20/07/2025
𝐋𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐭 𝐀𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐊𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐢 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐀𝐀 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞.
When the dust settled at Nigeria’s OMK Stadium in Abeokuta, six young runners from the highland-based Lemotit Athletics Club in Kericho County had flown Kenya’s flag high — signaling not only a new generation of champions but also the fruits of structured grassroots investment.
Coached by trainer Paul Kemei, the athletes left the CAA Africa U18/U20 Athletics Championships with a medal tally and performances that have set the stage for global ambitions.
Lemotit’s standout moments included a gold-bronze sweep in the 3000m steeplechase U20 as Anatasha Cheptoo Langat surged to gold, followed closely by her teammate Sharon Chepkemoi, who took bronze.
In the 3000m flat U18, Cynthia Chepkurui stamped her authority to claim gold, while Mercy Chepngeno Mageso brought home a bronze in the 2000m steeplechase U18, extending Lemotit’s medal dominance in distance events.
Outside the podium, two other club athletes — Vivian Cherotich (4th in 1500m U20) and Miriam Chemutai Kibet (6th in 3000m U20) — delivered strong performances, showing the club’s bench strength and development depth.
Speaking to Eagle Sports over the phone from Abeokuta, Nigeria, Coach Paul Kemei, a long-serving figure in Kenyan athletics, praised his athletes’ efforts and credited the Athletics Kenya youth development program, led by Barnaba Korir, for providing the framework to nurture such talent.
“Thanks to the support from Barnaba Korir and AK’s youth development initiative, we’ve been able to mould these talents from the grassroots. These results are not by chance — they are a reflection of consistent mentorship, structure, and hard work,” Kemei said.
He added that the Abeokuta success is just the beginning. With major events like the World Cross Country Championships, the Youth Olympic Games, and the 2028 Olympics on the horizon, Kemei says his focus now shifts to sharpening and refining the raw talent his athletes have displayed.
“When Anatasha ran 9:27 in the steeplechase — just nine seconds shy of the Olympic qualifying mark of 9:18 — it proved that we are close. With a bit more polish, she and others can break into the global elite,” he said.
Lemotit Athletics Club, based in the athletics-rich highlands of Kericho County, is one of over 55 AK-endorsed junior camps across the country. But what sets it apart is the consistency in delivering athletes ready to challenge Africa — and soon, the world.
AthleticsKenya AK
