Javelin
An upcoming female athlete from Kericho County is keen on making a winning comeback into the javelin throw sporting scene after a nineteen-year-old break. Caren Chelangat, 26, who hails from Kedowa area in Kipkelion East constituency within Kericho County, has aspirations of winning and breaking records at prospective local and international competitions.
Having come from a humble background in a family of seven where school fees and basic needs were a daily struggle Chelangat is not about to give up on her passion having participated in Javelin throw competitions while in primary school at the tender age of 12 years.
In an interview with KNA, the young javelin thrower reveals the only reason she chose to venture into the athletic sport is out of passion for the game.
“I started competing in Javelin Throw sport, while in Class 6 that was in 2015 and competed in several games during primary school competitions. I recall in Class six I participated in Javelin throw games in Kuresoi, Nakuru in 2015 with other schools from the Rift Valley region clinching position one.
In Class 7, I went to compete in the regional games, where I became position two. In Form 3 in 2017, I managed to reach the national games where I had a personal best of 33.65m and the winner attained a personal best of 58.0m,” adds Chelangat.
She said her difficult childhood fueled her determination to succeed in the sport. “I was raised by a single mother, but when she started ailing from throat cancer, I had to drop out of school to take care of her and following her passing I was unable to continue with my education.”
My mother lived to encourage me to do well during my competitions and my humble beginnings and challenges have pushed me to start training. I practice twice in a week, but engage in exercises daily but I wish I had started training much earlier. I am determined to be the best female javelin thrower in Kenya,” added Chelangat.
Currently she trains at Gariete Athletics Training camp in Kericho, under the watchful eye of Coach Gabriel Kiptanui and is optimistic in representing Kenya in international events next year, even as she trains in the javelin throw to build up on strength exercises all to improve on her speed and power for an enhanced throw.
Her decision to take up the javelin sport after a series of watching YouTube videos of the 2015 javelin World Champion Julius Yego, who won a gold medal with a throw of 92.72m becoming the first Kenyan to win a World Championships gold medal in the event.
Upcoming Javelin throw athlete Caren Chelangat during her training at Gariette Athlete training grounds in Kericho town. Photos by Sarah Njagi.
“Come 2025 I want to be like Julius Yego. I watched him during the Olympics, and I liked his performance as he went about with the Javelin Throw competitions. I pray to God to help me throw to my level best just like Yego. Nothing comes easy one has to work and train hard. My training under Coach Gabriel is going on well and I believe I will bring gold for Kenya come next year,” said Chelangat.
Coach Kiptanui who doubles up as Kericho athletics Kenya (AK) vice chair expressed confidence that Chelangat despite her long break from Javelin throw sport will not hinder her from posting excellent results as she gears up to participate in the local sporting event, while disclosing that she is committed to her trainings.
“She is talented in javelin throw and I am confident she will excel to be the best,” said Kiptanui.
Runners in coach Kiptanui’s stable include female long distance runner and 2015 steeplechase World champion Sheila Chelangat, 2023 World Cross country champion in mixed relay category and 2016 Africa junior women cross country champion Miriam Cherop, silver medalist 2018 World U20 800m in Tampere Finland Alex Kipngetich, 2015 World U20 3000m bronze medalist Sheila Chelangat, 2024 World Cross Country champion in mixed relay category Daniel Munguti, 2013 World U18 1500m steeplechase gold medalist Robert Biwott, Mercy Cherono who broke the World Youth record in women’s 3000m in 2007 Ostrava, Czech Republic and the reigning world 3000m steeplechase champion Beatrice Chepkoech.
The current female athlete world record holder in javelin throw is Barbora Spotakova from Czech Republic, who posted a winning distance of 72.28m during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, while the African record is held by Sunette Viljoen from South Africa, with a winning distance of 69.35m, which she set during the Adidas Grand Prix in New York City in 2012.