Josephine Sembeyo (R) and Caren Chepchirchir compete at the AK World U20 trials at Nyayo Stadium/ TEDDY MULEI After narrowly missing out on a ticket to the African Under-20 and Under-18 Championships last year, rising middle-distance prospect Josephine Sembeyo is plotting a statement comeback, with her sights firmly fixed on gold at the World U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, this August.
Sembeyo, who is the Magnolia camp star athlete, will spearhead Kenya’s women’s junior 1,500m assault at the World U20 alongside Caren Chepchirchir after the duo sealed their places at the global showpiece during the Athletics Kenya trials last weekend.
Sembeyo stormed to victory in the 1,500m, clocking an impressive 4:09.89 to finish comfortably ahead of Chepchirchir (4:12.10) and Millicent Kipyekomen (4:17.84).
For Sembeyo, the triumph marked sweet redemption after the disappointment of falling short at last year’s continental junior trials.
At the African U18 and U20 trials, she finished fourth in the 800m in 2:10.76, narrowly missing out on a golden ticket to the championships staged in Abeokuta, Nigeria.
With Eugene beckoning, the young athlete is dreaming of a golden breakthrough. "The target is to go to Eugene and ensure I come back with a medal," she said.
As she prepares to transition into the senior ranks, Sembeyo is determined to sign off from the U20 category in style. "This is my last time in the U20 category as I wait to transition into the senior ranks."
Following last year’s setback at the African junior trials, Sembeyo says she returned to the training ground with renewed hunger and sharper focus, determined to rewrite her story in 2026. "At the African U18 and U20 trials last year, I finished fourth, and I wasn't able to make the cut."
"I went back into training and pushed myself hard to make sure I have a strong 2026 season," she said. Part of that renewed approach has seen her embrace a new challenge, stepping up from the two-lap event to the tactical demands of the 1,500m. "I had already set a PB in the 800m, and I wanted a bigger challenge," she noted.
The ambitious youngster is now chasing faster times over the metric mile and is targeting a significant dip from her current lifetime best of 4:09.89. "I want to clock 4:05 in the 1,500m, so I have to sharpen my speed."
Before booking her place for Eugene, Sembeyo had tested her form in the 800m at the Kip Keino Classic on April 24. She clocked 2:05.85 to finish fourth behind Nancy Kibet (2:03.21), Nancy Jepng'etich (2:03.43) and Chepchirchir (2:03.81).
Despite missing the podium at the Kip Keino Classic, Sembeyo is encouraged by the trajectory of her campaign and believes her season is gathering momentum at the right time. "My season so far has been good. I think I am in a good place now."
