From Local Tracks to National Roads: Young Runners Make Their Mark in Uasin Gishu

In Kenya’s running stronghold, Uasin Gishu County, five emerging long-distance athletes stepped onto the national stage this weekend at the Betika Uasin Gishu Marathon. Supported through the Kevin McCool Memorial Fund, these runners — Hassan Lokwang Losikiria, Simeon Kimeli Keitany, Noah Kipruto Kiprotich, Boniface Chemtei and Fredrick Kiptoo — ran alongside elite competitors, testing their mettle and gaining valuable exposure.

While registration for the marathon was free, the hidden barriers that often sideline talented youth, costs of travel, meals and accommodation remain for athletes outside established systems. With backing from the Kevin McCool Memorial Fund (KMMF), DBA Africa ensured all five runners could travel, prepare and participate without personal cost. The fund, which supports promising talent that lacks financial access, continues to remove invisible hurdles that often decide who gets to compete and who doesn’t.

The athletes gave everything on race day. Others finished strongly, gaining invaluable experience and confidence. More than medals, the chance to compete at this level was a transformative opportunity, the kind that redefines self-belief and opens doors.

These athletes train across high-altitude regions in Eldoret, Baringo and Iten where community coaches, limited resources and boundless commitment drive daily sessions. Their participation this weekend signalled more than just personal goals. It reflected the growing strength of homegrown systems that, when given backing, yield remarkable results.
From watching the sunrise over rural training tracks to lining up next to professional runners, these young men carried more than race bibs. In a country known globally for running greatness, the next generation isn’t found only in elite academies or famous names. Sometimes it starts on a dusty road with a coach, a dream and the right kind of backing. DBA Africa is proud to be part of that journey — changing lives one start line at a time. DBA Africa believes that when you invest in someone’s start line, you change their finish line.