It is very difficult to fail to mention Iten and Bekoji, two towns located hundreds of kilometers apart when discussing issues related to athletics.
Just like the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo is known for producing brilliant footballers, Bekoji and Iten are hotbeds of outstanding runners.
Bekoji is a small town located in central Ethiopia and home as well as a training ground to hundreds of record-breaking Ethiopian athletes.
Also Read: Inside Iten: The Home of World's Greatest Athletes
TeamKenya.co.ke takes a look at the similarities between Kenya’s athletic factory, Iten and Bekoji.
Both towns have produced remarkable athletes.
Some of the superb runners who hail from Bekoji include Derartu Tulu, Kenenisa Bekele, Genzebe Dibaba, Tirunesh Dibaba, Fatuma Roba, and Tiki Gelana.
Tulu, who is the current president of the Ethiopia Athletics Federation, was the first African woman to win an Olympic gold medal.
She bagged a 10,000m gold medal at both the 1992 and 2002 Olympic Games held in Spain and Australia respectively.
Tirunesh and Bekele also broke world records and are still registering impressive performances on the track.
Similar to Bekoji, Iten has and continues to produce amazing runners like David Rudisha, Emmanuel Korir, Edna Kiplagat, Raymond Yator, and Mary Keitany.
They are located at high altitudes
Like Iten, Bekoji is located on the escarpment of the famous Great Rift Valley. The highland terrain is friendly to athletes since the thin air improves their perseverance.
The high altitude also enhances the capacity of the lungs enabling them to run even faster.
Residents are friendly and hospitable
Similar to Iten, the residents of Bekoji are friendly and welcoming. They co-exist with individuals from different cultural backgrounds.
Cases of racial or tribal discrimination from people living in these two small towns are rare and unheard of.
Presence of fresh farm produce
Farmers in the outskirts of both Iten and Bekoji produce fresh farm produce in abundance.
In these towns, there is a constant supply of animal products including raw milk, clean water, fresh vegetables, and fruits as well as a variety of traditional delicacies, making it a paradise for athletes.
Also Read: 4 Kenyan Training Camps that Have Produced Most Star Athletes