Pkemoi defies odds to emerge triple-jump hero

By WILBERFORCE NETYA

A soft spoken and charming character describes the person whose victory at the East and Central Africa secondary schools triple-jump championships stunned many.

Raised in a humble family, Gilbert Pkemoi, 18, did not practise much for the championships as his father, Jackson Kapama, an assistant chief, emphasised his son should concentrate on academics rather than sports.

His defiance, however, proved that for every rule there is an exception when he beat rivals to clinch a gold medal after jumping 15.21 metres in this year’s secondary schools triple-jump competitions in Lira, Uganda.

Pkemoi, whose aunt Susan Chepkemei finished second to Britain’s Paula Radcliffe in the 2000 World Half Marathon at Veracruz, Mexico, says his strict father would not allow him take part in athletics, saying such activities would take up too much of his study time.

He points out that this denied him many opportunities to participate in the games yet he had a strong passion for athletics.

But he was not deterred and would sometimes defy his father’s orders and attend the school games activities.

Missed many activities

He gives credit to his sister, Charity Cheyech, an untrained teacher at a local primary school, for supporting him.

“I missed many school games activities because I could not raise the cash to cover travel expenses to venues where the events were held, but sometimes I sought help from my sister,” says Pkemoi.

Together with his school principal, George Onyango, Pkemoi took The Standard reporter through the maize farm that he quickly turned into a training field shortly before the national championships kicked off and in which he came second.

He cleared maize stalks in the small area of the school compound that has no pitch, and made it a work-out zone for the few days prior to the East and Central Africa championships.

Not very serious

“It was not until I won at the county levels that I realised I had potential and this prompted me to make more of an effort.

“However, even during the championships in Uganda, I was not very serious; I thought I was only having fun yet I emerged victorious,” he explained.

His target is to jump between 17 and 18 metres in the next competitions.

He said that he aspires to represent Kenya at the World Junior Championships.

Pkemoi, who also wishes to join the university after high school, is however in need of a sponsor to help him achieve his big dreams of becoming an engineer.

Though he performed well in the triple-jump competitions, Pkemoi believes he is best in short races.

“I have an interest in taking part in both the 400m and 800m races which I have done well in before and will now practise so that I can perform better,” he expressed.

Keringet Mixed Day Secondary, a school with inadequate structural and sports facilities, has been on the lips of many for producing the top triple-jump competitor in his category.

  —wnetya@standardmedia.co.ke