Cherop slams poor facilities ahead of World Road Running Champs

Former World Cross Country champion Mirriam Cherop has appealed to the Nakuru County Government to fast-track the construction of a proper drainage system at Ndabibit Stadium in Kuresoi South, warning that severe flooding is derailing local athletes' preparations.

Cherop, who clinched gold as part of Kenya's mixed relay team at the 2023 World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, is currently preparing to represent the country in the road mile race at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen.

However, she revealed that the stadium becomes completely unusable whenever it rains.

“The field floods. We cannot train. We are forced to travel to Afraha Stadium or the Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology, which is expensive for local athletes,” she said in Nakuru.

She emphasised that while Ndabibit Stadium—which is set to be renamed Faith Kipyegon Stadium upon completion—holds immense potential to nurture talent across Nakuru County, the facility has suffered from prolonged neglect.

The stadium's new blueprint features a modern 3,000-seat pavilion, an upgraded drainage system, and an all-weather running track, bringing its total capacity to 4,000.

Initially launched in 2012, the project stalled in 2017 after Sh73 million had been paid to the original contractor. Work only resumed recently following a presidential directive to complete the facility.

Despite the persistent training setbacks at home, Cherop remains resolute as she shifts her complete focus to the upcoming global competition in Denmark.