Disclaimer: The below story is an extract from The Star Newspaper
Barnaba Kipkemoi Kitilit has lived 90% of his life in sports and teaching and securing scholarships for young athletes.
Surprisingly Kitilit is the engine behind Cherono brothers who have run in all generations from 1988 to 2004) and succeeded in their careers starting from the eldest son Luka who won Napoli marathon among others as Benson was the Beijing marathon winner with Lawrence, the last born in the family has won Chicago, Boston, Honolulu and double titles at Amsterdam.
Born in Eldama Ravine, Baringo county in 1958, Kitilit has been the face of major junior runners across the country, winning in major championships. With his teaching skills, he has the ability to train young runners to become the best in their career as witnessed throughout his life both as a teacher and a coach.
“I have been in this field for quite long, tapping, nurturing and teaching young people not just sports but good morals in society. As a teacher, you have more than enough responsibilities to handle and the trust you have from young people should transform their lives,” said Kitilit.
He studied his primary education at Sinonin between 1970 and to 19756 where he sat for CPE before joining Tenges Boys secondary school in 1977 to 19080 and concluded his secondary education at Agoro Sare High school for KACE education from 1981 to 1982 where he sat for KACE.
His resilience and determination, he worked as an untrained teacher at Poror High school between 1983-1984 next to his home where he started his coaching career with Joseph Cheromei and produced talents.
“We saw an opportunity with Cheromei and we had to set the standards. We started training young athletes that include former Olympic champion Mathew Birir,” said Kitilit.
Mathew won the 1992 Olympic Gold, beating Patrick Sang to silver in the 3,000m steeplechase where he competed with his elder brother Jonah Birir. Mathew earlier on had won gold at the 1990 World junior championships title in water and barriers. Jonah won two titles as a world junior. In 1988, he won the 800m title before adding the second title in the 1990 competing in 1,500m. both brothers were at the 1992 Olympic Games with Mathew winning the steeplechase and Jonah finishing a distance 4th in 1,500m.
In 1986, he graduated from Kagumo Teachers Training College in Diploma of Education as history and Geography teacher.
“After college, I had to venture into training athletes and as an athlete too where I represented my schools in games. It was unfortunate that I never made to the national level but while in college, I was ranked second in 3,000m steeplechase in 1985,” said Kitilit.
His first job was posted at Kisanana Secondary school where started his coaching career, producing international athletes like Jackline Cherotich now a prison warden.
With just three years into teaching, he was promoted as principal in 1988 and sent to Saos secondary school where he developed careers of Simon Lopnyet, Luka Cherono, John Rotich, Stephen Rerimui, Jackson Kimoi, Elijah Cherubet and Willy Cheruiyot.
“Life was sweet at Saos because I got a chance to coach young people who later changed the lives of their families. As a headteacher, I had the opportunity to ensure sports prowess throughout students’ life,” he said.
Through his coaching system, he was elected as Baringo District Secondary Schools Spots Association chairman and in 1995 before being transferred to Toniok secondary school where he managed he developed the running careers of Kipchumba Mitei, Christopher Soget (the further of Justus Soget, the Grand Muller world Indoor 3,000m champion), Benson of the Cherono family, Wilson Cheruiyot, Eunice Jepkorir, Elijah Kibwalei and Joseph Lomala.
As his career grew in coaching, he was elected vice-chairman for then larger Rift Valley province as secondary schools sports Association.
“With such a position, I got the chance to meet the veteran coach David Letting where we establish holiday junior training camp at Kapkenda girls. This was living my dream as a coach and a teacher,” he added.
With his association with Athletics, he was elected as the Koibatek Athletics Kenya (A.K) chairman in 1997 before he was upgraded as the Rift Valley secondary schools sport Association chairman the following year and he was re-elected in 2002.
He was moved to Poror high school the school he taught as untrained teacher, now serving as the principal.
“At Poror, I managed athletes like Ismail Kombich, Festus Cherus, Lawrence the third runner from Cherono family, Wilson Tuitoek, Daniel Tanui and Veronica Ngososei. Through this, I was then elected as Kenya Secondary Schools Spots Association (KSSSA) chairman in 2004, 2007, and 2009 but lost in 2012,” he said.
Come 2005, he was elected as the chairman of Kenya Colleges and schools sports council the position he held until 2013 and in 2007, he was nominated as the A.K Youth sub-committee member and was elected secretary the position he holds till now.
“I was posted to Ossen secondary school in 2007 but the community school did not support sports but through my experience, I manoeuvred my way and managed to nurture two talents, Marion Kibor and Amos Chebii,” explained the hardship he went through.
Five years later, he was transferred to Kiboron high school in Nakuru county, the school he enjoyed nurturing athletes. He managed to tap the talents of former world 800m bronze medalist Alex sampao, former Commonwealth Youth Games 5,000m champion Richard Kimunyan, world under 18 2,000m silver medalist Cleophas Kandie, Justus Soget and Gideon Ronoh.
“I knew my days as a teacher were coming to an end so I had to do my best. The school gave the best way of nurturing their talents and its world well for me. it was my last moments in school,” declared Kitilit.
He finally retired as a teacher effective from July first 2018 and started his own junior training camp, Torongo and managed to bring in top athletes after finishing their secondary school’s education. The lists include Richard Yator Kimunyan, Cleophas Kandie, the world under 18 800m silver medalist Lydia Jeruto, Commonwealth Games 1,500m champion Quailyne Kiprop, Faith Ling’aa and Justus Soget.
“I am proud of what I have done for Kenyan runners. Majority of athletes who have gone through my guidance have made it in life. Some of them have signed with Dr Rosa Associati Training camp where some athletes like Kimunyan has signed contracts. Through that, they get some money for holiday camping for junior runners. They also get some funds for the contracted athletes throughout the year,” concluded Kitilit.