No coach, no spikes—just grit: Meet Kenya’s next javelin star
Faith Cherotich polishes her Javelin techniques during a training session at Kibiko Primary School in Ngong' on May 26, 2025.
What you need to know:
- Barefoot and coachless, Faith Cherotich has risen through Kenya’s javelin ranks, proving that raw talent beats circumstance.
- She trains with borrowed gear, yet throws far and dreams bigger—aiming for Olympic glory against all odds.
Without a coach, a determined girl hurls a borrowed javelin into the wind at Kibiku Primary School in Ngong', Kajiado County.
Her feet meet the grassy ground with each step, her arm slicing through the air as if born to do it. She has no coach, no formal sponsorship, and no modern equipment, yet her spirit soars higher with every throw.
This is Faith Cherotich, a 19-year-old rising javelin star from Kericho County. Her journey is not just one of athletic promise, it is a compelling testament to resilience, ambition, and raw talent flourishing against the odds.
Born on April 1, 2006, Faith is fresh out of high school, having sat her KCSE exam at Moi Sitotwet Secondary School in 2024. In less than a year out of school, she is already throwing like a champion, earning admiration in athletics circles, despite her humble beginnings.
At the 5th Athletics Kenya (AK) Track and Field Weekend Meet/Relay Series at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi on April 26, she achieved a personal best of 43.99 metres. She finished fourth in a tough field of throwers, a remarkable feat for someone with no professional training. Ahead of her were Gladwel Chepchieng’ (49.04m), Carolyne Anyango (48.94m), and Jane Jepleting (45.65m).
Faith again finished fourth at the 6th AK Track and Field Weekend Meet at Ulinzi Sports Complex on May 15–16 with a throw of 43.46m. Gladwel (49.92m), Damacline Nyakeruri (49.46m), and Carolyne (44.38m) finished ahead of her. But it wasn’t the podium placements that sparked conversations—it was Faith’s story.
Just two months before, at the 3rd AK Track and Field Meet in Kapsabet, she had thrown 40.27m. That three-metre improvement underscores her determination, especially considering the conditions under which she trains—without a coach, using a borrowed javelin, and competing barefoot. Faith’s love affair with javelin started early.
The youngest in a family of eight grew up in a modest household where athletics was part of everyday conversation. Her parents are both avid sports fans. “I first saw javelin competition when I was in primary school. I liked how the athletes looked strong and powerful,” she recalls.
Her opportunity to participate came when she joined Moi Sitotwet Secondary School in 2021. There, she tried her hand at several events—discus throw, triple jump, and even the gruelling 400m hurdles. She even tried 3,000m steeplechase when she was in Standard Seven. But by 2024, it was clear where her heart lay: javelin.
She qualified for the national secondary school championships that year, throwing 37.47m at the finals in Machakos. Though she didn’t take home a medal, she left with a decision that would shape her path. “That’s when I decided to focus fully on javelin,” says Faith. “My parents advised me to choose one event and master it. I chose javelin.”
Faith draws inspiration from two giants of the discipline: Irene Chepkemboi and Julius Yego. Irene, 21, is Kenya’s national women’s javelin record holder. She broke the long-standing 2007 record of Cecilia Kiplagat (53.58m) with a 57.23m throw in March 2024. Since then, the US-based athlete has improved her mark to 57.59m and, most recently, 57.93m in April.
“I’m inspired by Chepkemboi’s progress,” Faith discloses. “She shows it’s possible to rise through hard work.”
Yet it is Yego—Kenya’s former world champion and African record holder at 92.72 metres—who fuels her belief. Known as the “YouTube Man” for learning his craft through online videos, Yego’s grassroots success story mirrors Faith’s.
Meeting him during the Kapsabet meet in March was a defining moment. “He told me to keep pushing and believe in myself. That meant the world to me,” Faith shares.
For her, Julius’s legacy isn’t just about distance—it’s about defying circumstances. It’s a living reminder that greatness can emerge from unlikely places. Faith’s training schedule is more disciplined than those of many athletes with access to coaching and sponsorship. She trains three times a day: a morning run at 6am; gym work at 10am; and a throwing session at 4pm.
Her training venue is anything but professional. It's a basic open field at Kibiku Primary School—no synthetic track, no measuring lasers. Her gear? A borrowed javelin from fellow athlete Dorothy Chepngetich, whom she ironically outperformed in Nairobi recently. “I finished ahead of Dorothy, which was a boost for me. She has been supportive. I’m thankful for the javelin she lent me.”
In high school, Faith’s training time was only 30 minutes a day from 5pm to 5.30pm. However, she consistently improved, proof that her desire to succeed runs deeper than her surroundings. Her story goes beyond one athlete. It highlights a systemic issue in Kenyan athletics—the lack of support for grassroots talent. Her circumstances force us to ask: How many more Faiths are out there, undiscovered and unsupported?
Lack of institutional support
She has no spikes, no personal coach and no proper gear, yet she throws more than 43 metres. Many athletes with institutional backing don’t achieve that. “If I had a coach, spikes, and my own javelin, I know I would throw even farther. I’m doing my best with what I have.”
Her goals are crystal clear. In the short term, she aims to reach the 50-metre mark by the year-end. Her medium-term goal is to consistently throw over 60m within five years. Ultimately, she dreams of representing Kenya at the World Championships and Olympic Games. These aren’t far-fetched ambitions. With access to quality coaching, proper gear, and financial support, Faith has the determination and talent to reach these heights.
Beyond athletics, she dreams of joining the Kenya Police Service or the Kenya Defence Forces, a nod to her discipline and patriotic drive. “Since I was young, I’ve always wanted to serve in the police or defence forces. I believe sport can open that door for me,” says Faith, who served as games captain from Standard Four through Standard Eight at Kimugul Primary School, and again in high school.
Faith is more than a budding javelin star. She symbolises the brilliance that exists beyond urban centres and elite institutions. Her story is a challenge to Kenya’s sports leadership: invest more in rural talent, expand scouting beyond sprinting, and provide resources where they’re needed most.
With just a borrowed javelin, bare feet, and relentless drive, Faith has already pierced through the national athletics scene. Imagine what she could do with proper shoes, tailored coaching, and regular competition. She is walking proof of what’s possible and what is lost when we overlook the potential in our villages, small towns, and public schools. “I believe in myself. I know I can go far. I just need someone to believe in me too,” she says.
Her favourite Bible verse is Matthew 7:7, which states: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.” This verse emphasises God’s readiness and willingness to respond to sincere requests, efforts, and persistence. It encourages people to be persistent in their prayer and seeking of God's will.
In Faith’s world, every throw is more than a mark on a measuring tape. It’s a leap towards her dreams. She may be barefoot, but she walks with purpose. And she’s not slowing down.
