EXPONENTIAL POTENTIAL

• Youngest member in Team Kenya to join champions Helen Obiri and Eunice Sum in 1,500-metre race at the Olympics

A hat trick of athletics world titles besides an Africa crown has just heightened 18-year-old Faith Chepng’etich’s thirst for Olympic glory.

Likening the forthcoming London Summer Games to the proverbial David versus Goliath battle, the new World Junior 1,500-metre champion believes she is mature and ready for the big league.

Still basking in the 2011 World Cross Country junior and 2010 World Youth 1,500-metre glory, Chepng’etich couldn’t have chosen a better place to announce her intentions than at the just ended World Junior Championships in Barcelona, Spain.

Form Four student

The 18-year-old form four student at Winners Girls High School in Keringet warmed up for the Olympic Games with a dominant 1,500m victory, erasing a decade standing championship record with new time of 4:04:96 seconds.

Chinese Liu Dong held the previous time of 4:05.14 set on September 20, 1992 in Seoul, Korea.

Chepng’etich, who is the youngest member in Team Kenya, will join the World Indoor 3,000-metre champion Helen Obiri and Africa 1,500-metre silver medallist Eunice Sum in 1,500m at the Olympics.

“I’m now used to competing at high level with senior athletes; its time to join the big league. I know London won’t be a piece of cake, but I shall go there well prepared and ready to out-muscle the big girls,” said Chepng’etich on arrival from Barcelona on Tuesday.

“My trip to London will just be like when a fearless David descended to the Valley of Elah to face Goliath,” Chepng’etich said.

“Just like David, fear has never been in my running vocabulary. I intend to battle to the final.”

Just how Chepng’etich managed to manoeuvre both competitive athletics and school is something many athletes would envy.

Chepng’etich has always brought along books at major championships.

“My teachers have been supportive as they give me some work which I get to do when I am off training,” Chepng’etich said.

“Studying in between races has really helped me wade off any distractions.”

Chepng’etich carried her mathematics books along with several assignments to Barcelona.

“I had several assignments, which I managed to do when I wasn’t training,” said the soft-spoken Chepng’etich. “By the way, mathematics is my favourite subject.”

Her parents Samuel and Linah Koech, who were at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to welcome their daughter, expressed their gratitude to Winners High School management for their support.

Winners High School principal Maryline Lasoi was also at the airport to welcome Chepng’etich and classmate Mercy Chebwogen, who also won the 3,000m title at the WJC.

“I am so happy and proud of them since they just brought home what I asked of them,” Ms Lasoi said. “I believe Chepng’etich will perform well in London.”

Ms Lasoi added: “What amazes me most is that Chepng’etich has remained humble and disciplined in class despite all the accolades.”

Chepng’etich’s journey to stardom perhaps started when she qualified to represent Kenya at the 2009 World Cross Country in Amman, Jordan. However, Chepng’etich, was dropped from the team because of her tender age at that time — 15.

She finally made it for the 2010 World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland where she finished fourth behind winner Mercy Cherono, Purity Cherotich and Esther Chemtai.

Winners High School principal Maryline Lasoi was also at the airport to welcome Chepng’etich and classmate Mercy Chebwogen, who also won the 3,000m title at the WJC.

“I am so happy and proud of them since they just brought home what I asked of them,” Ms Lasoi said. “I believe Chepng’etich will perform well in London.”

Ms Lasoi added: “What amazes me most is that Chepng’etich has remained humble and disciplined in class despite all the accolades.”

Chepng’etich’s journey to stardom perhaps started when she qualified to represent Kenya at the 2009 World Cross Country in Amman, Jordan. However, Chepng’etich, was dropped from the team because of her tender age at that time — 15.

She finally made it for the 2010 World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland where she finished fourth behind winner Mercy Cherono, Purity Cherotich and Esther Chemta