For years, the Kenya Athletics Training Academy (KATA) in Thika has been the nerve center of monthly time trials — small but highly competitive races that have helped shape Kenya’s next generation of distance-running talent.
This October 15 marks another milestone. For the second consecutive nationwide edition, KATA’s time trials will take place not only at the Thika headquarters but also simultaneously across more than 30 KATA Running Camps throughout Kenya, featuring both 10 km and 5 km races.
The expansion follows the success of August’s first coordinated nationwide time trial, which confirmed that KATA’s decentralized model can operate effectively across multiple regions. Each camp’s participation is not optional — under the KATA system, all official camps are required to host a time trial every other month as part of athlete development and performance monitoring.
Meanwhile, the Thika headquarters continues to set the standard. It has organized a monthly KATA Time Trial without interruption since September 2021, providing a consistent testing ground for hundreds of emerging athletes.
KATA founder Bob Anderson, who also created My Best Runs, said the approach is about expanding access while maintaining structure.
“The idea was to decentralize opportunity,” Anderson explained. “We want every promising runner, whether training in Thika or a rural camp, to have the same chance to be timed, compared, and supported within the KATA framework.”
Through its network of 30+ KATA Running Camps, the academy has built a national performance pipeline. Each camp conducts its own race under strict KATA guidelines — ensuring accurate distances, verified timing, and documented results — which are then compiled centrally to produce nationwide rankings.
The program is already showing impact. The August trials unearthed new talents now being tracked for mentorship, nutrition guidance, and future competition opportunities.
Head coach John Matheri said the system promotes fairness and progress.
“Before, athletes had to travel to Thika for official trials. Now, the competition comes to them,” he said. “That equal footing is helping identify talent in places we might never have reached before.”
Matheri added that community involvement is strengthening outcomes.
“We expect even faster times this month,” he noted. “Athletes are training with purpose, supported by improved nutrition from our KATA potato projects and the consistent structure that these trials provide.”
Coach Silas Tiren, who leads one of the Rift Valley KATA Camps, said the program has given athletes motivation and accountability.
“These trials are more than races — they’re checkpoints,” said Tiren. “They remind every runner that consistency builds champions.”
From Kapcherop in Elgeiyo Marakwet, coach Philemon Kiptoo emphasized the difference the decentralized system is making.
“Many young runners used to give up because they couldn’t afford to travel for competitions,” he said. “Now KATA has brought the race to their doorstep. That keeps their dreams alive.”
Olympic and World medalist Edwin Soi, a longtime KATA supporter, called the program a bridge between emerging and elite athletes.
“When I look at these young runners, I see myself years ago,” Soi said. “KATA is giving them structure and belief — proof that with discipline and consistency, they can rise to the world stage.”
The October 15 event will again feature 10 km and 5 km distances for men, women, and under-20 juniors. All results from the KATA Running Camps will be uploaded to the My Best Runs database for national comparison and recognition.
As the event approaches, excitement is building across Kenya’s running communities. With standardized guidelines, consistent timing, and grassroots engagement, the KATA Time Trials are evolving into a national benchmark of progress — connecting runners from every region under one synchronized system of excellence.
From Thika’s academy grounds to the mountain trails of the Rift Valley, the whistle will blow on October 15, uniting Kenya’s KATA athletes in a single shared mission: to test, improve, and prove that talent thrives when opportunity is structured.