”

Javelin sensation Irene Chepkemboi is among youngsters who are nurturing their talents in the US.

Her talent was initially spotted at school games and she trained at Kaptagat-based Complete Sports training camp before realizing her American dream.

Chepkemboi, who set the Kenyan national record at the Texas A&M invitational in March last year, was trained at Complete Sports after being spotted in school games.

She also broke the Texas Christian University javelin record during the competition.

Beneficiaries of Kenyan athlete scholarships have gone ahead to make waves in global races, representing either US or Kenya.

Take for instance, Elkanah Kibet - a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army, joined the World Class Athlete Program in 2013 after his studies at Auburn University from where he had competed in various championships and won a number of titles.

The athlete was born 40 years ago in Elgeyo Marakwet County and attended Kipsoen Secondary School.

After finishing high school, Kibet met Pete Watson, then a coach at Auburn who had visited Kenya while looking for prospective athletes and offered Kibet a scholarship.

Augustus Maiyo, the 2012 Marine Corps Marathon champion and senior sergeant in the US army, is also living his dream in the world’s most powerful country.

Maiyo, 41, was born in Kapsabet, Nandi County and joined the US Army in 2010 after his studies, through a student-athlete scholarship at the University of Alabama. He studied food technology.

He wasn’t always a marathoner while in Kapsabet, but he took part in track races at Kapsabet Boys High School where he was a student. 

Maiyo ran cross country and track and field for the University of Alabama, before joining the US military where he continued his impressive performances.

To date, he has been enlisted in five national teams and won both the Marine Corps Marathon and the Army Ten-Miler, among many other accomplishments.

Sergeant Harun Lagat, who was born in 1983 and studied at St. Peter's Secondary School in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County was identified as a standout athlete and eventually joined a school known for producing top class distance runners.

He was voted to the youth national trials championship and earned an athletic scholarship to Texas Tech University. 

His professional athletics career, including sponsorships from two professional shoe brands, has brought him a string of accomplishments in the 10,000m race, steeplechase, and half-marathon events, where he continues his progress while still serving in the US Army.