Stephen Kiogora
Encyclopedia
Stephen "Baba" Kiogora (born 10 November 1976) is a Kenya
n former long-distance runner who competed in marathon
races. His personal best for the distance is 2:08:24 hours (set in 2008). He has had top three finishes at the Boston Marathon
, New York City Marathon
and Frankfurt Marathon
. The sole marathon win of his career came at the Las Vegas Marathon
in 2005. He was the 1996 African champion
over 10,000 metres.
Born in the city of Meru, Kenya
, Kiogora initially began his career as a long-distance track specialist and had his first success at the 1996 African Championships in Athletics
, where he won the gold medal
over 10,000 metres. He then became a half marathon
runner and won the Kiev Half Marathon and the Kenyan Armed Forces Half Marathon in 2000. He was the runner-up at the 1999 Paris Half Marathon
in a time of 1:01:37 hours, finishing a fraction of a second behind the winner Phaustin Baha Sulle. He returned to the same race the following year and set his career best time of 1:01:09 hours, coming third on that occasion.
Kiogora's debut over the marathon distance came at the 2003 Cologne Marathon
and he took third place behind Benjamin Rotich with a time of 2:12:29. He entered the 2004 Boston Marathon
, his first World Marathon Major event, as a pacemaker for his training partner Timothy Cherigat
. Kiogora completed his pacing duties, helping Cherigat to victory, and also managed to finish the race, taking fourth position. An appearance at the Chicago Marathon
followed later that year and he recorded his first sub-2:10 run, coming in seventh place in 2:09:21 hours. In 2005 he continued to compete in the United States, being based in Boulder, Colorado
with his coach Dieter Hogen's KIMbia Athletics group, and after a runner-up placing at the San Diego Marathon he went on to win his first race over the distance, topping the podium at the Las Vegas Marathon
with a run of 2:11:58 hours.
Kiogora returned to San Diego in 2006 and had a consecutive podium finish, ending the race in third place. The New York City Marathon
that year saw him attain his highest ever placing at a major marathon, as he came second only to Brazil's Marilson Gomes dos Santos
. The year after he was third at Boston, but managed only seventh place upon his return to New York. Kiogora achieved a career best time of 2:08:24 hours at the Frankfurt Marathon
in 2008 and this brought him third place behind fellow Kenyans Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot
and Wilson Kigen. He made the top ten at the 2009 Boston Marathon (ninth in 2:13:00 hours), but fell down the order at the race the following year, ending up in thirteenth place. He sustained an injury in January 2011 and was set to be one of favourites for the Düsseldorf Marathon
in May, but did not compete.
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 former long-distance runner who competed in 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...
races. His personal best for the distance is 2:08:24 hours (set in 2008). He has had top three finishes at the Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
, New York City Marathon
New York City Marathon
The New York City Marathon is a major annual marathon that courses through the five boroughs of New York City. It is one of the largest marathons in the world, with 45,103 finishers in 2010...
and 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 sole marathon win of his career came at the Las Vegas Marathon
Las Vegas Marathon
The Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon & 1/2 Marathon is an annual marathon foot-race run in and around Las Vegas, Nevada.-History:The race is one of the oldest marathons in the United States, having been run since 1967....
in 2005. He was the 1996 African champion
African Championships in Athletics
The African Championships in Athletics is a continental athletics event organized by the Confederation of African Athletics. It is generally organised biennually, every other event is held same year as the Summer Olympics....
over 10,000 metres.
Born in the city of Meru, Kenya
Meru, Kenya
-Transport:The City of Meru is linked to Nairobi by a paved road, whether from the south around the east side of Mount Kenya, via Embu, or from the northwest around the west and north side of Mount Kenya, via Nanyuki and Timau....
, Kiogora initially began his career as a long-distance track specialist and had his first success at the 1996 African Championships in Athletics
1996 African Championships in Athletics
-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-External links:* - GBR Athletics...
, where 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...
over 10,000 metres. He then became a half marathon
Half marathon
A half marathon is a road running event of . It is half the distance of a marathon and usually run on roads. Participation in half marathons has grown steadily recently. One of the main reasons for this is that it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a...
runner and won the Kiev Half Marathon and the Kenyan Armed Forces Half Marathon in 2000. He was the runner-up at the 1999 Paris Half Marathon
Paris Half Marathon
Paris Half Marathon is an annual half marathon held every March in Paris, France. It currently holds IAAF Bronze Label status....
in a time of 1:01:37 hours, finishing a fraction of a second behind the winner Phaustin Baha Sulle. He returned to the same race the following year and set his career best time of 1:01:09 hours, coming third on that occasion.
Kiogora's debut over the marathon distance came at the 2003 Cologne Marathon
Cologne Marathon
The Cologne Marathon is an annual marathon held in Cologne, Germany. Since October 1997 the marathon has been held annually in early October, except for 2004 and 2005 when it was held in late September.-Course:...
and he took third place behind Benjamin Rotich with a time of 2:12:29. He entered the 2004 Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
, his first World Marathon Major event, as a pacemaker for his training partner Timothy Cherigat
Timothy Cherigat
Timothy Cherigat is a long-distance runner from Kenya, who was the winner of the 108th Boston Marathon held in 2004. Cherigat won this race in a time of 2:10:37 on an abnormally warm day during which temperatures reached as high as 87 °F .His marathon best is currently 2:09:34 during his win...
. Kiogora completed his pacing duties, helping Cherigat to victory, and also managed to finish the race, taking fourth position. An appearance at the Chicago Marathon
Chicago Marathon
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is a major marathon held yearly in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Alongside the Boston, New York, London and Berlin Marathons, it is one of the five World Marathon Majors. Thus, it is also an IAAF Gold Label race...
followed later that year and he recorded his first sub-2:10 run, coming in seventh place in 2:09:21 hours. In 2005 he continued to compete in the United States, being based in Boulder, Colorado
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
with his coach Dieter Hogen's KIMbia Athletics group, and after a runner-up placing at the San Diego Marathon he went on to win his first race over the distance, topping the podium at the Las Vegas Marathon
Las Vegas Marathon
The Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon & 1/2 Marathon is an annual marathon foot-race run in and around Las Vegas, Nevada.-History:The race is one of the oldest marathons in the United States, having been run since 1967....
with a run of 2:11:58 hours.
Kiogora returned to San Diego in 2006 and had a consecutive podium finish, ending the race in third place. The New York City Marathon
New York City Marathon
The New York City Marathon is a major annual marathon that courses through the five boroughs of New York City. It is one of the largest marathons in the world, with 45,103 finishers in 2010...
that year saw him attain his highest ever placing at a major marathon, as he came second only to Brazil's Marilson Gomes dos Santos
Marílson Gomes dos Santos
Marílson Gomes dos Santos is a Brazilian long-distance runner and winner of the 2006 and 2008 New York City Marathon, with times of 2:09:58 and 2:08:43, respectively...
. The year after he was third at Boston, but managed only seventh place upon his return to New York. Kiogora achieved a career best time of 2:08:24 hours 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 :***...
in 2008 and this brought him third place behind fellow Kenyans Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot
Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot
Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot is a Kenyan marathon runner. He is known as a "true marathoner" who rarely races other distances. He has finished fifth or better in the first four international marathons he has entered....
and Wilson Kigen. He made the top ten at the 2009 Boston Marathon (ninth in 2:13:00 hours), but fell down the order at the race the following year, ending up in thirteenth place. He sustained an injury in January 2011 and was set to be one of favourites for the Düsseldorf Marathon
Düsseldorf Marathon
The Düsseldorf Marathon is an annual marathon race in Düsseldorf, Germany in early May.Organised by Jan-Henning Winschermann , the race was first held in 2003....
in May, but did not compete.