NAIROBI — Reigning Olympic and world champion Faith Kipyegon has raised the alarm over the absence of tartan training tracks in Kenya, warning that the situation risks hurting athletes’ preparations for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September.
Speaking at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Monday night after returning from the United States, Kipyegon revealed she trained for her recent races on tarmac due to the lack of proper facilities.
“I prepared for my last competition running on the road,” Kipyegon said. “There was no available tartan track in the country where I could train properly. Sometimes, I had to cancel a session because of the rain. It’s been difficult, and going into the World Championships, it will only get harder if this continues.”
Kipyegon, 31, recently shattered her own 1500m world record at the Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon, clocking 3:48.68. She said the victory came despite poor training conditions back home. She appealed to the government to act quickly.
“I hope this message reaches the right people. If we had quality tracks across counties, sports would grow even more. It’s not just about me it’s about the entire athletics community,” she said.
Kipyegon confirmed she will compete in both the 1500m and 5000m events at the Tokyo World Championships.
“I’m now focused on preparing for the Championships. I believe it’s possible to double in the 1500m and 5000m,” she stated.
Kipyegon returned from Eugene alongside Beatrice Chebet, who also made headlines after becoming the first woman to run under 14 minutes in the 5000m. Chebet clocked 13:58.06, breaking the world record previously held by Gudaf Tsegay.
Chebet, 25, now joins Kipyegon, Agnes Jebet Ng’etich, and Margaret Akidor on the women’s 5000m team for Tokyo. Kipyegon arrived on KLM flight KL565 at 10:00 p.m., while Chebet landed shortly after aboard Qatar Airways flight QR1341.
More than 20 Kenyan athletes competed at the Prefontaine Classic meet in Eugene. Among the returning squad were Benson Kiplangat, Ishmael Rokitto Kipkurui, and Edwin Kurgat, who all qualified for the 10,000m in Tokyo.
The athletes’ achievements have amplified calls for improved facilities in Kenya, especially for elite competitors who continue to excel on the global stage without access to standard training infrastructure.
Kipyegon’s message comes at a time when sports officials face growing pressure to invest in grassroots and elite sports development. Her appeal adds urgency to a long-standing concern voiced by many athletes over the years.
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