Kenya's Winny Bii of Texas A&M University leaps to a Kenya national triple jump record of 13.92 metres in New Mexico on February 1, 2025.
In Oregon, USA
Between 2023 and 2025, Townhall Athletics, a non-profit sports organisation, has helped 130 Kenyan students secure sports scholarships in the United States of America.
How does this come about? For starters, students must have a good academic score.
Some universities may ask for standardized test scores where athletes may be asked to undergo English Proficiency Tests which include TOEFL and IELTS depending on one’s academic papers.
Equally important is athletic ability. Students are picked after attending trials where the best performers are selected.
Many students that Nation Sport caught up with admitted that education in the US was changing their lives and that of their families.
Most students are enrolled at Alabama University, University of Arkansas, Oklahoma University, Oklahoma States University, and Texas Christian University.
Others are Texas A&M University, New Mexico University, Akron University, Oregon University, Iowa State University, Washington State University, South Carolina University and Clemson University.
A full athletics scholarship caters for tuition fees so long as the student is actively involved in sports and indeed represents the university in competitions.
The scholarship also caters for living expenses including rent, food and transport.
University of Arkansas head coach Chris Bucknam said the institution invests a lot in the students under scholarship to get a return.
“I’m looking for talented athletes because I want to make the next Olympic and World Champion and that is why we always look for the best so that they can perform well and be competitive at the world stage,” said Bucknam.
Rebecca Kwoba, a former Zetech Sparks and Harambee Starlets player, won a fully paid scholarship to study Engineering while playing for Lady Braves Soccer which is owned by her host,, Alcorn State University.
University of Arkansas students bagged six medals (four gold, one silver, one bronze) at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games including Chris Bailey (4x400m gold), Alexis Holmes (4x400m gold), Kaylyn Brown (4x400m mixed gold), for US, and Roje Stona (discus gold) for Jamaica.
Arkansas spends about Sh9.7 million a year on scholarships per student for tuition fees and international health insurance.
Kenyan students on a sports scholarship at the university include Timothy Chesondin (10,000m), who is pursuing a degree in Exercise Science and Brian Masai (1,500 and 5,000) who is pursuing a degree in Sports Science.
There is also Patrick Kiprop who is doing his second degree at University of Arkansas, a masters in Operational Management.
“The group of Kenyan athletes here are good. They follow instructions and do well in the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) events,” he added.
Coaches at various universities have been given roles on the distance they coach and they all have a task, to deliver good results by the end of the day.
Coach Anna Bearss of Oklahoma University has been handling Kenyan long-distance runners since September last year.
“It’s been my joy to see athletes from Kenya grow gradually in their careers. I must say they are better athletes thanks to the scholarship programme,” said Bearss.
William Kipkoech, one of the Townhall Athletics directors based in the US said that he is happy Kenyans under the scholarships programme are doing well.
Kipkoech said that with a large number of Kenyan athletes struggling to get agents, it’s important for the young athletes to go the scholarship way and take advantage of the programme’s benefits.
“The narrative is changing and we have seen many kids who come to the US changing their lives and that of their families back at home through athletics. Currently, with the changing trends in athletics, it’s safe to go to school and have another career in life,” said Kipkoech.
He added that the scholarship programme has been there for many years since the early 1980s and now a new generation is storming US universities eager to read and run.
Student athletes can also make an income through a programme called NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) where an athlete gets into a contract that monetizes his image.
According to the NCAA, NIL empowers athletes to take control of their personal brand and income while still maintaining their college eligibility. However, the athletes must maintain discipline and also perform well otherwise the scholarship might be taken away.
The US outdoor track and field season came to an end last weekend with Kenyan students winning six titles at the NCAA National Championships, a first in history.
Texas A&M University's Winny Bii jumps during the triple jump final at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) National Championships at Hayward Field in Oregon, USA on June 14, 2025. Bii bagged the title after jumping 13.96m.
Winny Bii from Texas A&M University wrote history by becoming the first Kenyan to win the women’s triple jump title with a 13.96m effort.
Pamela Kosgei from the University of New Mexico won women’s 5,000m and 10,000m titles.
Doris Lemngole from the University of Alabama broke her own meeting and collegiate record in women’s e 3,000m steeplechase.
Brian Musau from Oklahoma State University won the men’s 5,000m and Ishmael Kipkurui men’s 10,000m title.
The students attributed their good performance to modern training facilities and guidance from university coaches.
