Set up modern sports facilities to identify talent
Sports
By
Editorial
| Oct 14, 2023
World records are set to be broken, and history-makers in athletics often remind their counterparts and expectant enthusiasts of this.
Last Sunday, Kelvin Kiptum reminded the athletics world that the best marks must fall. At 23, Kiptum shattered a one-year-old marathon world record at 2:00:35. He shed off 34 seconds off the previous 2:01:09 mark set by the legend Eliud Kipchoge.
A number of records have stood for years but have eventually fallen in spectacular racing. When the world thinks of Kenya's prowess in track and road running is waning, comes the big surprise - a world-breaking moment - just 20 days after Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay lowered Faith Kipyegon's fastest time in the women's 5,000m.
Kiptum's world record meant Kenya continues to churn out raw talents in athletics. From little-known Chepsamo village, he caused a stir on the global stage with his jaw-dropping marathon running in Chicago. His win, however, should jolt the country, an athletics powerhouse courtesy of its world beaters, into establishing modern sports facilities. This will ensure our dominance on the global stage and spur economic development across the 47 counties.
Calls for improved sporting facilities could have escaped the celebration of Kiptum's heroics at his home county of Elgeyo Marakwet on Wednesday, October 11. However, the authorities and sports stakeholders should take note of the requests and make deliberate policy and financial moves.
Running without proper shoes while herding cows in the adjacent Kaptagat forest, Kiptum discovered he was a fast runner and would become a career athlete one day. His talent was not identified in primary school, according to close relatives.
From Chepsamo, the nearest available standard track is the privately owned Lornah Kiplagat High Altitude training facility in Iten and the Kipchoge Keino in Eldoret, which is still under renovation.
It is safe to say Kiptum is a self-made marathoner. This should awaken the country's conscience on talent identification and nurturing young athletes.
Many potential talents find themselves in Kiptum's position, with no one to identify or help them nurture their talents. Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich said his administration has been maintaining the stalled Kamariny stadium to make it usable for training after the Ministry of Sports delayed the planned upgrading of the facility.
Other public stadia remain incomplete. Those in authority only seem to wait for celebrations when Kenyans break world records in foreign cities.
Athletics Kenya officials have been among Kenyans calling for the completion of stalled sports facilities. Seemingly, their cry also falls on deaf ears.
And as calls for modern facilities continue, Kiptum's and Kenyan fans' prayer is to see a Kenyan woman reclaim the 42km world record broken by Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa in Berlin last month.