Athletics Kenya Youth Development director Barnaba Korir said camps established in 2017 have started paying dividends.
Korir said the Kenya secondary and primary school games' featured several athletes identified and nurtured at the camps.
Speaking after visiting the camps at Kapsisiywa and Kapkoimur in Nandi and Chepsaita in Uasin Gishu County, Korir said: “We have realised the importance of these camps that we started in 2017 ahead of the World Under 18 Championships."
"We secluded athletes to ensure they are within the confines of schools and that they can be protected by the teachers. Our idea is to monetise such talents while still focused on education.”
With World Under 20 coming in August, Korir expects heightened activities. He wants each camp to host mini-trials before the national trials to pick the best while still containing the numbers.
“We will have mini-trials ahead of national trials. This will ensure we get the best team. We will communicate the dates for the trials in due course,” said Korir
Among athletes who excelled at the school games from the camps include Ivine Jepleting, Koang Don and Hillary Kibet.
Jepleting, a Grade 6 pupil at Singilet Primary School, won silver in the 1,500m during primary school games in Nyeri when she timed 4:43.06 behind Magdalene Emaliona from Kipsaina (4:41.09). Ruth Chelangat of Simetwet (4:52.0) was ranked third.
“I want to be a good athlete, run well and build my parents a house. This was my first time competing at the nationals. I want to represent my country in the future, especially at the World Under 20 championships,” said the 13-year-old.
“I want to run like Faith (Kipyegon). She is my role model and I look up to her,” she said.
South Sudanese refugee Don, a Grade 7 pupil at AIC Moi's Bridge Junior School, also hopes to compete at the highest level.
At 16, he won the 800m after beating campmate at Chepsaita, Kibet to second. The duo started their rivalry after landing at the camp last year with Kibet winning the Rift Valley championships in Kapsabet before Don turned the tables secondary school games in Machakos.
“Winning the race was not that hard but it needs hard work and believing that you can do it. I want to thank all Kenyans who have supported me from zonals to the national championships. This camp is the best training ground due to its terrain,” said Don.
Kibet, a Grade 8 pupil at Kombairen said he worked hard in Machakos to win silver as he plans to compete at the World Under 20 Championships in Lima, Peru.
