When he rose to stardom at the World Schools Cross Country Championships at the Ngong Race Course in May last year, few people expected youngster Phanuel Koech to dominate the global arena so fast.
Since then, Koech – a 1500m specialist has confirmed many times that his performance at the world schools cross country showpiece was not a fluke.
The 18-year-old fast-rising star finished his secondary education at St Francis Kimuron Secondary School near Iten, an institution that has produced track legends among them 800m world record holder David Rudisha and Olympic gold medallist Emmanuel Korir as well as upcoming 3000m steeplechase athlete Mathew Kosgei.
Last year, the name of his former secondary school, St Francis Kimuron, was bigger than his.
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But this season, Koech has made a name for himself. From charging to a 3:27.72 World Under-20 record, to stunning bigwigs such as world defending champion Josh Kerr of Great Britain in the Diamond League circuit, the youngster looks to sustain the momentum when he flies the Kenyan colors at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan (from September 13-21).
In Tokyo, Koech will be debuting for Kenya at the pinnacle of athletics competitions, but he still promises to pull all stops to make the country proud.
“It will be my first time representing Kenya at the World Championships, but that will not be an excuse of not focusing my attention and energy on producing a brilliant show,” Koech, who is already in Team Kenya training camp at the Kipkeino High Performance Training Centre told Standard Sports.
He will be doing duty for Kenya in the men’s 1500m alongside senior counterparts including 2029 world champion Timothy Cheruiyot and former World Under-20 winner Reynold Cheruiyot.
Koech says teaming up with Timothy and Reynold will produce the much-needed effort to propel the 1500m charges to glory in Tokyo, next month.
“I can’t say that because it is my first time doing duty for Kenya, I can’t leave anything to chance. We have to build a strong team effort,” Koech said, adding that he was confident of a brilliant show at the world contest.
On the training ahead of the global showdown in Tokyo 25, Koech says every tactical bit has been unblemished.
“The training in preparation for the World Championships is flawless and I must admit that I really enjoy the training,” said Koech.
A soft spoken Koech went on to say:“I can see much progress as training continues ahead of the global championship. We promise to do our best in Tokyo.”
He shocked the athletics world after beating Kerr, the 2023 world champion during the Diamond League meet in London last month.
In June, he wrote history when, despite finishing second in 1500m at the Paris Diamond League, he stormed to a world Under-20 record in the distance as he stepped onto the global limelight and impressed Kenya’s selection panel for the Tokyo World Championships.
Last November, while still a form four student at St Francis Kimuron Secondary School, Koech finished third in the 2km contest at the Iten Athletics Kenya Cross Country weekend meet.
He was behind winner Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Kamar Etyang during the 2km loop competition.