New York Road Runners Makes First Official Visit to Kenya—the Home of Champions

Members of the New York Road Runners Executive Leadership and Professional Athletes teams with Shoe4Africa's Toby Tanser and past Kenyan New York City Marathon champions.

February 2026 marked a significant milestone in the history of New York Road Runners—the organization paid its first official visit to the nation that has produced more marathon champions than any other place in the world. Led by CEO Rob Simmelkjaer, the delegation included members of the Executive Leadership, Professional Athletes, and Content teams, underscoring the depth of commitment behind the trip.

“Leading New York Road Runners’ first-ever visit to Kenya was an experience I will cherish forever,” said Simmelkjaer. “As the NYRR community knows, we launched our new mission statement in 2024 to ‘create healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running.’ Outside of New York, there is nowhere that better demonstrates NYRR’s impact than Kenya.”

The visit included meetings with professional training groups, legends of the sport, and representatives from the Kenyan government, the United Nations, and the U.S. Embassy. The delegation also met with organizations working to leverage the TCS New York City Marathon’s global platform into meaningful change at home in Kenya—including an official marathon charity partner and a group of dedicated women and men seeking to create a cultural shift in a male-dominant society to put an end to gender-based violence (GBV) in the name of the late professional runner Agnes Tirop.

An Athlete's Drive to the Finish Line of Gender-Based Violence

A key driver behind the decision to make this overdue visit to Kenya was the work being done by 2021 TCS New York City Marathon runner-up Viola Cheptoo. Cheptoo, who is in her final weeks of training for the 2026 Tokyo Marathon on March 1, balances full-time elite training with her full-time role as executive director of Tirop’s Angels. Named for her late friend and training partner Agnes Tirop, Cheptoo founded the organization shortly after Tirop’s murder by her estranged partner in October 2021, just months after making her Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games.

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 34% of women in Kenya, aged 15–49, have experienced physical violence. The professional women who often top the podium at World Marathon Majors, World Championships, and the Olympic Games are not exceptions to this statistic. In fact, their success and winnings often increase their vulnerability—making them targets for partners, relatives, and in some cases coaches and agents who see the athletes as a means to their own prosperity, and nothing more.

Much of the first half of NYRR’s visit was spent alongside Cheptoo and her unflappable team—both women and men—who are working to change the narrative in Kenya: that GBV is nothing for a man to be proud of, and nothing for a woman to be ashamed of. Visits to Tirop’s Angels’ offices, meetings with survivors who bravely shared their stories, and a stakeholder meeting jointly held by NYRR and Tirop’s Angels brought together more than 100 members of the running community, including athletes, agents, coaches, sponsors, and community leaders.

Rob Simmelkjaer and the NYRR team being greeted in Iten, Kenya by Viola Cheptoo and members of the Tirop's Angels community.

The message was clear: the work being done by Tirop’s Angels is both urgent and deeply supported. The commitment in the room reflected a shared belief that protecting women is not separate from sustaining Kenya’s extraordinary contribution to global sport—it is essential to it.

“We believe that leadership in sport carries social responsibility,” said Erica Edwards- O’Neal, Chief Diversity Officer. “It is not enough to celebrate champions without also standing alongside advocates, cities, and problem-solvers working to protect and uplift women and girls. We witness Viola operating as a champion and advocate committed to creating a safer space.”

A member of the Tirop's Angels staff giving an overview of the organization's programming to attendees of the stakeholder meeting.

As much as the warm welcomes, receptions, and community gatherings signified NYRR’s visit, they also celebrated Cheptoo’s leadership. To witness what she has built—while training at an elite level between Iten, Kenya and Flagstaff, Arizona—was a powerful reminder that leadership in sport extends far beyond race day.

Deepening our Connection to the World’s Best Athletes

While supporting Cheptoo’s work was central to the visit, another key pillar of NYRR’s time in Kenya was strengthening relationships with the athletes who headline professional races in New York. The delegation visited the home of Sharon Lokedi’s mother, Rose, a meaningful moment that underscored the deep family foundations behind elite performance. Lokedi—Cheptoo’s training partner—is back in Kenya preparing to defend her titles this spring at both the United Airlines NYC Half and the Boston Marathon. Simmelkjaer also connected with Lokedi during a recent episode of NYRR Set the Pace Presented by Peloton, reinforcing the close ties between New York and Kenya.

The team also visited Global Sports Training Camp, where Eliud Kipchoge and two-time TCS New York City Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor train. Touring the facility provided insight into the philosophies that guide Kipchoge and his teammates—principles rooted in discipline, humility, and community. The visit concluded with the planting of trees on the grounds, joining a tradition embraced by other guests to the green-forward campus.

The NYRR delegation to Kenya at the Global Sports Communication Training Facility with Eliud Kipchoge, Geoffrey Kamworwor, and other members of the dsm-firmenich Running Team.

At the Kechei Center, the delegation met with athletes including Abel Kipchumba, who is preparing to defend his United Airlines NYC Half title, and newly crowned World Cross Country champion Agnes Ngetich, who is training for her NYRR debut on March 15.

(L-R): Agent Davor Savija, 2025 United Airlines NYC Half champion Abel Kipchumba, Dorian Kail, 2026 World Cross Country champion Agnes Ngetich, Sam Grotewold, 2024 Paris Half Marathon champion Joan Chelimo, and coach Julian Di Maria at the Kechei Center.

The visit continued at 2RunningClub, home to reigning TCS New York City Marathon champion Benson Kipruto and world record hopeful Sebastian Sawe. There, NYRR and 2Running leadership engaged in thoughtful dialogue about the future of the sport, including clean competition and expanding opportunities for women not only as athletes but as coaches. Coach Claudio Berardelli and Coach Priscah Jeptoo, the 2013 New York City Marathon champion, shared perspectives on fostering a strong and ethical training culture.

Christine Burke, Erica Edwards O'Neal, and Dorian Kail of NYRR with the women athletes of 2RunningClub.

Across each stop, the throughline was clear: excellence in Kenyan running is powered by both individual brilliance and collective accountability.

“Our trip to Kenya has given me a completely new understanding of and connection to the professional athletes we work with,” said Dorian Kail, Director of Professional Athletes. “We visited their families, their training camps, and their communities, and everywhere we went we were welcomed with such openness, warmth, and generosity. Being able to picture their homes, the landscape, and the people who support them allows me to see each athlete as a whole person, not just a runner on a start line. I know it will make me better at what I do, especially as we welcome so many of these extraordinary athletes into our NYRR community.”

The Marathon’s Local Impact and Global Reach on Full Display

Elite athletes are not the only runners driving change in Kenya. Since the introduction of the Official Charity Partner Program in 2006, participants in the TCS New York City Marathon have raised funds for hundreds of causes around the world. Among the earliest partners is Shoe4Africa, founded in 2002 by former NYRR board member Toby Tanser. Since joining the program in 2008, Shoe4Africa runners have raised more than $4 million at the New York City Marathon, funding hospitals, health clinics, schools, nutrition programs, and empowerment initiatives in and around Eldoret.

“During our visit, I was constantly reminded of the powerful role philanthropic running plays in uplifting entire communities,” said Christine Burke, Chief Commercial Officer for NYRR. “We were able to visit Shoe4Africa Children's Hospital and had the privilege to speak with children receiving treatment, their parents and caregivers, and the dedicated medical professionals who provide life-changing care and create a joyful environment to the patients despite unimaginable challenges. It was a profound experience that underscores how every dollar raised through our races for our charity partners truly changes lives across the world.”

Christine Burke visits with a young patient at the Shoe4Africa Children's Hospital.

The delegation also visited the Shoe4Africa Kids Club, where children from local schools participate in after-school running and field trips centered on sport, health, and education. During NYRR's visit, about 900 schoolkids participated in a "Run for the Books" afternoon fun run in which each finisher was given three books, courtesy of Shoe4Africa. 

NYRR Chief Event Production Officer Ted Metellus addresses participants in the "Run for the Books" at Shoe4Africa Kids Club.

As NYRR prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the marathon’s five-borough course, the organization has announced a goal of raising over $100 million for charity during the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon. Learn more about how you can run and contribute to that goal here. 

An Ongoing Legacy of Champions Uplifting Whole Communities

Kenyan athletes have played a defining role in the global rise of the TCS New York City Marathon. The country has produced more men’s and women’s open division champions than any other nation—a testament to sustained excellence.

During the visit, Tanser organized a special dinner bringing together Kenyan-based champions across generations. The gathering was held at Lobo Village Resort, owned and operated by the first Kenyan to win the New York City Marathon, in 1987, Ibrahim Hussein.

Kenya's Ibrahim Hussein and Great Britain's Priscilla Welch celebrate their victories at the 1987 New York City Marathon.

In addition to Hussein, champions in attendance included Tegla Loroupe (1994 and 1995), John Kagwe (1997 and 1998), Rodgers Rop (2002), Martin Lel (2003 and 2007), Edna Kiplagat (2010), Priscah Jeptoo (2013), Geoffrey Kamworor (2017 and 2019), Peres Jepchirchir (2021), Evans Chebet (2022), and reigning champion Benson Kipruto.

“The success of Kenyan runners in the TCS New York City Marathon, as well as at our other professional races throughout the year, has truly transformed lives—not just of the runners themselves but of their extended families and communities,” Simmelkjaer said. “During our visit, runner after runner—whether active or retired—told us that the New York City Marathon has always held a special place in the hearts and minds of Kenyans.”

At the dinner, stories were shared about how victories in New York opened doors—not only for individual athletes but for schools, training programs, and charitable initiatives. Loroupe continues her work building educational pathways and partnering with global organizations. Kipruto shared a partnership with Shoe4Africa’s new Cancer Center, reinforcing how today’s champions are carrying forward a legacy of community leadership.

Tegla Loroupe and Benson Kipruto crossing the finish line to become New York City Marathon champions in 1994 and 2025, respectively.

Simmelkjaer also announced plans to invite past champions from around the world to return to New York—either to spectate or participate—in the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon as part of the 50th anniversary celebration.

What’s Next

“Being the first can mean many things—it can mean coming before others, but it can also mean leading,” said Ted Metellus, Chief Event Production Officer and Race Director. “This was New York Road Runners’ first official trip to Kenya, and throughout the visit that word stayed with me. We saw the future home of the first safe house of its kind for survivors of gender-based violence, witnessed firsthand how funds raised through our marathon are changing children’s lives, and were welcomed into the homes of athletes who were the first in their families to transform entire communities. Being first takes courage. It means pushing beyond expectations, so others are willing to follow. This trip reminded me that leadership in our sport extends far beyond the finish line.”

February’s visit marked NYRR’s first official trip to Kenya, but it will not be the last.

“NYRR also has an opportunity to extend our impact in Kenya in a few ways,” added Simmelkjaer. “We can help those in the running community who are seeking to end gender-based violence, including Tirop’s Angels. We can continue to voice our commitment to clean sport and offer our support for those working to prevent doping among Kenyan athletes. And most of all we can continue to show—through not only words but actions—how much the Kenyan running community means to all of us at NYRR.”

The NYRR team with Viola Cheptoo at the site of the future Tirop's Angels safe house.

The Professional Athlete and Diversity, Equity, and Social Responsibility teams are working closely with Cheptoo to support Tirop’s Angels in securing 501(c)(3) status so the organization can begin collecting donations and advance construction of its planned safe house. NYRR will continue exploring ways to deepen partnerships that protect athletes, uplift communities, and expand the global impact of the sport.

Kenya has given so much to running. This visit reaffirmed that the future of the sport depends not only on finish lines and fast times, but on safety, dignity, and opportunity for every athlete.  

Author’s Note: As Head of Content at New York Road Runners, my role on this first visit to Kenya was to listen, document, capture, and share. It is the responsibility of my team and I to ensure these moments do not stay within meeting rooms or training camps but reach the broader running world. We have a duty to tell the stories of these athletes in full—to illuminate their homes, their families, their challenges, and their triumphs—so that when a Kenyan runner breaks the tape in Central Park, they are not seen as “just another Kenyan winner,” but as an individual with a powerful and deeply human story. If the global running community is to truly understand and support Kenya, it begins with knowing and caring about the people behind the performances. Like the visit itself, this blog post is just the first chance to share these stories—please continue to follow along as we share more about what we learned on this visit throughout the next year, and beyond!