Mercy Chepng'eno during a previous event/ TEDDY MULEI
The 2025 African Under-20 3,000m steeplechase silver medallist Mercy Chepng’eno will lead Kenya’s charge in the water-and-barrier event at the ongoing African Senior Championships in Accra, Ghana, on Sunday.
The 18-year-old carries significant expectations as she targets Kenya’s first gold medal in the discipline since 2018.
Kenya’s last triumph in the event came in Asaba, Nigeria, where world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech dominated in a championship record time of 8:59.88, leading a clean sweep of the podium.
Celliphine Chespol took silver in 9:09.61, while Fancy Cherono completed the Kenyan sweep in 9:23.92.
At the following edition—the delayed 2022 African Championships in Saint Pierre, Mauritius—Caren Chebet narrowly missed gold and settled for bronze in 9:43.64.
Ethiopia’s Werkuha Getachew won gold in 9:36.81, with compatriot Zerfe Wondemagegn taking silver in 9:41.37.
At the most recent championships in Douala, Cameroon in 2024, Kenya again had to settle for bronze through Leah Jeruto, who clocked 9:36.33.
Uganda’s Loice Chekwemoi won gold in 9:24.47, while Ethiopia’s Alemnat Walle Fenta took silver in 9:35.19.
Chepng’eno has steadily developed into one of Kenya’s brightest young steeplechase talents and enters the race as a strong medal contender.
Her growing resume includes a silver medal from last year’s African U20 Championships in Abeokuta, Nigeria, where she clocked 9:32.9 in an all-Kenyan podium finish.
Anatasha Cheptoo won gold in 9:27.8, while Sharon Chepkemoi secured bronze in 9:34.3.
She arrives in Accra in solid early-season form in 2026.
Chepng’eno opened her campaign with a third-place finish at the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country Tour on February 14, clocking 6:54 in the 2km race behind Naomi Korir (6:42) and Judy Kemunto (6:47).
She then finished second at the African Championships trials on April 11, recording 9:38.87 behind Diana Chepkemoi, who won in 9:36.76.
Her most recent outing came at the Kip Keino Classic on April 24, where she placed third in 9:58.40 behind winner Joyce Biwot (9:55.26) and Ethiopia’s Zeritu Daba (9:57.27).
In Accra, Chepng’eno will team up with 2024 World U20 bronze medallist Diana Chepkemoi and Mercy Mageso as Kenya aims to reclaim continental supremacy in the event.
