2014 World Half Marathon Championships silver medallist Mary Ngugi has revealed how the death of the 2015 World Cross Country champion Agnes Tirop inspired her to start a girls-only athletics camp in Nyahururu.
Tirop died last year in a suspected domestic violence incident where her husband is the main suspect, currently facing murder charges in an Eldoret court.
Ngugi says the incident shook her to the core and she vowed to embark on a girl-empowerment programme, thus Nala Track Club in Nyahururu, accommodating only young talented girls.
She said the camp seeks to accord the girls security and support they need in life. The camp also seeks to develop female coaches, adding that she has been comfortable working with one such coach.
“We are looking to ensure the young girls feel free to do whatever they want without feeling like they are under the shadow of men. The young girls need to feel loved and supported and on top of it all, safe. Developing female coaches is also in our plans,” said Ngugi.
Meanwhile, Ngugi has expressed disappointment with her performance at Sunday's London Marathon where she placed seventh in a personal best time of 2:20:22.
“Obviously not quite what I came for today, but we learn and look forward to coming back stronger next time,” Ngugi tweeted after the London Marathon.
Elsewhere, Ngugi has hailed her British coach, Steve Cram, saying he has been of great help to her career since they were introduced to each other by British runner Laura Weightman.
“When in the UK, I used to train alone and I hated it. I requested Weightman to train with me and she agreed. That’s how I got to meet Cram. I love his training because my body was responding well. I asked him if he could continue training me even when I come back to Kenya and he agreed,” she said.
