Goodies for Mercy Chepngeno, who won the 3000M steeplechase barefoot during the Rift Valley Secondary School Sports Association games.

Goodies for Mercy Chepngeno, who won the 3000M steeplechase barefoot during the Rift Valley Secondary School Sports Association games.

Sports CS Ababu Namwamba has donated Kshs. 100,000 to support the education of 17-year-old rising star Mercy Chepngeno, who won the 3000M steeplechase barefoot during the Rift Valley Secondary School Sports Association games.

Mercy Chepngeno, a form 1 student at Lesirwo Secondary School in Kipkelion West Kericho County, caught the CS’ eye as she blitzed her way to victory in the 3000m steeplechase, running barefoot during the Rift Valley Secondary School Sports Association games at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Nandi County.

Last year, CS Namwamba instructed Athletics Kenya to initiate school-based athletics training camps to help tap and nurture grassroots talents countrywide, bottom-up.

They have since opened 45 camps countrywide and will add Lesirwo Secondary School as the 46th Camp.

He further instructed that 3 of the camps be dedicated to 3000m steeplechase training to regain Kenya’s traditional dominance in this particular race, which has faded in the recent past. It is instructive to note that Lesirwo also provided the foundation for Kenya’s current hottest 3000m steeplechase female prospect, Faith Cherotich who, aged just 19, won bronze at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary last summer.

Namwamba visited Lesirwo Secondary School to congratulate and support Mercy, her family, community and school.

He also extended the same to Mercy’s three schoolmates, Vicody Chepkirui, Mirriam Chepngetich and
Gideon Kipngeno Kirui, who also participated in the regional championship. All four have received full athletics kit and financial support towards their school fees.