Paul Kipkoech (January 6, 1963 – March 16, 1995) was a Kenyan long-distance runner who specialized in the
10,000 metres
The 10,000 metres or the 10,000-metre run is a common long-distance track running event. The event is part of the athletics programme at the Olympic Games and the World Athletics Championships, and is common at championship level events. The race ...
and
cross-country running
Cross country running is a sport in which teams and individuals run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain such as dirt or grass. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open coun ...
. He became world champion over 10,000 m in 1987.
Kipkoech was born in
Kapsabet
Kapsabet is a town in Kenya. It is the capital of Nandi County and is located 40 kilometres southwest of Eldoret on the way to Chavakali.
The name Kapsabet comes from "Kap"- 'belong to/area of' and "sabit" or "sobet" – 'live' and has come to ...
. In 1986 he ran the
3000 metres
The 3000 metres or 3000-metre run is a track running event, also commonly known as the "3K" or "3K run", where 7.5 laps are run around an outdoor 400 m track, or 15 laps around a 200 m indoor track.
It is debated whether the 3000m shoul ...
in 7:39.38 minutes, which was the third best time in the world that season, only behind
Saïd Aouita
Saïd Aouita ( ar, سعيد عويطة; born November 2, 1959) is a former Moroccan track and field athlete. He is the only athlete in history to have won a medal in each of the 800 meters and 5000 meters at the Olympic games. He won the 5000 mete ...
and
Sydney Maree
Sydney Maree (born September 9, 1956) is a former middle distance runner who competed at the international level in the 1980s. He was the first South African to run officially under 3:30 in the 1500m. He was born in Cullinan, South Africa, but l ...
.
He retired in 1988 due to illness. He died in 1995 at an
Eldoret
Eldoret is a principal town in the Rift Valley region of Kenya and serves as the capital of Uasin Gishu County. The town was referred to by white settlers as Farm 64, 64 and colloquially by locals as 'Sisibo'. As per the 2019 Kenya Population ...
hospital aged only 32.
International competitions
See also
*
List of male middle-distance runners
As of May 2005, this is a list of notable male middle distance runners (800 m – 3000 m) since the first Olympic Games in 1896.
This list includes any athlete who has been a medalist in the Olympic Games or World championships ( indoor and outd ...
*
List of World Athletics Championships medalists (men)
Men have contested events at the World Athletics Championships since its inauguration in 1983. The top three athletes in each event win gold, silver and bronze medals, respectively. A one-off edition of the championships was held in 1976 for the ...
*
List of African Games medalists in athletics (men)
This is the complete list of African Games medalists in men's athletics from 1965 to 2015.
100 metres
200 metres
400 metres
800 metres
1500 metres
5000 metres
10000 metres
Marathon
Half-marathon
3000 metre steeplechase
110 metr ...
*
10,000 metres at the World Championships in Athletics
*
Kenya at the World Athletics Championships
Kenya has competed at every edition of the IAAF World Championships in Athletics since its inception in 1983. It has won the second highest number of gold medals at the championships (after the United States) and also has the second highest meda ...
References
*
*http://www.sporting-heroes.net/athletics-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=363
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kipkoech, Paul
1963 births
1995 deaths
Kenyan male long-distance runners
Kenyan male cross country runners
Olympic male long-distance runners
Olympic athletes of Kenya
Athletes (track and field) at the 1984 Summer Olympics
African Games gold medalists for Kenya
African Games silver medalists for Kenya
African Games medalists in athletics (track and field)
Athletes (track and field) at the 1987 All-Africa Games
World Athletics Championships athletes for Kenya
World Athletics Championships medalists
World Athletics Championships winners
African Cross Country Championships winners
People from Nandi County