This archive report was first published on 17 December 2019.
December 17, 2019
Athletics Kenya has set up 14 camps across the country to nurture young athletes ahead of the 2020 World Under-20 Championships in Nairobi.
Caroline Wanjiku, a Form Three student at Kangodo Secondary School in Nyahururu, is among the 50 junior track and field athletes training at Ngooru Secondary School in Ihururu, Nyeri County.
Wanjiku, who finished fourth at the 2017 national trials at Nyayo Stadium, is specializing in 5,000m and has a personal best time of 16:25.
"I know the level of competition ahead is tough, especially from places like Iten, Kericho, Kaptagat, and Kapsebet, but I will keep working hard ahead of the trials," Wanjiku said.
The camp in Nyeri is one of the 15 centres set up by Athletics Kenya to nurture young runners before national trials.
Wanjiku hopes to be a dominant figure in track and cross-country running, just like her idol Vivian Cheruiyot.
"I like watching Vivian compete. I think I have watched all her races on YouTube, though I haven’t met her in person, but I hear she is very humble. One day, I will be like her," Wanjiku said.
