Ndangiri Eyes Gold at Lima U-20 World Championships as Kenya Aims for More Medals

Kenya is poised for a strong showing at the ongoing World Under-20 Athletics Championships in Lima, Peru, with multiple athletes set to compete in key finals on Friday. Among them is Stephen Ndangiri, the country’s sole representative in the men’s 10,000m racewalk, who is determined to bring home gold and continue Kenya’s legacy in the event. Ndangiri hopes to emulate the success of his friend and mentor, Heristone Wanyonyi, who won the gold medal in this event at the World Under-20 Championships held in Nairobi, Kenya.

Ndangiri’s journey to the World Championships has been marked by personal challenges and resilience. He turned to race walking as a means of coping with depression and improving his well-being after his parents’ divorce left him and his mother struggling financially. Living with his grandmother, who ran a small shop to support them, Ndangiri often faced the threat of being sent home from school due to unpaid fees. Seeking an outlet to lift his spirits and keep him engaged, he found solace in race walking.

“I faced a lot of challenges at home after my parents divorced. I was left with my grandmother, whose small shop was the only means she used trying to support my mother and me through school. It was not enough because I kept on being chased from school due to lack of fees,” Ndangiri shared, reflecting on his difficult upbringing.

Ndangiri credits Heristone Wanyonyi for introducing him to race walking and motivating him to pursue the sport seriously. With limited knowledge about race walking, Ndangiri approached Heristone before the 2022 Under-20 Championship in Cali, Colombia. Despite narrowly missing out on joining Heristone in Colombia, Ndangiri’s determination remained unshaken.

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“I only knew the basics but I had the urge to improve on my time. When I approached Heristone before the Cali trials, he accommodated me and we started training together under coach Gabriel Otwane,” Ndangiri recounted.

After Heristone left for Colombia, Ndangiri sought guidance from three-time African champion Samuel Gathimba, who introduced him to more rigorous training. The training proved to be a turning point in his career, helping Ndangiri achieve a personal best of 41.01 in the Athletics Kenya third meeting in Thika in 2023. This milestone enabled him to represent Kenya at the U-20 Championship in Zambia, marking the beginning of his journey to the World Championships.

“When I joined Gathimba at his training camp, it was not easy for me. His easy runs to me were very tough; I had not experienced such hard training before. However, in the end, I managed to cope up,” Ndangiri said, expressing his gratitude for the mentorship and support he received.

As he competes in his first World Championship, Ndangiri is hopeful of posting a strong performance and making Kenya proud. Meanwhile, in other events, Phanuel Koech and Kelvin Koech will aim for a Kenyan double in the men’s 800m final, while Sarah Moraa eyes her first world title in the women’s 800m final. Moraa is also seeking qualification for the World Athletics Championships set for September 2025 in Tokyo, Japan.

In the women’s 3,000m final, Mercy Chepkemoi will be looking to redeem herself after missing out on a medal in the 5,000m race, as she teams up with Marion Jepngetich in a bid to secure more medals for Kenya.

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So far, Team Kenya has secured a total of three medals — a gold, silver, and bronze — placing them sixth on the medal table. As the championships progress, the Kenyan athletes are determined to continue their strong performances and bring home more honors for their country.