Ronald Kipchumba Rutto
Encyclopedia
Ronald Kipchumba Rutto is a Kenya
n long-distance runner.
He initially began his career in athletics as a steeplechase
r. He won the gold medal
in the 2000 m steeplechase at the IAAF World Youth Championships and set a world youth best time of 5:30.27, overhauling Soviet runner Mykola Matyushenko's record which had stood unbettered for almost two decades. Rutto demonstrated his ability further with another record run of 5:27.64 in the event two months later in Liège
. He ran in the junior race at the 2004 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
and finished in seventh place, forming part of the winning Kenyan junior team. He returned to steeplechasing on the track
later that season and built upon his youth title with a win at the 2004 World Junior Championships in Athletics
, where he achieved a personal best of 8:23.32 for the 3000 m steeplechase. He defeated Musa Amer Obaid
with a sprint to the line to continue Kenya's undefeated streak in the competition.
Rutto was third in the steeplechase at the 2005 Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix
and went on to beat Tariku Bekele
at the Oeiras International Cross Country
later that year, taking his first win on the senior cross country
circuit. He returned to the Oeiras meet in 2006 but managed only eighth place. He continued running in the steeplechase, and also in the 3000 metres
flat, over the next four years but he saw little improvement upon the times set during his junior career. His senior career had effectively stalled.
After missing the 2009 season, he re-emerged as a road running
athlete and made his marathon
debut in October 2010 at the Frankfurt Marathon
. The change of event proved a good one, as he finished in seventh place in a time of 2:09:17, just ahead of Elijah Keitany who was runner-up at the Amsterdam Marathon
the previous year.
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...
n long-distance runner.
He initially began his career in athletics as a steeplechase
Steeplechase (athletics)
The steeplechase is an obstacle race in athletics, which derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing.-Rules:The length of the race is usually 3000 m; junior events are 2000 m, as women's events formerly were. The circuit has four ordinary barriers and one water jump. Over 3000 m, each...
r. He won the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
in the 2000 m steeplechase at the IAAF World Youth Championships and set a world youth best time of 5:30.27, overhauling Soviet runner Mykola Matyushenko's record which had stood unbettered for almost two decades. Rutto demonstrated his ability further with another record run of 5:27.64 in the event two months later in Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
. He ran in the junior race at the 2004 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
2004 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
The 32nd IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held 19-20 March 2004 in Brussels, the capital of Belgium.- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :...
and finished in seventh place, forming part of the winning Kenyan junior team. He returned to steeplechasing on the track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
later that season and built upon his youth title with a win at the 2004 World Junior Championships in Athletics
2004 World Junior Championships in Athletics
The 2004 World Junior Championships in Athletics was the 2004 version of the World Junior Championships in Athletics. It was held in Grosseto in Italy.-Men:-Women:-Medals table:-References:*. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2010-06-06....
, where he achieved a personal best of 8:23.32 for the 3000 m steeplechase. He defeated Musa Amer Obaid
Musa Amer Obaid
Musa Amer Obaid is a middle distance runner mainly competing in steeplechase. He was born Moses Kipkirui, but represents Qatar after changing nationality from his birth country Kenya...
with a sprint to the line to continue Kenya's undefeated streak in the competition.
Rutto was third in the steeplechase at the 2005 Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix
Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix
The Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix is an annual athletics event at the Qatar SC Stadium in Doha, Qatar. Previously one of the five IAAF Super Grand Prix events, it is now part of the IAAF Diamond League. It was first organized in 1997.-Men:-Women:...
and went on to beat Tariku Bekele
Tariku Bekele
Tariku Bekele is an Ethiopian long-distance runner, who specializes in the 5000 metres. He is the younger brother of Kenenisa Bekele. He is the fourth fastest Ethiopian ever over 5000 m and 3000 metres...
at the Oeiras International Cross Country
Oeiras International Cross Country
The Oeiras International Cross Country is an annual cross country running competition that takes place in Oeiras, Portugal...
later that year, taking his first win on the senior cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
circuit. He returned to the Oeiras meet in 2006 but managed only eighth place. He continued running in the steeplechase, and also in the 3000 metres
3000 metres
The 3000 metres is a popular amateur middle distance track event where 7.5 laps are completed around a 400 metre track. This event is generally classified as middle distance, but it could be classed as a long distance event in many high schools, since they do not promote races such as the 5000 and...
flat, over the next four years but he saw little improvement upon the times set during his junior career. His senior career had effectively stalled.
After missing the 2009 season, he re-emerged as a road running
Road running
Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road . These events would be classified as long distance according to athletics terminology, with distances typically ranging from 5 kilometers to 42.2 kilometers in the marathon. They may involve large numbers of runners...
athlete and made his marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
debut in October 2010 at the Frankfurt Marathon
Frankfurt Marathon
Frankfurt Marathon is an annual marathon held in Frankfurt, Germany in the month of October. The race, currently sponsored by BMW, is Germany's oldest city marathon.- List of winners :Key:- External links :***...
. The change of event proved a good one, as he finished in seventh place in a time of 2:09:17, just ahead of Elijah Keitany who was runner-up at the Amsterdam Marathon
Amsterdam Marathon
The Amsterdam Marathon is an annual marathon race over the classic distance of 42.195km held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands since 1975. It is one of the top ten marathons in the world.-History:...
the previous year.