Bernard Kiprop Koech

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Koech at the 2013 World Championships

Bernard Kiprop Koech (born 31 January 1988) is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specialises in road running events. He has a personal best of 2:04:53 hours for the marathon and 59:10 minutes for the half marathon. He represented Kenya at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics.

Career[]

Koech began to make an impact on the Kenyan national cross country running circuit in his late teens. He was fourth at the Tuskys Wareng Cross Country in November 2009,[1] then achieved a win at one of the Athletics Kenya meets at the start of 2010, beating Olympic champion Asbel Kiprop and steeplechase world record holder Saif Saaeed Shaheen.[2] He failed to build on this at the Kenyan Cross Country Championships, finishing outside of the top fifty.[3]

After missing the 2011 season he re-emerged as a road specialist. He was eighth at the in January and his outing at the Paris Half Marathon established him firmly in the elite, as he placed second with a time of 1:00:06 hours.[4] He was a little slower at the CPC Loop Den Haag a week later but ran under an hour at the following month's Nice Half Marathon, winning that race in 59:57 minutes. He dropped his personal best further at the Lille Half Marathon, where he was runner-up to Ezekiel Chebii with a run of 59:10 minutes.[5] He ended the year as the fifth-ranked half marathon runner in the world.[6]

Koech's debut over the marathon distance came at the start of 2013. He successfully translated his half marathon abilities to the longer event at the Dubai Marathon as he finished in 2:04:53 hours in fifth place (eight seconds behind winner Lelisa Desisa).[7] This instantly raised him into the top twenty fastest marathon runners ever.[8] As a result, he was selected to compete at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics in the marathon – his brother Bethwell Birgen was also chosen for the 1500 metres.[9] He only had two further races prior to the event: first he won the Lisbon Half Marathon with a run of 59:54 minutes.[10] After that he won the Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Half Marathon with the fastest time ever run in the United States (58:41 minutes – the fourth fastest ever for the event – although this was not an official record as the course was downhill).[11][12] Despite being one of the fastest entrants into the World Championships marathon and sticking with the pace up to the 30-kilometer mark, he dropped out after that point and did not finish his first championship race.[13] October's Amsterdam Marathon was his third marathon race that year and this time he managed to finish, placing third with 2:06:29 hours.[14]

References[]

  1. ^ Macharia, David (2009-11-29). Macharinyang back to fitness. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-23.
  2. ^ Makori, Elias (2010-01-17). Chemweno on course for jackpot as top stars go into 'hiding' - 7th AK Cross Country Series Meeting. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-23.
  3. ^ Bernard Koech. Tilastopaja. Retrieved on 2013-10-23.
  4. ^ March 2012 Results. AIMS. Retrieved on 2013-10-23.
  5. ^ Ramsak, Bob (2012-09-02). Chebii clocks 59:05 course record in Lille Half Marathon. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-23.
  6. ^ 2012 Men's Half Marathon. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-23.
  7. ^ Butcher, Pat (2013-01-25). Debutant Desisa wins Dubai Marathon in 2:04:45, five men under 2:05. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-23.
  8. ^ Men's Marathon All Time Best. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-23.
  9. ^ Mulkeen, Jon (2013-08-08). Moscow will be a family affair for Borlées and other siblings. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-23.
  10. ^ Fernandes, António Manuel (2013-03-24). A lonely Koech and a smart Kiplagat take victory in Lisbon. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-23.
  11. ^ Kenyan runs fastest half in U.S.. ESPN (2013-06-02). Retrieved on 2013-10-23.
  12. ^ Men's Half Marathon All Time Best. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-23.
  13. ^ Results 14th IAAF World Championships Marathon Men Splits. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-23.
  14. ^ No wind worries for Chebet as he seeks Amsterdam Marathon hat-trick. IAAF (2013-10-18). Retrieved on 2013-10-23.

External links[]

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