Why athletes struggle to break world records in races held in Kenya
Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 05.04.26. | 15:10
At higher altitudes, oxygen levels are lower, which directly affects an athlete’s aerobic capacity
For a country globally celebrated for producing some of the finest long-distance athletes, Kenya’s lack of world records set on home soil often raises eyebrows.
However, according to Athletics Kenya (AK) Director of Youth Development Barnaba Korir, the explanation lies in science, specifically, the impact of altitude.
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“Many people ask why we do not have world records from Kenya. We have other records like national and African records in Kenya, but not world records, why?” Korir posed.
The answer, he explains, is straightforward yet significant. Kenya’s high altitude, particularly in cities like Nairobi, significantly limits peak performance in long-distance runners.
At higher altitudes, oxygen levels are lower, which directly affects an athlete’s aerobic capacity.
For endurance events such as the 5,000m and 10,000m, where oxygen efficiency is critical, this becomes a major disadvantage.
“When it comes to long distances, the altitude also affects performance. So, it becomes very difficult to break world records in distances like 5,000m,” Korir explained.
Despite this challenge, Kenya has come close. In 2016, Geoffrey Kamworor clocked 27:01 in the 10,000m at high altitude, one of the fastest times ever recorded under such conditions.
While not a world record, the performance showed the exceptional quality of Kenyan athletes even in less-than-ideal environments.
Interestingly, the same altitude that hinders long-distance runners can benefit sprinters. With thinner air offering less resistance, short-distance athletes can achieve faster times.
This was evident at the Kip Keino Classic in 2021, where Ferdinand Omanyala set an African record of 9.77 seconds in the 100m, becoming the fastest man on the continent at the time.
“It is very possible to break the 100m record in races like the 100m, 200m, and 400m. That is why most sprinters come to run in Kenya because it is very easy for them to register fast times,” Korir noted.
He added that sprint times recorded in Nairobi are often faster than those achieved in many other parts of the world, highlighting the city’s suitability for short-distance events.