On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, Brigadier Victor Mburu, Commander Combat Engineers Brigade, promoted Kenya’s 2024 New York City Marathon gold medalist, Senior Sapper Sheila Chepkirui, to Corporal (Cpl) at Brigade Headquarters in Thika Barracks.
In his remarks before the rank investiture, Brig. Mburu congratulated Cpl. Chepkirui on her outstanding performance in the 53rd New York Marathon on November 3, 2024, where she clocked an impressive time of 2 hours, 24 minutes, and 35 seconds. He praised her as a remarkable athlete and a role model for sports personalities within both the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the nation at large.
“We are happy and proud of you,” Brig. Mburu stated. “We are very grateful for your continued achievements and for representing Kenya and KDF so well. May God bless you in your training and in all your future endeavors. Keep encouraging, supporting, and mentoring the upcoming KDF athletes.”
Expressing her gratitude for the recognition, Cpl. Chepkirui thanked the KDF for providing her with a supportive environment, training facilities, and the opportunity to sustain her athletics career. Reflecting on her first World Marathon Major victory, she recounted the thrill of standing at the starting line in Staten Island on that chilly Sunday morning, surrounded by elite runners and filled with dreams and aspirations. She described the joy of competition and the determination that helped her conquer both the marathon and her own limitations.
Cpl. Chepkirui, who previously competed in the 5000m and 10,000m events, transitioned to long-distance running in 2022. She set a personal best of 2 hours, 17 minutes, and 39 seconds at the Valencia Marathon and finished sixth in the London Marathon with a time of 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 31 seconds.
Also promoted during the event were Corporal Charles Wamweya, the Combat Engineers Brigade athletics team coach, and Corporal Collins Ligare, point guard for the KDF’s Ulinzi Warriors Basketball team.
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