Athletics and stunning views pride of Iten

Iten [James Wanzala, Standard]

Mention Iten and what comes to mind is athletics. It is in Iten that many athletes have been bred and nurtured.

There is an argument among locals that Eldoret in Uasin Gishu County is not the Home of Champions but Iten in Elgeyo Marakwet County is.

In fact, as you near Iten town, you will see boards written "Iten, Home of Champions".

Iten, located 30km North-East of Eldoret is where great athletes from Rift Valley are trained.

It is April, and the weather is good. A one-hour drive from Eldoret town leads me to this town of athletes that is quickly developing.

Set 2700m above sea level, Iten boasts of the High Altitude Training Centre (HATC), which has top-quality equipment and training facilities approved by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and Athletics Kenya.

Here, World, Olympic champions and World record-holders train for upcoming games. The HATC is also open to recreational runners to train, run, chat and dine with the champions.

At about 8am, I head to the famous Kamariny stadium, which is still under construction.

We encounter a few athletes, some alone and others in twos, jogging along the tarmacked and rough roads.

I could not manage to do a morning jog as I had desired because I arrived a bit late - at 7.30am from Eldoret town, where I spent the night.

And since it was a Sunday morning, many athletes were probably preparing to go to church.

“The best days to practise jogging or see athletes are weekdays from 5am to 6.30 am when this place is full of athletes, drawn from the local camps. Also, evenings from 4 pm to almost 6 pm are suitable times,” said Titus Kipkosgei, an athlete whom we found at the historic Kamariny Stadium after finishing his jog.

Located two kilometres away from Iten town in Keiyo North Sub-county,  Kamariny Stadium is under construction by the national government. Once completed, it will be the centre of training for many athletes since it will have tartan tracks.

The country has four tartan tracks in Kasarani Stadium and Nyayo Stadium, both in Nairobi, Kipchoge Stadium in Eldoret and Lorna Kiplagat Sports Academy in Iten.

There exist many hotels in Iten town and camps.

A not-to-miss attraction is Iten Viewpoint at 2,359 altitude, which offers great views of natural landmarks. They include Kerio Valley, Kerio River with its crocodiles, Tugen Hills, Rimoi Game Reserve and Cherangani Hills and Keiyo Escarpment, and Lake Kamnarok - once permanent and home to many crocodiles but now only seasonal.

The abbreviation of Elgeyo Marakwet County at Iten View Point. [James Wanzala, Standard]

At the northern end of this range is the fine pyramidal shape of Tiati, the sacred mountain of the Pokot.

Tirinya, a few metres from the viewpoint, offers a cool place to unwind, relax and take in the views while enjoying refreshments and snacks. It can also provide some campsites for those who have their equipment.

It lies behind a rock boulder along a sign-posted track.

The growth of Iten View Point was pioneered by Eng John Chemulwa. Before converting the place into what it is today, he would use it as a tools store area during the construction of the meandering Iten-Kabarnet Road.

It now has Acacia Place, because of the oldest tree in the compound and is now run by his two sons since 2009.

Chemulwa has a seat reserved for him in the bar, where he comes occasionally to sip his favourite beer, a staff member said.

When I arrived, a group of students was enjoying the place, some taking photos on the breathtaking rocky paths.