•Judging by the intensity of his training sessions, he is not in this one hill of a sport to burn fat on the track, but rather, has his eyes firmly fixed on the prize
•The incident left him with a serious injury that barred him from competing for the remaining years in primary school.
Image: ERICK BARASA
When athletes finally converge for the Kip Keino Classic Nairobi Continental Tour the Nyayo National Stadium on October 3, Alphas Kishoyian will be seeking to capitalise on home-field advantage to slay the enemy. He’s not willing to settle for less than his best.
The two-time silver medalist has been busy sprucing up for the big day. We caught up with him at the Nyayo National Stadium where the national sprints and hurdles team has pitched tent ahead of the epic duel.
Judging by the intensity of his training sessions, he is not in this one hill of a sport to burn fat on the track, but rather, has his eyes firmly fixed on the prize. We patiently wait for him to wind up his final drill and get to engage him after he warms down.
At 5 ft 4 in, the athlete casts a down-to-earth personality and despite the numerous feathers that embellish his cap, he doesn’t appear to ride the high horse.
A bubbly character who wears his heart on his sleeve, the soft-spoken Kishoyian lets us in bit by bit on his life’s perspective and while at it shares his disappointments, plans, dreams and aspirations. Born on October 12, 1994, Kishoyian attended Olopito Primary School in Lower Melili Constituency in Narok County.
It is at Olopito that he plowed his teeth deep into athletics, flexing muscles with ease in both sprints and hurdles. His rising star was, however, dimmed momentarily while representing his school at the district games, when he pitched forward and tumbled to the track in the heat of the race as he and his opponents went at each other hammer and tongs.
Image: FILE
The incident left him with a serious injury that barred him from competing for the remaining years in primary school.
“The furthest I went in primary school competition was at the district games. I, however, felt discouraged and threw in the towel after crashing down during a race and picking an injury.”
In 2008, he sprang into action yet again soon after joining Kiptere Boys Secondary School, a public secondary school located in Sigowet near Kiptere Town, Belgut Constituency in Kericho.
Kishoyian says he owes his father loads of gratitude, the old man having always stepped on the gas to propel his son’s career up the ladder by constantly prodding him further even when the skies appeared to have collapsed on him.
“After my father discovered that I could run, he encouraged me to do it continuously. So when he realised that I could run up to the district level, he urged me to continue pushing forward while reminding me that nothing comes easy. That was the message he used to pass to me.”
During his formative years, his father was eager to see him ascend to witness his success on the track. That being the case, many a times he would approach his son’s coaches in high school and request them to keep him in camp while other students went home during the holidays. “I owe a lot to my father,” he says.
As much as he holds his father in high esteem, Kishoyian says he would be an oversight on his part if he failed to appreciate some of his teachers who also took his hand and patiently guided him through the process. He fondly remembers one particular teacher, Madam Teeka.
“Madam Teeka used to push me hard. She would accompany me to competitions and follow up on my progress while encouraging me to aim higher. She used to tell me I would make it to higher levels.”
Madam Teeka, he recalls, was in constant communication with his father as they exchanged notes about his prospects in athletics.
Their concerted effort eventually bore fruits when he was selected to join the strong contigent that represented the country in the East Africa Youth Games in Sudan. “I joined the national team in 2010 when we went to Sudan for the East African Youth Games.”
“I competed in the school games up to the national level. Then there was an athletics meeting in Narok which a friend advised me to participate in. I chose to to give it a try.”
“I ran in the 400 meters, made it to the finals and emerged fourth despite the fact that I came from a place where there were no training facilities. That’s when the coaches discovered I had some great potential in athletics and drafted me into the national team.”
Red and hot, Kishoyian didn’t disappoint in Sudan. He stood tall and lived up to every ounce of expectation, fending off stiff competition to grab a silver medal both in the 200 and 400 metres races.
“2010 was a big year for me in athletics. It was the year I qualified for the Africa Youth Championship in Morocco and also the same year I qualified for World Youth Championships in Singapore.”
The event proved to be a springboard to greater avenues. Unknown to him, he had launched a colourful journey right into fame and fortune.
Kishoyian won a silver medal in the 400 metres at the 2011 World Youth Championships after losing narrowly to American sprinter Arman Hall. He also won a silver medal in the 400m at the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games, falling closely behind Briton Clovis Asong.
He clocked 47.24 in the 400 metres during the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore to emerge third, and secured the same spot in 2011 during the African Junior Championships held in Gaborone, Botswana after shedding off a second to register 46.71.
He was part of the Kenyan team that wound up 2nd in the 4×400m relay with a time of 3:10.17 and in the
World Youth Championships in Lille, France secured a 2nd slot in the 400metres at 46.58.
He again gave his competitors a run for their money in the Commonwealth Youth Games in Isle of Man, bagging the 2nd position in the 400 metres in 48.28.
Come October 3, he’ll be seeking to lead the dashing pack in a determined effort to disentangle himself from this endless misfortune that has always tied him down to second and third spot finish.
The father of one child Leon (a son), Kishoyian says he has always received overwhelming support from his wife Fiona.
“She has been encouraging me alot. She has impacted positively on my career. Very supportive; if you have someone who is supporting you, your father, your family, you become successful.”
“I need to leave a legacy in 400 metres. I’m looking forward to posting an impressive time in 400 metres.”
“One day before I leave the track, I hope to inspire many generations and be a good example to them that if you work hard in what you set out to do, then you can achieve quite a lot in life.”
As he flies the country’s flag at the Continental Tour a week from now, Koshiyian will be looking forward to efface the infamous notion that Kenyan athletes fall flat on the face in short races.
“People have that perception that Kenyans can’t perform well in sprints. That’s why I am determined to excel in short races in order to prove them wrong,” says Kishoyian, adding: “My immediate objective is to be within the medal bracket at the Tokyo Olympic Games next year.”
Kishoyian says he draws immense inspiration from South African Van Niekerk who won gold medal in the 400 metres at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in a world record time of 43.03 seconds, breaking Michael Johnson’s record time from 1999.
His advice to budding athletes and the youth at large is that make hay while the sun shines and feather their nests.
“Nothing comes easy. If you set out to do something, then make sure you do it repeatedly. One day you’ll rise and shine if you don’t fall off along the way.”
He spends his free time mentoring the youth in sports including football. He also sets aside some time for farming.
BIOGRAPHY
Date of Birth: October 12, 1994 (age 25)
Nationality: Kenyan
Education: Shivaji University
Height: 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Weight: 56 kg (123 lb)
Sport: Athletics
Event: 400 metres
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)
400m: 44.75 (Nairobi 2015)
Medal record
Men’s athletics
Representing Kenya
African Championships
Silver medal – second place
2016: Durban 4x400 m relay
African Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place
2011 Gaborone 400m
Silver medal – second place
2011 Gaborone 4×400 m relay
Summer Youth Olympics
Bronze medal – third place
2010 Singapore 400 m
World Relay Championships
Silver medal – second place
2015 Nassau Distance Medley Relay
World Youth Championships
Silver medal – second place
2011 Lille 400 m
Commonwealth Youth Games
Silver medal – second place