Alex Kipchirchir
Encyclopedia
Alex Kipchirchir Rono is a middle distance
runner from Kenya
.
High School. He played football and basketball when still at school and did not take up athletics until December 2001, when he met Moses Tanui
who persuaded him to become runner. Only seven months later he became World Junior Champion, in his first race outside Kenya. Before becoming a full-time athlete, he served as a waiter at his uncle's food cafe in Chepkanga, Uasing Gishu District.
In 2002, Kipchirchir won the 800 metres at the World Junior Championships
in Kingston, Jamaica
. In 2003 set a new one mile Junior World Record of 3:50.25 in Rieti
, Italy
. The record was broken by William Biwott Tanui
in 2009. Kipchirchir finished fourth in Kenyan trials for 2003 World Championships 2004 Olympics, missing both events narrowly. On the other hand, both year he finished second at the IAAF World Athletics Final
. He represented Kenya at the 2005 World Championships
in Helsinki, Finland where he finished seventh in the 1500 metres final.
His breakthrough year was 2006, by winning couple of titles. On 23 March 2006, he won the men's 800 metres event at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
with a time of 1 minute, 45.88 seconds. In August 2006, he completed a 800 and 1500 metres double at the 2006 African Championships in Athletics
in Bambous, Mauritius
.
Kipchirchir was awarded the 2006 Kenyan Sportsman of the Year
award.
After 2006 he has been unable to match his earlier performances. In May 2010 he returned to competition after a nearly two-year break caused by a hamstring injury
He is managed by Federico Rosa and coached by David Leting and John Cook.
Middle distance track event
Middle distance running events are track races longer than sprints, up to 3000 metres. The standard middle distances are the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run, although the 3000 metres may also be classified as a middle distance event. The 880 yard run, or half mile, was the forebear to the...
runner from Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
.
Career
He graduated from LiteinLitein
'Litein' is a small town in the Rift Valley Province, Kenya. It is the capital of the Buret District. Litein has an urban population of 2300.The town is along the Kericho-Sotik road...
High School. He played football and basketball when still at school and did not take up athletics until December 2001, when he met Moses Tanui
Moses Tanui
Moses Tanui is a former Kenyan long-distance runner who won the gold medal over 10000 m at the 1991 World Championships in Athletics in Tokyo....
who persuaded him to become runner. Only seven months later he became World Junior Champion, in his first race outside Kenya. Before becoming a full-time athlete, he served as a waiter at his uncle's food cafe in Chepkanga, Uasing Gishu District.
In 2002, Kipchirchir won the 800 metres at the World Junior Championships
2002 World Junior Championships in Athletics
The 2002 World Junior Championships in Athletics is the 2002 version of the World Junior Championships in Athletics. It was held in Kingston, Jamaica from July 16 to July 21, 2002.-Men:-Women:-Medals table:...
in Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
. In 2003 set a new one mile Junior World Record of 3:50.25 in Rieti
Rieti
Rieti is a city and comune in Lazio, central Italy, with a population of c. 47,700. It is the capital of province of Rieti.The town centre rests on a small hilltop, commanding a wide plain at the southern edge of an ancient lake. The area is now the fertile basin of the Velino River...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. The record was broken by William Biwott Tanui
William Biwott Tanui
İlham Tanui Özbilen is a middle distance runner now representing Turkey....
in 2009. Kipchirchir finished fourth in Kenyan trials for 2003 World Championships 2004 Olympics, missing both events narrowly. On the other hand, both year he finished second at the IAAF World Athletics Final
IAAF World Athletics Final
The IAAF World Athletics Final was an annual track and field competition organised by the International Association of Athletics Federations. It was inaugurated in 2003 to replace the IAAF Grand Prix Final. The competition was part of the IAAF World Athletics Series and was the culmination of the...
. He represented Kenya at the 2005 World Championships
2005 World Championships in Athletics
The 10th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held in the Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland , the site of the first IAAF World Championships in 1983. One theme of the 2005 championships was paralympic sports, some of...
in Helsinki, Finland where he finished seventh in the 1500 metres final.
His breakthrough year was 2006, by winning couple of titles. On 23 March 2006, he won the men's 800 metres event at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
with a time of 1 minute, 45.88 seconds. In August 2006, he completed a 800 and 1500 metres double at the 2006 African Championships in Athletics
2006 African Championships in Athletics
The 15th African Championships in Athletics were held in Mauritius between August 9 and August 13, 2006. The event was staged at Stade Germain Comarmond in Bambous, Black River district...
in Bambous, Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
.
Kipchirchir was awarded the 2006 Kenyan Sportsman of the Year
Kenyan Sports Personality of the Year
Kenyan Sport Personality of the Year Awards, also known as SOYA Awards, are annual national awards given for sports personalities and organisations in Kenya. The awards were initiated in 2004 by Paul Tergat. The awards for each year are held at the beginning of the next year Kenyan Sport...
award.
After 2006 he has been unable to match his earlier performances. In May 2010 he returned to competition after a nearly two-year break caused by a hamstring injury
He is managed by Federico Rosa and coached by David Leting and John Cook.