It’s around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, cool, wet and windy. The ground is damp and hills run for miles. That’s an average day in Southwest Kenya, and it’s described as the perfect running weather.
Cities such as Eldoret, Nakuru and Iten have produced many world-class long-distance runners. The area, known as the Rift Valley, sits more than 6,000 feet above sea level. Generations of athletes have adapted to the altitude, contributing to the region’s dominance in long-distance running.
In Pullman, this influence has carried into cross-country. The WSU men’s and women’s cross-country teams had historic 2025 seasons, breaking multiple records. Both teams won West Coast Conference championships.
The leading runners included Solomon Kipchoge and Evans Kurui on the men’s side, and Rosemary “Rozzy” Longisa and Zenah Cheptoo for the women. Their performances led to numerous awards.
Longisa earned multiple WCC Runner of the Week honors, including one week in which Kipchoge won the men’s award. Kurui was also named NCAA Division I National Athlete of the Week, becoming the first WSU runner to receive the award. At the conference championships, Longisa won the women’s 6K title and Kipchoge won the men’s 8K.
With their success, the Kenyan athletes said representing their home country is a major motivation.
“People are getting a high chance to represent the country,” Kurui said. “The athletes that represent the NCAA are the same ones who represent their country.”
When they first arrived in Pullman, the runners were unfamiliar with the climate and landscape of the Palouse, but they were familiar with its history.
Their legacy at WSU began with legendary runners Henry Rono and Samson Kimobwa, who joined the program in 1976. Both broke multiple world records while competing for WSU, placing the school on the map for future Kenyan distance runners.
Longtime head coach John Chaplin led their recruitment. During his 21 years at WSU, Chaplin actively recruited athletes from Kenya, helping lead the Cougars to one national title and four conference championships.
Today’s WSU runners say that history influenced their decision to attend the school. Every athlete knew Rono’s name before arriving.
“It gives you the spirit of running and not giving up,” Longisa said.
The Kenyan community in Pullman extends beyond athletics. Many Kenyans have started businesses in and around the university, forming a support network that welcomes new students and athletes.
“It’s like you have a family and the support comes from them,” Longisa said. “Anytime a Kenyan comes here, it feels like home.”
“They motivated me to push myself, and then they would invite me to dinner. I’m so happy to have met them,” Cheptoo said.
The community gathers regularly to speak Swahili and cook traditional foods like ugali. Kurui said ugali was considered a source of strength growing up, and being able to eat it in Pullman has been meaningful.
But the transition hasn’t been without challenges — especially the weather. Winter in Pullman ranges from 20 to 40 degrees, often with snow.
“We ran outside, but I didn’t even finish because it was cold. I was crying,” Cheptoo said of her first time running in Pullman’s winter.
Others shared similar experiences adjusting to the cold.
Each runner has personal goals after graduation. Cheptoo plans to work in education with youth. Kurui and Kipchoge hope to pursue business opportunities in the United States while continuing to run competitively. Longisa wants to compete in the Olympics and represent Kenya on the international stage.
All four runners are in their sophomore seasons, with Cheptoo listed as a redshirt sophomore, meaning they could remain together at WSU for two more collegiate seasons.
After their first conference titles, Pullman hopes they continue to represent both Kenya and WSU on the national stage.
