Young runners camp launched in Nandi County

2018 Berlin Marathon. [Courtesy]

An athletics training camp, which will host at least 30 budding runners, has been launched in Nandi County.

An establishment of Landson Foundation training camp in Mutuot, about 15 kilometres from Eldoret town and aimed at nurturing young athletics talents, was launched in a ceremony graced by Amos Kipruto, the runner-up in the 2018 Berlin Marathon.

The camp, which was set up by Australia-based athlete Alfred Koech, will be the second biggest in Nandi County, after the Eliud Kipchoge athletics camp in Kapsabet.

Nandi County Executive Committee Member in charge of youth and sports Elly Kurgat said the camp will offer opportunity for the growing number of young athletes in the county.

Kurgat said the county will continue to churn out talents as they seek to maintain its ‘source of champions’ status.

“We are encouraging establishment of more camps. We currently have about 23 camps in the county and we expect more,” the CECM said.

Kurgat added that the county has embarked on leveling playgrounds in schools as it seeks to encourage more track runners.

“We have more road runners and our focus is now on track and field because we have the talents,” he said. Koech said Landson Foundation will be sponsoring young athletes below 17 years through its scholarship programmes.

He said since its establishment in 2017, the foundation has facilitated training and education of 15 young athletes from the county.

“Being an athlete who came from a humble background here in Nandi, I saw the need of establishing a camp because I understand the challenges young runners face. Their biggest problem is lack of facilities and sportswear,” he said.

Koech was the first athletics captain at the University of Edith Cowan in Australia, a position he held from 2016 to 2018.

“I was supported by someone to be who I am and I should also play a role in nurturing others,” he said.