Growing into greatness: How stint in junior ranks has shaped Jepkoech success at senior level

NAIROBI, Kenya, October 26 – Kaptagat-based youngster Maurine Jepkoech says she is proud of her growth in the past year after winning the second leg of the Athletics Kenya (AK) Cross Country Series in Kapsokwony on Saturday.

Jepkoech said she learnt a lot during her stint in the junior ranks, which has helped her adapt to the senior level.

“The much I have achieved so far is because of the lessons I acquired in my stint in the juniors. I only started running in the senior ranks this year. I have been working very hard through it all and putting into practice everything learnt from my coach,” the 20-year-old said.

The youngster started the year with a 14th place finish at the Sirikwa Classic World Cross Country Tour in Eldoret in February, clocking 35:07 in senior women’s 10km.

She then clocked 34:21 to finish a disappointing 22nd at the National Cross Country Championships at the Kenya Prisons Training College in Ruiru.   

However, Jepkoech has started the 2024/25 Cross Country Series in blazing form, winning the first leg at the Machakos Teachers Training College on October 19 before repeating the same trick at the second leg in Kapsokwony.

In Machakos, Jepkoech clocked 36:22.9 to win the senior women’s 10km race, ahead of Christine Njoki (36:32.22) and Esther Chemtai (37:13.7) in second and third respectively.

At the Kapsokwony Boys’ Secondary School, the youngster timed 34:05.87 to run away with victory as world half marathon bronze medalist Catherine Reline (34:07.77) and Kenyan-born Romanian Delvin Relin Meringor (34:38.54) came second and third respectively.

The victory is her fourth this year following wins at the Seven Hills 5km road race in Nimjegen in the Netherlands (15:16) and Wurzburger 10km in Germany (32:09).

With the next leg of the series slated for Bomet (November 2), Jepkoech will be eyeing another victory, with a plethora of international competitions lined up for next year, including the World Championships in Tokyo.

Nonetheless, Jepkoech is playing her cards close to the chest.

“I wouldn’t know as per now (her next race). I’ll wait to hear what the coach will say…whether we will be competing in Iten or Bomet,” she said.

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