In Eugene, Oregon

When she left AIC Secondary School in Loitoktok, Kajiado County, before end of Term Two of the school calendar to join her team mates in residential training camp on July 11, 2026, Form Four student Josephine Sembeyo was just an ordinary school girl.

After three weeks of residential training at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani alongside her team mates, the 19-year-old left for the August 5-9, 2026 World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Oregon, USA.

This week, however, she returns home a world champion, having conquered opponents to win the women’s 1,500 metres gold medal in Oregon.

In a little under a month, she has transformed from a medal hopeful into a sizzling talent certain to give Team Kenya selectors sleepless nights ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games scheduled for Los Angeles.

It is fair to say she is a very good student of her mentor, multiple world and Olympics medallist Faith Kipyegon.

Sembeyo accounted for one of Kenya’s gold medals in the competition. Kenya won a total of 11 medals at the championship; four gold, three silver and four bronze to finish second overall behind USA who collected 24 medals; 12 gold, seven silver and five bronze.

Claire Stegall of the USA falls over the finish line in second place as Kenya’s Josephine Sembeyo (right) wins women’s 1,500m final at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon on August 9, 2026.

Photo credit: Pool

Sembeyo’s success was the result of many hours of training, a phone call from Kipyegon, a mother’s prayer, and staying true to a promise she had made earlier on.

She timed four minutes and 16.73 seconds to win gold medal on the closing day of the junior track and field championship ahead of American runner Claire Stegall who took silver medal in 4:16.77, and her compatriot Caren Chepchirchir who claimed bronze in 4:17.50.

Moments after winning gold medal, Sembeyo revealed that Kipyegon had called her from Kenya in the days leading to the final race, urging her to win.
“I’m so excited to have won the race. Kipyegon called me days ago and asked me to try and return home with a medal. She told me ‘deliver the gold!’. The race was tough but I didn’t want to let her and other Kenyans down. Those cheering us in the stands really pushed us to victory,” Sembeyo observed.

Sembeyo hails from Loitoktok, a place where girls still face early marriage, and Female Genital Mutilation. In her own words, education and athletics saved her from early marriage because she chose a different path and embraced sports which has thrust her to the global stage.

Rather than allow herself to be defined by the challenges that girls her age faced in her home region, Sembeyo has used sports as a platform to build self-confidence, and to inspire other young girls to believe in themselves.

Her journey demonstrates the difference that keeping young girls in school can create with regard to making positive choices in life.

Read: Chepkurui and Chepkemoi chase redemption in 5,000m final

She now hopes her story will inspire more girls from Kajiado and other communities facing similar challenges to embrace education and sport as avenues for self-empowerment.

“I have always dreamt to be a champion. That journey has only started. I know one day I will be an Olympian. I just turned 19 years two days ago, and I look forward to greater success in athletics. I know the gold medals we have won will change our lives, and I know our experience will inspire other girls to do their best, especially those from where I come,” she said.

Sembeyo dedicated her gold medal to her mother Naomi Manta who was following her performances from back home in Loitoktok. She says her mother is very proud of her achievements, and prays for her before races.

In Oregon, the presence of Aaron Williams, co-founder of Magnolia Athletics Training Camp in Loitoktok, energised her.

“During our race, Williams was in the stands, watching and cheering for us, I didn’t want to let him down because he has really supported us back at home. I dedicate this gold medal to him,” said Sembeyo.

Chepchirchir, who is a Form Three Student at Bishop Louis High School in Nyahururu County, was equally elated to have won bronze medal after surviving a fall in the final race.

From left: USA's Claire Stegall, Kenya's Josephine Sembeyo and Caren Chepchirchir during the awards ceremony of the women’s 1,500m race at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon on August 9, 2026.

Photo credit: Pool

“We had a plan on how we would approach the race. We planned to stay together and control the pace till the final lap and attack from that point. However, the race proved tough in the final 600 metres. I got trapped in the inner lane and it took me longer to get out of that situation. I’m glad that I managed to win a bronze medal for my country,” Chepchirchir said.

Like Sembeyo, Chepchirchir has dedicated the medal to her mother Irene Busienei.

Both Sembeyo and Chepchirchir will report back to school in Third Term later this month as championship medallists. Both are determined to continuing training in the hope of one day rising to the dizzying heights that Kipyegon has attained.

As per the new reward scheme announced by the government, gold winners in junior championships will take home Sh2 million, silver medallists Sh1.5 million, and bronze Sh1 million.

Kenya’s gold medallists were Wilson Chepkwech (men’s 1,500m), Emmanuel Kiprono (3,000m), Frankline Kibet (5,000m), and Josephine Sembeyo (1,500m).

Kenya won silver through David Kapaiko Sekento (1,500m), Nehemiah Kipgeno (5,000m), and Emmanuel Lemiso (3,000m steeplechase).

The bronze medallists were Nicholas Kitum Losiwareng (3,000m steeplechase), Caren Chepchirchir (1,500m), Joyline Chepkemoi (5,000m), and Anatasha Cheptoo (3,000m steeplechase).

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