Irene Jepkemboi’s journey to stardom has only started after setting the national javelin record during the USA National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA).
The 21 year old hurled 60.31m to set the national record, after breaking her own record of 58.36m to break the long standing Kenya’s record of 53.58m set by Cecilia Kiplagat in 2007.
As the reigning Africa under 20 javelin champion Jepkemboi will be part of athletes set to compete at the national trials for the World Athletics Championships set for Tokyo, Japan, in August.
Jepkemboi has had good run in her career winning the East Africa under 20 Athletics championships in Dar es Salam Tanzania before going ahead to win another gold at the Confederation of Africa Athletics (CAA) under 20 championships in Lusaka, Zambia, in 2023.
The athlete, whose career started at the Emkwen Primary School to Kaptebengewet High school in Uasin Gishu County is optimistic of making the national team to Tokyo.
“I really want to improve on the javelin skills. Javelin is not simple but skills and how I will prepare on how to improve from 60m to 65m, which is a qualifying mark for World Championships. I want to try my best to make it to Tokyo. I want to focus well. But if I don’t make it this year to Tokyo, I will do it next year though I am really focusing to earn that slot to Tokyo. I want to compete at the trials for World Championships and be a mentor to others who had a challenge like me. I believe that everything is possible. I was guided, helped from nowhere and here I am a national record holder,” said Jepkemboi.
Speaking during an interview at the Complete Sports Training camp in Kaptagat after landing from the USA ahead of the national championships, Jepkemboi revealed that before heading to America, she had managed to throw 46m in 2022.
“When I joined Complete Sports, I was the only field athlete, doing javelin. I struggled without a coach, no good facilities but I was so focused to deliver my dream. With food and accommodation, even without a coach, I had humble time to train. Then I got a chance to compete at the Athletics Kenya events where I threw 52m at the Nyayo Stadium,” she said.
After her good show at Nyayo, she was got an opportunity to join Texas Christian University (TCU) in the USA on a scholarship.
While in the USA, she managed to get a coach Terry Hughes, with good facilities but different education system.
“The first few months, it is easy for me to get education not made for everybody. I have to balance between competing education to be a great. We have good facilities like gym, running kits, special shoes for javelin not like Kenya where we used to throw with any shoes,” she said.
“At TCU, I was so surprised where I don’t lack anything, which was a challenge for me to focus on training. Being a national record holder, I was so happy after working very hard that is why I am where I am now. In the USA, we compete with people from across the world but through my best coach (Hughes), he shows me direction. It is not all about going to the gym but being good with people has made me be here,” she said.
She was full of praise for her coach, whom she says he is like a brother.
“My coach has been a great person, he is like a brother to me. He is still young but very good to me. He teaches me life of focusing to succeed in life. Not just in the field but do well in class too,” she praised.
Back home, she says that her family was happy after breaking the news f heading to America on a full scholarship, then performing well.
“I am the first person from my family to board a plane to the USA. As the 5th born in a family of 6, I am the only person engaging in sports, which is a good career,” she said.
She recalls when Robert Chebet, now the coach at Complete Sports introduced her to Japheth Kimutai, the former 800m Commonwealth games champion-the facility Director and managed to enroll.
While in Emkwen primary school, she used to play football, high jump among other events but she was advised to take javelin, which her teacher realized it was her strong point.
“My teachers knew I was talented in sports, playing football, high jump but my teachers advised me to take javelin, which I took seriously until now,” said Jepkemboi.
With no women to look up to as her role model in the javelin, she banks her hopes and ambitions to former Commonwealth Games and world championship champion Julius Yego for guidance.
She also urged Kenyans to take field events seriously after wearing national colours at her tender age.
“This javelin career has taken me places and I am encouraged by what I always achieve. Since many people don’t value it, I have embraced it,” says Jepkemboi.
While in school, she managed to win two gold medals at the East Africa school championships since joining form one in 2019.
“I have had two gold medals in javelin while in school in East Africa. When I joined form one in 2019, I managed to win my first gold before coronavirus hit the country and come 2022, I won another gold. In 2020 and 2021, there were no sports but I wanted to win all four gold medals while in high school,” she said.
On the flipside, Complete Sports Training Centre Director Japheth Kimuat was full of praise the new kid on the blog in javelin, predicting a great future for her.
Kimutai, the former Commonwealth games 800m champion says that Jepkemboi is destined to set new heights in all her events locally and internationally.