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 ...

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 cou ...

. 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 ...

. 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 3000 m sho ...

in 7:39.38 minutes, which was the third best time in the world that season, only behind

Saïd Aouita Saïd Aouita (; 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 meters at the 1984 Summer Oly ...

and Sydney Maree. He retired in 1988 due to illness. He died in 1995 at an

Eldoret Eldoret is a city in the Rift Valley region of Kenya. It serves as the capital of Uasin Gishu County. Located in western Kenya and lying south of the Cherangani Hills, the local elevation varies from about at the Eldoret International Air ...

hospital aged only 32.

International competitions

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 for Kenya Athletes (track and field) at the 1984 Summer Olympics African Games gold medalists for Kenya African Games gold medalists in athletics (track and field) African Games silver medalists for Kenya African Games silver 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 Athletes from Nandi County 20th-century Kenyan sportsmen

International competitions

See also

References