Kenya is set to send a promising group of 1,500m runners to the 21st World Athletics Under-20 Championships, scheduled for August 5–9 in Eugene, Oregon. This comes after the nation missed out on podium finishes in the event at the 2024 championships in Lima, Peru.
At the 2022 edition in Cali, Colombia, Kenyan athletes Reynold Cheruiyot and Brenda Chebet secured both men's and women's 1,500m titles. Now, a fresh contingent aims to restore Kenya's stronghold in this middle-distance event.
Women's Team
- Caren Chepchirchir – Reigning African Under-18 champion from Nala Track Club, Chepchirchir is optimistic about improving her personal best and securing a medal after competing in the Diamond League.
- Josephine Sembeyu – A relative newcomer to the sport with just four years of experience, Sembeyu earned her spot by winning the national trials and is determined to make a mark on the global stage.
Men's Team
- David Kapaiko – The 2025 African Youth Games champion from Mashuru, Kajiado County, Kapaiko is focused on overcoming his previous challenges in the final 100 meters and aims to lower his personal best to 3:33.
- Wilson Chepkoech – Having transitioned from the 800m to the 1,500m, Chepkoech targets both a medal and a potential world record. He set a personal best of 3:40 last year and competed in the East African Championships.
All four athletes share a long-term goal of reaching the podium at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Head coach Robert Ngisirei expressed confidence in the squad’s potential, emphasizing their medal ambitions. "If God helps us, we aim to win more than ten medals in total this year," Ngisirei said, acknowledging the challenge posed by the host nation, the United States.
Kenya finished fifth overall at the 2024 World Under-20 Athletics Championships with seven medals: three gold, three silver, and one bronze. The upcoming championships represent a crucial opportunity for Kenya to reassert its dominance in middle-distance running among youth athletes.
