Jepkemboi: From barefooted footballer to Kenya's javelin star

Brilliance and a prodigious confidence are written all over her face.  On June 12, she threw a mammoth 60.31m in the women’s javelin at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the US.

Irene Jepkemboi, 21, is not your ordinary girl. The 60.31m throw, which she achieved at the Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, is the Kenyan national record.

The sociology student at Texas Christian University perfectly hides her steady rise to fame in the women’s javelin with a striking simplicity and infectious laughter as she interacts with friends and fellow athletes.

In Uasin Gishu’s Kiplombe, where she grew up, Jepkemboi remains their simple village girl.

Her rise to the elite club of women specialising in field events is punctuated with resilience, focus and discipline.

Eight years ago, while still a pupil at Emkwen Primary School in Kiplombe, Jepkemboi was a barefooted footballer.

She juggled football and high jump before trying her hand at javelin, where she impressed her primary institution at school games.

“In 2016, while in primary School, I was a footballer and high jumper. But I later discovered that I was talented in javelin, although my performance was not impressive at that time,” says Jepkemboi.

When she transitioned to Kaptebeng’wet Secondary School, also in Uasin Gishu County, Jepkemboi says, she started specialising in javelin and she had thrown 46m by the time she was completing fourth form.

After the 46m throw during school games, Jepkemboi was spotted by retired athlete Japheth Kimutai, who trains tens of budding runners at the Complete Sports Training centre in Kaptagat and William Kipkoech who spotted her potential athlete scholarships. 

Weeks later, she was offered an opportunity to train in Kaptagat where she was the only field events specialist among track athletes.

“There was no specialised coach for javelin, and facilities were limited. I really struggled to train. At the camp, I was provided with accommodation and food which were very crucial, but I never gave up,” she says.

“So, I welcomed the opportunity to train with the limited field events facilities and without a coach, with open arms.

“I continued to train until I competed in Athletics Kenya track and field meets; that is when I threw 52m at the Nyayo National Stadium.”

Jepkemboi says the 52m throw qualified her for the scholarship at Texas Christian University where she is currently training while studying sociology and representing the institution at the popular NCAA.

At the time she threw the Kenyan national record of 60.31m on June 12, Jepkemboi was third behind Missouri’s Valentina Barrios (62.00m) and Manuela Rotundo representing the University of Georgia (60.35m).

She first threw a 57.93m national record in Texas in March last year before becoming the first Kenyan woman to throw past 60m during the NCAA event in Eugene.

The previous national record of 57.23 was set by Cicilia Kiplagat in 2007.

Jepkemboi attributes her training, under coach Terry Hughes in the US, to modern facilities, especially training kit, special shoes for javelin and gym.

“I wasn’t used to the gym, and competing with people who had access to modern facilities was difficult. I am thankful that through the full scholarship opportunity, I wore special javelin shoes for the first time,” she said.

She adds: “While I was still training in Kenya, I threw the javelin sticks barefoot.”

Her exploits in the women’s javelin have earned her the nickname ‘Unstoppable.’

However, according to her, javelin throwing was much of a mental game than an athlete’s physique.

“I have learnt that it is not all about the muscle and big body mass, but mental strength, and that tactical throwing is the key.”

Jepkemboi says the 60.31m throw was the biggest motivation and a springboard to her battle to represent Kenya at the 2025 Tokyo World Championships from September 13-21.

She recently travelled to Kenya in readiness for the national trials for the World Championships.

“My target is to throw 65m and qualify for the World Championships. To achieve this feat, I will train the hardest but I will not punish myself. If I will not hit that mark this year, there will always be another time,” she says. She continues: “I’m confident of qualifying for the World Championships at the national trials because I’m at home and the weather is good.”

Jepkemboi thanks her coach, Hughes, for what she describes as going beyond the field coaching to training her on life skills and encouraging her to balance between her sporting career and academics.

“My coach often reminds me not to forget where I came from and to be focused,” she says.

Apart from the encouragement from her school headteacher, Jepkemboi says she was inspired by former world champion Julius Yego, who watched action on YouTube because he had no coach and still went ahead to shine in the javelin.

Her mother, Leah Chebiwott, she says, has been her biggest supporter since her primary school days. Jepkemboi is the fifth born in a family of six.

When she was training without the requisite equipment in Kenya, Jepkemboi says, she built her physical strength mainly through pushups.

Recently, when she visited her initial training camp in Kaptagat, she was greeted with an emotional reception by workers and athletes at the Complete Sports Training Centre.

To them, her push to be among the best women javelin throwers is an inspiration.

She inspired budding athletes, among them junior stars and urged them to take advantage of training opportunities to develop their careers.

Former 800m world champion Janeth Jepkosgei, who was among the coaches, including Gilbert Chebet, who trained Jepkemboi before getting a scholarship, says facilities weren’t available.