Going for gold in the Great Rift Valley

Going for gold in the Great Rift Valley

Advertisement

In Kenya's western town of Iten, known as the "Home of Champions" for drawing runners to train from around the world, athletes rise to pound the track and dirt roads at dawn.

. Eldoret, KENYA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

Kenyan athletics stars such as marathon world record holder Dennis Kimetto and Olympic 800 metre champion David Rudisha have slogged through their race preparations here, as well as Britain’s double Olympic and world champion Mo Farah and a host of others.

At 2,400 metres (7,900 feet), the altitude makes Iten an ideal location for established middle- and long-distance racers to build their endurance and stamina.

. Iten, KENYA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

The town also draws less experienced athletes aspiring for glory in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August, and disabled sportsmen and women aiming to compete in the Paralympics.

. Iten, KENYA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

"I hope to be able to participate in the Rio Olympics this year," said Thomas Pkemei, a 27-year-old runner in one Iten camp who is getting ready for Kenya's qualifying contests next month.

"The biggest obstacle is to keep on working to improve your ability and to overcome your injuries when they do happen," said Pkemei, Kenyan champion for the 5,000 metres in 2007.

. Iten, KENYA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

Some athletes choose to make the town their full-time residence, like Egla Musop Jebichii, 28, a partially blind runner who will join the Kenyan team in the Paralympics. She lives with her husband and five-year-old son.

She previously ran in London's 2012 Paralympics.

. Iten, KENYA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

Others start small businesses to support themselves. Johana Kariankei lives in a training camp and sells souvenirs to foreign athletes there.

When not at his stall, he takes to the green open fields and dirt tracks around Iten to run. But better facilities would help, he said.

"We need good tracks to train in. This is the responsibility of the government to provide."

1 / 16

Slideshow

Athletes exercise in the early morning.
. Eldoret, KENYA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

Athletes exercise in the early morning.

Athletes exercise in the early morning.
. Eldoret, KENYA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

Athletes exercise in the early morning.

A woman walks past a sign on a public road welcoming people to the town of Iten.
. Iten, KENYA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

A woman walks past a sign on a public road welcoming people to the town of Iten.

An elephant statue stands next to the Kerio View, a hotel and training camp mostly used for foreign athletes.
. Iten, KENYA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

An elephant statue stands next to the Kerio View, a hotel and training camp mostly used for foreign athletes.

Athletes exercise in the early morning.
. Eldoret, KENYA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

Athletes exercise in the early morning.

An athlete changes after early morning training in the sports ground of the University of Eldoret.
. Eldoret, KENYA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

An athlete changes after early morning training in the sports ground of the University of Eldoret.

Disabled javelin thrower Nelly Jeptoo Sile, 42, demonstrates how she practices with a home made wooden javelin. Sile has been an athlete for almost 18 years. She is a mother of two children. Sile says she is regarded as the second best professional disabled javelin thrower worldwide and aims at winning first position in this year's Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.
. Turbo, KENYA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

Disabled javelin thrower Nelly Jeptoo Sile, 42, demonstrates how she practices with a home made wooden javelin. Sile has been an athlete for almost 18 years. She is a mother of two children. Sile says she is regarded as the second best professional disabled javelin thrower worldwide and aims at winning first position in this year's Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Egla Musop Jebichii prepares for her morning training session.
. Iten, KENYA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

Egla Musop Jebichii prepares for her morning training session.

Disabled long and middle distance Kenyan runner Hillary Tarus, 26, prepares to train on a track at the Moi University campus. Tarus lost his arm in a chaff cutter when he was cutting fodder for cattle in 2010. Tarus has been training as an athlete for six years and lives in his father's farm close to Eldoret.
. Eldoret, KENYA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

Disabled long and middle distance Kenyan runner Hillary Tarus, 26, prepares to train on a track at the Moi University campus. Tarus lost his arm in a chaff cutter when he was cutting fodder for cattle in 2010. Tarus has been training as an athlete for six years and lives in his father's farm close to Eldoret.

An athlete trains.
. Eldoret, KENYA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

An athlete trains.

Athletes run on a road during a half marathon.
. Eldoret, KENYA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

Athletes run on a road during a half marathon.

Athletes run through a tea plantation during a national half marathon in the Nandi Hills.
. Eldoret, KENYA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

Athletes run through a tea plantation during a national half marathon in the Nandi Hills.

An athlete runs on a road during a half marathon.
. Eldoret, KENYA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

An athlete runs on a road during a half marathon.

Athletes exercise in the early morning.
. Eldoret, KENYA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

Athletes exercise in the early morning.

Foreign athletes train in Iten.
. Eldoret, KENYA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

Foreign athletes train in Iten.

Athletes clothing and shoes lie on the ground.
. Eldoret, KENYA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

Athletes clothing and shoes lie on the ground.