In Texas, USA
Inspired by the incredible feat of Julius Yego, who defied the odds to become a javelin world champion in 2015, rising Irene Jepkemboi now wants to replicate her compatriots achievements in the women’s version.
Jepkemboi, a 21-year-old student at the Texas Christian University, last Wednesday hurled an impressive 58.36 metres at the US National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division West First Rounds at the Cushing Stadium, College Station in Texas to improve on her previous Kenyan record of 57.93m.
She is, in fact, the person who broke the long standing record of 53.58m set by Cecilia Kiplagat in 2007 with a 57.23m effort in March last year.
Her most recent record automatically earned her a ticket to the Kenyan trails for this year’s Tokyo World Athletics Championships.
She has also set her eyes on the NCAA Championships title. The championships will be held on June 10-14.
In an exclusive interview with Nation Sports last Thursday after qualifying for the nationals in Texas A&M University, Jepkemboi said she was pleased with her own progression particularly after joining the university last year to pursue a bachelors degree in sociology.
“It has been a long journey for me but I believe up to this level, many things have changed because I managed to get the right training by getting the right techniques of throwing and also good preparations,” she said.
Jepkemboi, who practically started her javelin career while in Emgwen Primary School in Uasin Gishu, confesses that she used to throw sticks while competing with boys to see who would haul the farthest.
After completing Kaptebengwet High School in 2022, she joined Complete Sports Athletics Camp in Kaptagat in Uasin Gishu County where the proprietor Japheth Kimutai a former 800m Commonwealth Games champion bought her a her first javelin for training.
The price for a standard javelin stick ranges from Sh25,000 to Sh62,000 which was a price too high for Jepkemboi to afford then.
Irene Jepkemboi during a past Athletics Kenya weekend meet.
Photo credit: Pool
Standing at 5 feet 10 inches (178cm) and weighing in at 74kg, Jepkemboi can comfortably bench 70kg and shoulder press 50kg.
“Yes, strength is very important in javelin—but it’s not about being bulky. I need to be strong, fast, and well-coordinated.
I am naturally strong. I managed to throw 52 metres back in Kenya with no access to high-level gym equipment, coaching, or nutrition. My raw talent is now being sharpened with proper training and support.”
She attributes her success to Townhall Athletics who made sure she got an institution to further her studies while pursuing athletics.
As a Freshman in 2024, she earned First Team All-American honours after finishing fourth overall at NCAA with a throw of 56.51m (185-4) before becoming TCU's first-ever All-American in the women's javelin the programme’s history and was the Big 12 Champion in the event.
Jepkemboi who is under the athletics scholarship programme will be seeking to become the first Kenyan to win the US NCAA Championships javelin title.
She said that while in Kenya, she didn’t have enough skill due to lack of coaches and despite the fact she would compete upto the national level.
A near similar situation to Yego’s a decade ago. The Kenyan national champions famously revealed that he used to get training tips by watching YouTube videos thus his nickname “YouTube Man”.
Jepkemboi was selected to join the Texas Christian University, on account of her 52m throw during and she attributes her success to the Townhall Athletics group who came to her rescue and assisted her in joining the institution that has changed her life she says.
“When I arrived in the US, it was really tough for me and I just had to give my best shot because I have a goal to fulfil. I need to do well in education and at the same time do well and impress in my athletics career because that is what made me earn the scholarship… I have to focus and work hard and make sure I make proud those who gave me this chance,” said Jepkemboi.
She also attributes her javelin progress to the good facilities at the institution that cannot be compared to the situation in Kenya.
Just like Yego, Jepkemboi wants to conquer the javelin world and inspire other girls to excel.
“Julius Yego has always inspired me and he has done well in the men category and if he has conquered the world, why not me? ”she poised.
Her American coach Terry Hughes said that after she joined the university her throws steadily improved as she breached the 57m mark within a short period.
The Kenyan trials for the World Championships await and her date with destiny. Will she make the World Championships standard qualifying mark of 64 metres?
