Kenya’s ageless stars talk on their secrets to fame: Road and track Veteran athletes pride in their longevity as they continue bringing glory to the country

Kenya's Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot (gold medal) poses during the podium ceremony for the Women's 5000m during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 19, 2016. / AFP PHOTO

Most runners nowadays burn out after few races, but these veterans have kept going.

Things don’t just happen. They are made to happen. This is the script that drives Kenya’s veteran athletes who have defied huge odds to remain consistent for many years.

From 1987 All Africa Games 10,000m champion Leah Malot, who actively competed for 32 years to Olympic champions Eliud Kipchoge (marathon) and Vivian Cheruiyot (5,000m), both who stayed on the track for 18 years before graduating to marathon; the script is similar.

Then there is Edna Kiplagat, the London World Championships marathon silver medalist, who has been dominant since making the national team in 1996 at the world juniors in Australia while a Standard Seven pupil at Kapkoi Primary School in Elgeyo Marakwet.

Throw in the showman of athletics Ezekiel Kemboi, the four-time world 3,000m steeplechase champion, won silver in the 2003 World Championships when Conseslus Kipruto, the current world champion, was only nine years old.

Then throw in Mark Kiptoo, the ever-green but 41-year-old Kenya Air Force Sergeant, who is still destined for a bigger slice of marathon glory.

Kipchoge reacts after crossing the finish line during an attempt to break the two-hour marathon barrier at the Monza circuit. Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge after crossing the finish line at the Monza Formula One racetrack yesterday in, Italy. [Reuters] Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge reacts after crossing the finish line during an attempt to break the two-hour marathon barrier at the Monza circuit in Italy, May 6, 2017. REUTERS

But Malot’s athletics script offers refreshing, heart-warming and inspiring experiences to the current athletes, many of whom actively compete for just a few years.

Malot picked up athletics in 1981 while a Standard Four pupil at Chepkero Primary School in Elgeyo Marakwet and she made the national team to the 1987 All Africa Games in Nairobi where she won gold.

At the All Africa Games competition – then aged 15 – she was in the squad with three-time world 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop’s father David Kebenei, who wound up fourth in 1,500m at the All Africa Games.

Also in the mix were the late Some Muge (10,000m), father of 2008 world junior 5,000m silver medalist Mathew Kisorio, Peter Kimeli (2013 Paris Marathon winner) and former Africa cross country junior champion Nicholas Togom.

But until 2013, Malot lined up on the same courses and tracks with Asbel, Kisorio, Kimeli and Togom as they competed for places in the national team to major championships.

Determined and aggressive, Malot always says the word fear is nowhere in her dictionary.

Sadly, most athletes do not maintain good shows from youth, junior to seniors.

Why? “During our time, we sacrificed a lot in our lifestyles and trained hard. Unlike nowadays, there were no cases of athletes taking alcohol, engaging in improper behaviours and doping.

“Some athletes nowadays prefer to take the short cut –dope –to make money easily. That’s why most of them are not consistent,” said Malot, who graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce at Moi University last year.

She loves quoting the Bible verse, Isaiah 40: “They that wait upon the Lord shall find their strength renewed, they shall mount on wings like eagles, they shall run and not grow weary, they walk and not feint.”

Kenya's Edna Ngeringwony Kiplagat (L) leads Bahrain's Rose Chelimo in the women's marathon athletics event at the 2017 IAAF World Championships in central London on August 6, 2017. / AFP PHOTO

On his part, Olympic marathon champion Kipchoge has never changed anything in his diet since he started running despite having enough money to eat what he wants to.

“I continued with my usual diet during my career. I have stuck with traditional food –ugali, traditional vegetables and milk –for long. This is what I was weaned with and I still believe it has helped me remain consistent in athletics.

“I strongly believe that courage, mental and physical strength helps in athletics,” said Kipchoge.

Often, the last thing on the minds of young millionaire professional athlete with years of active sporting life still ahead of them is education. Kipchoge thinks differently.

Hunger for knowledge is still in his belly years after his high school at Kaptel Boys High School in Nandi North.

Kipchoge still looks up for academic excellence and because his family could not afford to pay his college fees, he opted to venture into full-time running.

He went back to school to fulfil his academic dream. Unfortunately, the athletics schedule could not allow him enough time for full-time study, and the academic-hungry Kipchoge instead registered for a human resource and development course at the Alphax College in Eldoret.

Edna, the two-time world marathon champion, keeps dairy cattle in their home in Iten and still subscribes to traditional foods.

2016 Rio Olympics - Athletics - Final - Men's 3000m Steeplechase Final - Olympic Stadium - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 17/08/2016. Third placed Ezekiel Kemboi (KEN) of Kenya celebrates. REUTERS

At their home on the escarpment in Iten, they have set aside a piece of land that is lush with a variety of traditional vegetables.

She relies on the quarter-acre size plot for the natural diet. “We were advised to take either organic or natural foods. We plant them using organic fertiliser as it reduces stomach upsets,” said Edna.

She says she normally cook her meals with the ordinary milk cream as artificial foods have high possibility of exposing them to positive dope tests.

For Vivian, she first made the national team in 1997 while a young girl and could not be left alone in the rooms while at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships Marrakech, Morocco, in 1998. The team chaperon was always on her side due to her tender age.

She has no kind words for athletes who engage in extra marital relationships and indulge in alcoholism.

After striking two medals (5,000m gold and 10,000m silver) at the Rio Olympics, the diminutive Vivian has a lofty dream ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

“Right now I am 33 years old and need to compete up to when I will be 40 years old,” she says.

Kemboi has been dominant since winning Africa Junior Championships in 2001. He was made eight appearances at the World Championships and has participated in four Olympic Games.

LEAH MALOT

He grew up in Mathira Village near Kapsowar and picked up athletics after Form Four.

He’s perhaps among the few athletes who have rubbed shoulders with top leadership.

In 2012, he adorned then President Mwai Kibaki with his Olympic gold medal and then went on to hang atop then Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s car while on a rally to Eldoret’s 64 Stadium.

During the Moscow World Championships, he handed over his vest to President Uhuru Kenyatta at Lotte Hotel.

In 2013, Kiptoo triumphed in Frankfurt Marathon in 2:06:49, the fastest ever time by a 38-year-old, taking 23 seconds off the mark set by Carlos Lopes in 1985.