Coming from theatre as an actress, working as a bar attendant, Lily Murgor has set her focus to represent Kenya at the world cross country championships set on 30th March in Aarhus, Denmark.
Murgor, who was inspired to take up athletics by former world half marathon record holder Florence Kiplagat, who is her cousin, quit acting and bar waitress to take up athletics as her career to sustain her life.
She says, she is the little known among the big names in the industry but that will not deter her ambitions when she faces them at the national cross country cum trails on Saturday at Eldoret Sports club.
“Yes, many people don’t know who I am but I am praying to God that I make the team to surprise the rest of the world,” said Murgor who started running alongside her elder sister Beatrice Murgor, who sustained an injury hence failing to compete at the regional championships two weeks ago.
Competing for Nairobi Region, she will be appearing at the national championships for the second time after she missed alst year’s Africa Senior Athletics championships slot that were held in Asaba, Nigeria.
“Last year was first time to compete at the nationals and gained experience on how to compete at the senior level,” added Murgor who joined Global Sports Communication training camp in Kaptagat.
The athlete decided to take up her new career after Kiplagat gave her training kits and started training in Iten in 2014 without a manager or coach but once she joined GSC, her running styles has changed and hopes to make a cut into the team.
“I have some tips given unto to me by my coach Metto (Richard) and training mates like Kiyeng (Hyvin) and they will guide me at the championships,” she said.
Murgor used to act secondary school set books when she was employed by Theatrics Arts Ensamble where she used to earn between kshs 8,000 to 15,000 a month where they could not sustain her before quitting and began working as a bar attendant in Nairobi but her elder sister Beatrice invited her to Iten and was introduced to Kiplagat and started training.
“With all these years of training, I am fit for the great challenge and this is my year of athletics prosperity,” she added.
She finished 10th at the 2018 Standard Chattered 10km race before ending the year in 19th position at Kass 10km race hoping for better results on Saturday.
“Training in Iten was hectic because I used to pay for my bills but after joining training camp, I am enjoying so many services like massage, food, good training programme, the coach is there and top athletes who gives me challenges so I have to prove the mantle,” concluded Murgor.
Source: The Star