Gladys Chepngetich, the new 800 metres indoor national record holder, is looking forward to making Kenya's team for the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Toruń, Poland next month.
Chepngetich, who is studying for a degree in Communication at Clemson University in the US, broke Pamela Jelimo's record of one minute and 58.83 seconds when she finished third in 1:58.81 at the 2026 John Thomas Terrier Classic in Boston, Massachusetts, on Friday.
Isabelle Boffey from Great Britain won the race in 1:57.43, ahead of home athlete Roisin Willis in 1:57.97.
In an interview with Nation Sports , she said that she had not expected to achieve the feat because the conditions were tough.
“Breaking the record was the last thing on my mind when I was getting into the race,” said the 24-year-old.
She added, "I had prepared well and my goal was to run a faster time. But I did not expect the new record. I am happy I lowered the national record that was set many years ago.”
She said that she had not had the opportunity to warm up before the race because it was very cold outside.
"When I went outside, it was cold and snowy. I couldn’t do it. I just decided to wait for the race to start. If I had warmed up properly beforehand, maybe I would have done even better,” said the youngest of eight siblings.
She said that her preparations for the race were boosted by the cross-country season, which ended in December, before she started training on the track.
She said that her target for the upcoming indoor competitions is to achieve a time of 1:57, in the hope of qualifying for the indoor championships in Poland, which are planned for March 20–22.
Athletics Kenya has announced that it will select the team to represent Kenya in Poland in the middle of this month.
Meanwhile, Chepngetich said that she wants to compete against her more experienced rivals, including the World 800 m champion Lilian Odira and her predecessor Mary Moraa.
"These are some of the athletes who have inspired me. Odira and Moraa are more experienced. However, I hope to compete against them one day. I have always trusted my training, and I have seen good results.”
The runner said that she was inspired by her mother, Roasline Kebenei, who is a former athlete and urged her to take up athletics.
Chepngetich, a beneficiary of the non-profit athletics organisation Townhall Athletics Club in Eldoret, attributed her success to the good training facilities and coaching available to her at Clemson University in the US.
The runner, who is one of many students to have received full scholarships to study at various universities in the US, said that the modern training facilities at the university have improved her performance.
One of the challenges she has faced, she said, is balancing her athletics career and academic careers. “It’s a tricky affair. However, I have to push myself to achieve in both.”
"Getting the athletics scholarship is not easy. And when you finally get one, you have to prove that you deserved it. That is why, as Kenyan students, we work hard because we know our backgrounds,” said the athlete.
Chepngetich also hopes to represent Kenya at the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing, China, and at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA.
She hails from Kapsokio village in Nandi County. She attended Kapsokio Primary School, where her running career began while in Standard Five. She then attended Kosirai High School until 2021, before joining the Janeth Jepkosgei training camp. In 2023, she earned a scholarship to attend Clemson University.
Apart from setting an indoor national record, Chepngetich also ran under two minutes at the NCAA East Regional event in Kentucky, clocking 1:59.81.
