Many athletes, including Rudisha, and world champions Edna Kiplagat, Florence Kiplagat, Lornah Kiplagat, Linet Masai, and Mary Keitany, have made homes in Iten. The coach of these athletes, Brother Colm O'Connell of Ireland, came to Iten in 1976 expecting to stay just three months. Alumni include Ibrahim Hussein, winner of three Boston Marathons and one New York City Marathon Peter Rono, a 1988 Olympic gold medalist at 1,500 meters Wilson Boit Kipketer, a 1997 world champion and 2000 Olympic silver medalist in the 3,000-meter steeplechase Matthew Birir, 1992 Olympic gold medalist at the 3,000-meter steeplechase and David Rudisha, 20 Olympic gold medalist and world record holder at 800m. The school has, over the last 30 years, produced world-class long distance athletes.

Patrick's High School is located in Iten. The hill is located about 800 metres outside the main town, on the road toward Kessup. He inscribed the words Hill Ten on a rock while exploring the Kerio Valley to mark the number of hills he had conquered.

The name is a local corruption of Hill Ten, a local rock formation that was named by Joseph Thompson in 1883.

Kerio download archive