Iten is where world record holders are

Kenya's Joyceline Jepkosgei during 2017 Prague Half Marathon. Reuters]

Iten stands out as the undisputed ‘Home of Champions’ and, at best, the world’s athletics superpower.

This is where speed meets endurance, where budding athletes nurture their skills, and where races are planned and executed with precision.

But an exciting tale seems to have gone unnoticed: the women’s world 21km record has gravitated around Iten for long.

From naturalised Dutchwoman Lornah Kiplagat to neighbours Mary Keitany, Florence Kiplagat, and current record-holder Joyceline Jepkosgei - they all live within a radius of one kilometre.

The 21km world records have been gravitating around the area since 2002.

Lornah set her time of 66.25 at the world half marathon in Udine, Italy, Mary Keitany's (65.50) was set in the Ras Al Khaimah half marathon in the United Arab Emirates, before Florence Kiplagat lowered it in Barcelona to 65.12.

Peris Jepchichir set 65:09 at Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) in February and the record lasted for one month before Joyceline Jepkosgei 'took the record back' to Iten when she lowered it to 64.52 at the Prague half marathon.

The four live within a stretch of 400 metres along the Iten-Eldoret highway and train together in Iten and at Kamariny Stadium, which is 500m away from the ultra-modern Lorna Kiplagat Sports Academy tartan track.

Iten is billed as among the world’s best athletics training areas, almost at par with St Moritz in Switzerland.

“Many world records have been broken by athletes from Iten and I must admit that the region has blessings and urge athletes to come and train here,” Jepkosgei, who is a Seventh Day Adventist, said.

A forthnight ago, Jepkosgei bagged her fifth world record this year.

She set new times in 10km, 15km, 20km and the half marathon on her way to her victory at the Prague half marathon in April.

She became the first woman to run under 30 minute, smashing the world record at the Prague Grand Prix 10 kilometre, which is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race.

The 23-year-old clocked 29:43 to break through the 30-minute barrier and shattered her own record of 30:04, also set in the Czech capital, at the Prague half marathon in April.

She set a world best for 5km of 14:33 en route to that victory. Jepkosgei started running while a student at Cheptil High School in Nandi County.

Noah Koech, her husband and coach, said Jepkosgei will not step up to full marathon soon.

Iten is also home to world record holders Saif Saed Shaheen - formerly Stephen Cherono – (3,000m steeplechase) and David Rudisha.