Chelang'at keen to keep her top form

Cross Country Junior women Sheila Chelangat.[PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

Covid-19 hit the world while she is in great shape

The former world under-18 3000m bronze medalist draws inspiration from world champ Obiri.

She started the 2020 season with lofty dreams - win a medal at the Africa cross country contest and perhaps make the national team to Tokyo Olympic Games.

However, Sheila Chelang’at’s big ambitions seemed to disappear after the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. After winning National Police Service Cross Country Championships title, Chelang’at remained hopeful of making the cut to stage good shows at the global stage.

Chelang’at carried brilliant performances into the season, where she broke the African 10km all-comers record at the 10km de Port-Gentil, an IAAF Bronze Label race, in Gabon last year. The feat gave the Kericho-based athlete hopes of making it big this season.

The 22-year-old athlete announced her arrival on the track in junior ranks when she won bronze medal in women’s 3000m at the 2015 World under 18 Championships in Cali, Colombia, and since then she has been struggling to make a breakthrough due to injuries.

She picked up athletics while a primary school pupil at Kiptere Primary School and later proceeded to athletics-rich Kiptere Secondary School.

At Kiptere Secondary School she joined Sigowet Athletics Club under coach Japhet Kemei where her latent talent stirred.

“The school was about 6km away from home and my mum sold her wares at the market. We had to to run home and prepare lunch then dash back to school. That helped me a lot,” said Chelang'at. 

Since recovering from injuries, she produced good results in 2019 season where she won several 10km road races including 10km de Port-Gentil.  

“My training programme under coach Gabriel Kiptanui has been good and my performance in cross country earlier this year, gave me a lot of confidence. I was optimistic of making the 5000m team to the Olympic Games but my ambitions are still on,” said Chelang’at.

Kiptanui’s camp in Kericho is also home to world 3000m steeplechase record holder Beatrice Chepkoech and Kipngentich Ng’eno, the 2018 world under 20 800m silver medalist. 

“I have been monitoring the way athletes like Vivian Cheruiyot rose to the highest level and Hellen Obiri’s fighting spirit. I hope to emulate them. Their never-say-die attitude motives me a lot,” she told Standard Sports. Her younger sister Faith Chepkoech is also an athlete.

Chelang’at said she does 20km to 25km long run daily to boost her endurance as she prepares to step up to longer distances.

“But I am more interested in making an impact on track at the moment. Last year, I attempted several road races in 10km and 15km and the results were good.”

“The impact of coronavirus has been greatly felt globally among sports men and women but we are praying for good health and normalcy. Then we can compete again and look forward to competing at 2021 Tokyo Olympics,” she said.