01/10/70 - Kitale
3:34.0A (92), 3:54.01M (91), 4:52.53 (92), 7:27.18 (95),
8:09.01 2M (94), 12:54.85 (96), 7:59.18 3000SC (world rec; 95).
At 1500: 1st 90 W Jnr, 1st 90 Afr, at 3000SC: 1st 91 World, 1st
91 Afr, 1st 93 World, 1st 94 W Cup, 1st 95 World, 2nd 96 Oly.
Youngest world track champion in Tokyo (91) at 19; won 91 GP at
3000SC and overall GP in 95. Ran 8:46.6 in 89 but only started to
concentrate on steeplechase in 91, running 8:06.46. Set three
world records in 92: indoor 3000 (7:37.31), 3000 (7:28.96) and, 3
days later, steeplechase (8:02.08). Also clocked world’s
fastest 2000 & 5000 times in 92 (& Kenyan records) of
4:52.53 & 13:00.93 in début at those events. Did not make 92
Olympic team as knee injury held him back to 4th in Kenyan 3000SC
trial. Set world best 2M time of 8:09.01 (since broken) in 94.
Broke his own world indoor 3000 record in 95 with 7:35.15 and
later set world 5000 record of 12:55.30 (both subsequently broken
by Haile Gebrselassie) to become first man since Henry Rono to
hold both the 5000 and the steeplechase record. Achieved ambition
in 95 of becoming the first to break 8 min for steeplechase with
7:59.18. Has six fastest ever steeplechase times. Holds world
high altitude best for 1500 (3:34.0). Cousin of Richard Chelimo
(2nd 92 Olympic 10,000) and Ismael Kirui (93 & 95 world 5000
champion). Coaches Daniel Komen, a successor as world 3000 record
holder. Date of birth originally given as 71 but now says it was
70 ... which means he was over-age when winning 90 World Junior
1500 |
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