Josephine Sembeyo Mancha achieved a historic milestone by becoming the World Athletics Under-20 champion in the 1500m event held in Oregon, USA earlier this month.
She made history as the first woman from the Maa community to win a World Athletics title.
Additionally, she was the only Kenyan female athlete to win a gold medal at the championships, where Kenya finished in second position behind the host nation, with a total of 11 medals: 2 gold, 5 silver, and 4 bronze.
In Oregon, I met with her and her sponsors, who were eager to recount their journey of trust, determination, and resilience.
Mancha, who is preparing to take her KCSE exam this year, grew up in a family of eight. She is the sole sibling to have advanced past primary education, made possible by a scholarship from the Rainbow of Magnolia Fountains of Life.
“I’m dedicating this medal to my mother, Naomi Mancha. Her constant encouragement and willingness to let me pursue my training have been invaluable. I am dedicating this medal to my mother, Naomi Mancha. Her constant encouragement and willingness to let me pursue my training have been invaluable,” Said Mancha
Growing up in a family of eight, Mancha, who is the sixth born, is the only sibling to have pursued education beyond primary school, thanks to a scholarship from the Rainbow of Magnolia Fountains of Life. She is set to take her KCSE exam later this year.
“It was so emotional seeing her cross the finish line. I was kinda confused remembering the girl whom I met 9 years ago, as she came with a bucket to fetch water, is now a World champion; all those years of hard work have now borne fruit,” Deriusz Stuj the Rainbow of Magnolia Fountains reflected
At first the Form Four student at AIC Kimana in Loitoktok started running four years ago but wasn’t sure of her race between the 800m and 1500m, registering a PB of 2:05 in the 800m and 4:12 over 1500m.
Despite starting running four years ago at the Magnolia Athletics Camp, Sembeyo only performed well at the school games level.
“I am the only one in my family to go beyond primary school education, and thanks to the Magnolia scholarship, this year I am sitting for my KCSE,” stated Mancha.
She attributes her success to her coach, Andrew Lesuda, and the Magnolia Athletics Camp owned by the Rainbow of Magnolia Fountains of Life, which specialises in training female athletes only in Kimana,Kajiado ,Kenya.
“At first I didn’t know what athletics was; I used to join Deriusz in their morning runs back in Loitokitok. I was running both 800m and 1500m. The rainbow of Magnolia has been of great support to my family and me; were it not for them, I could not have gone past primary education,” Mancha recounted.
“I went there every morning to fetch water as they did their morning runs, and after they convinced me, I joined them, being the only girl. But after some months, the boys left, and I was left alone with them, and that same year they came home to convince my mother to allow me to join their camp. Although I didn’t know what the camp was all about, my mother agreed, and I agreed too, joining them back in 2020 when I was in class 6,” she continued.
Stuj, the founder of the Magnolia Athletics Camp, recalls how he met the young Mancha as she went to fetch water in Kajiado.
“The girl came to our camp nine years ago to fetch water, and we tried to convince her to start running,” Stuj stated.
The camp was started as a rescue centre for girls who were being forced into early marriages and, to date, is the only female athletes’camp in the country, with a capacity of 45 athletes.
Her role model is current Olympic and World champion Faith Kipyegon,whom she dreams of not only beating but also shattering her world record one day.
“I want to run like Faith Kipyegon. I will look for her to guide me. Its my dream to run against her one day, and I may beat her; if not, I will learn from her.” Mancha stated.
Her journey to stardom begun in 2025 when she won the National School Games and made the cut to team for the Africa U-20 championships in Asaba, Nigeria, but failed in the semis.
In May this year, the 19-year-old won the national trials ahead of her compatriot and African under-18 champion in the 1500m, Caren Chepchirchir, at the Nyayo Stadium, hence qualifying to represent the country at the 21st edition of the World Athletics U-20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
As she left Nairobi for Oregon, Mancha had one ambition: to sign off her U20 career with a medal, and for sure, she got a big one—a gold medal.
Back in Kimana, Kajiado, Mancha defied all odds and managed to go to school courtesy of her new European friends; she convinced her mother to let her go to school and run simply because the “wazungus” paid for school fees, which left the mother with no option.
Kajiado, like other Maa counties, is still grappling with female genital mutilation, forced and early marriages, and male chauvinism.
“It’s not that Maasai don’t know how to run; we have good athletes, it’s just that we are not given opportunities,” she continued.
Upon her arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, she was greeted by hundreds of residents from Kajiado and its environs who came to celebrate her win, including her classmateswho were equally elated by her victory.
Maureen Chebor, her classmate and campmate, said: “We are elated with her win. We were really looking forward to our sister’s win because she has been our role model, and that’s why on the race day we didn’t sleep; we were watching her throughout the championship.”
The new world champion had one special call for her community and for girls in Kajiado too.
According to Mancha, Maasai girls are equally talented but only held back by the community.
“I want the Maasai to get rid of the notion that Maasai can’t run. I am calling on all girls in Kajiado and Maa land to look to me as one of them, and if I have achieved this, they can also make it,” said the 19-year-old athlete.
Her Magnolia friends believe Mancha’s story of sheer brilliance,determination, and self-dedication will for sure change the perception of the community toward girls.
Magnolia Foundation views Mancha’s victory as a win against all challenges facing girls in the Maa land.
“I’m sure her win will change the situation in Kajiado, and I’m sure they will also start running because they can see what she has achieved,” Stuj said.
The Magnolia athletics camp conducts trials annually where successful girls get scholarships and specialised training by qualified athletics coaches.
“At the camp, we conduct trials every year where talented girls get scholarships as well as specialised training in our camp. We base this on various factors before giving out scholarships,” Stud clarified.
She plans to open her season by competing in the Athletics Kenya weekend meets in both the 800m and 1500m and she will now be comoeting with other big girls.
“Now that I am transitioning to the seniors, I plan to open my season with track and field in both the 800m and 1500m as I ultimately prepare for the 2028 Olympics,” Mancha said.
For now, her next mission is to transition to senior races with an ultimate goal: to run at the LA 2028 Olympics.
