[3] "Saina grew up in Kenya's middle class – "not poor, or rich," she says – with a father who worked as an elementary-school teacher and mother who operated a small business."

Saina was the 2011–2012 Iowa State Cyclones Female Student-Athlete of the year and received this honour in front of 61,000 fans at the football home opener on 1 September 2012.

[14][15] Saina competed on the roads and on the track based out of Colorado Springs for the professional training group American Distance Project elite 2013 through October 2015[16] under the guidance of coach[17] Scott Simmons.

[23] Saina is one of seven women living in the United States including Deena Kastor, Kim Smith, Shalane Flanagan, Kara Goucher, Sally Kipyego and Molly Huddle to have run a 10 km race under 31 minutes.

[24][25] On 18 July, Competing in the 5,000 meters at the Diamond League Herculis Monaco, Saina improved her personal best 5 km time to under 14:40 minutes running 14:39.49 [43rd all-time best performer.

[34] Competing in the 5,000 meters at the Payton Jordan Invitational[35] on 2 May 2015, she ran a world and Olympic trials qualifying time of 15:00.48[36] and was runner-up to Sally Kipyego.

[38] Friday 31 July 2015 Betsy punched her ticket to Beijing, China 10,000 meters 2015 World Championships in Athletics at Kenya national trials.

[37] On September 6, Betsy placed 3rd in road Rabobank Tilburg Ladies Run 10 km in Netherlands in 32:21 [41] where Shalane Flanagan set American record.