Abel Kirui
Encyclopedia
Abel Kirui is a male long-distance runner from Kenya
who competes in marathon
s. He had back-to-back wins in the World Championships Marathon in 2009 and 2011. He won in 2009 with a time of 2:06:54, then defended his title with a winning margin of two minutes and 28 seconds – the largest ever margin at the World Championship event.
He has also won the Vienna Marathon
and was runner-up at the 2007 Berlin Marathon
.
(AP) the winner of such race would be recruited by AP. Kirui won the race and subsequently joined AP, starting serious training only after then. He entered the 2006 Berlin Marathon as a pacemaker, but finished the race 9th.
He won the 2008 edition of the Vienna Marathon
setting a new course record of 2:07:38. He set his personal best (2:06:51) in the classic distance on September 30, 2007 at the Berlin Marathon
, where he finished second after Haile Gebrselassie
, who set a new marathon world record. The time made Kirui the sixth fastest marathoner in 2007.
He finished third in the 2009 Rotterdam Marathon
2:05:04 after fellow Kenyans Duncan Kibet
and James Kwambai
, making him the sixth fastest marathoner ever.
He also won the Paderborn Half-Marathon in 2007. On August 22, 2009 he took gold over his teammate Emmanuel Mutai who took silver at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
in Berlin at a record time of 2:06:54.
After the 2009 World Championships, Kirui had many unsuccessful attempts to show the dominance he had shown in his Berlin race: he finished in fifth place at the 2010 London Marathon
then failed to finish at the 2011 race
. Kirui ran at the Prefontaine Classic
track 25K/30K mixed race, hoping to set a new 25k track record. Although he just managed to dip under the previous world record time for the track 25K, he was well beaten by fellow Kenyan and teammate Moses Mosop
, who broke both 25K and 30K world records.
He was given the wildcard spot on the Kenyan marathon team as the defending champion at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics
. Kirui ran 2:07:38 hours beating out fellow countryman Vincent Kipruto
and Ethopian Feyisa Lilesa
. This made Kirui the third man to defend the marathon world title, following in the steps of Abel Antón
and Jaouad Gharib
. He ran over 10 miles at the Great South Run
in October and finished as runner-up to Leonard Komon
.
Kirui lives at Nabkoi, 2 km east of Kapsabet
town. He is married to Stella Jemeli with a son (born 2008). He is coached by Renato Canova (as of 2011). Marathon runner Mike Rotich is his uncle.
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...
who competes 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...
s. He had back-to-back wins in the World Championships Marathon in 2009 and 2011. He won in 2009 with a time of 2:06:54, then defended his title with a winning margin of two minutes and 28 seconds – the largest ever margin at the World Championship event.
He has also won the Vienna Marathon
Vienna Marathon
The Vienna City Marathon is an annual marathon race over the classic distance of 42.195 km held in Vienna, Austria since 1984. The first edition was held on March 25, 1984 with a total of 794 competitors...
and was runner-up at the 2007 Berlin Marathon
Berlin Marathon
The Berlin Marathon is a major running and sporting event held annually in Berlin, Germany. The official marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers is set up as a city-wide road race where professional athletes and amateur runners jointly participate...
.
Career
Kirui started running while in Samitui Primary School. After high school, the jobless Kirui entered a recruitment race by Administration PoliceAdministration Police
Administration Police is a security unit belonging to the government of Kenya. It was formed in 1958 when it took over the Tribal Police Ordinance, which was established 1929.- External links:**...
(AP) the winner of such race would be recruited by AP. Kirui won the race and subsequently joined AP, starting serious training only after then. He entered the 2006 Berlin Marathon as a pacemaker, but finished the race 9th.
He won the 2008 edition of the Vienna Marathon
Vienna Marathon
The Vienna City Marathon is an annual marathon race over the classic distance of 42.195 km held in Vienna, Austria since 1984. The first edition was held on March 25, 1984 with a total of 794 competitors...
setting a new course record of 2:07:38. He set his personal best (2:06:51) in the classic distance on September 30, 2007 at the Berlin Marathon
Berlin Marathon
The Berlin Marathon is a major running and sporting event held annually in Berlin, Germany. The official marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers is set up as a city-wide road race where professional athletes and amateur runners jointly participate...
, where he finished second after Haile Gebrselassie
Haile Gebrselassie
Haile Gebrselassie is an Ethiopian long-distance track and road running athlete. He won two Olympic gold medals over 10,000 metres and four World Championship titles in the event. He won the Berlin Marathon four times consecutively and also had three straight wins at the Dubai Marathon...
, who set a new marathon world record. The time made Kirui the sixth fastest marathoner in 2007.
He finished third in the 2009 Rotterdam Marathon
Rotterdam Marathon
The Rotterdam Marathon is an annual marathon that has been held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands since 1981. It has been held in April of every year since the third edition in 1984, and attracts many top athletes. It has also been ranked as one of the top 10 marathons in the world by Runner's World...
2:05:04 after fellow Kenyans Duncan Kibet
Duncan Kibet
Duncan Kibet is a runner from Kenya. He became the second fastest marathoner ever with a time of 2:04:27 hours, when he won the 2009 Rotterdam Marathon.- Career :Kibet dropped out of school in 1997 due to financial problems...
and James Kwambai
James Kwambai
James Kipsang Kwambai is a runner from Kenya, who specialises in marathons.Kwambai went to the Kondabilet Primary School in Marakwet East District, but dropped out at standard seven....
, making him the sixth fastest marathoner ever.
He also won the Paderborn Half-Marathon in 2007. On August 22, 2009 he took gold over his teammate Emmanuel Mutai who took silver at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
2009 World Championships in Athletics
The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....
in Berlin at a record time of 2:06:54.
After the 2009 World Championships, Kirui had many unsuccessful attempts to show the dominance he had shown in his Berlin race: he finished in fifth place at the 2010 London Marathon
2010 London Marathon
The 2010 London Marathon took place on Sunday, 25 April 2010. Up to 36,000 people are thought to have taken part, a record for the event. The men's event was won by Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia with a time of 2:05:19 and the women's event by Liliya Shobukhova of Russia with a time of 2:22:00...
then failed to finish at the 2011 race
2011 London Marathon
The 2011 London Marathon took place on Sunday, 17 April 2011. The men's elite race saw Emmanuel Mutai win in a course record time to become the fourth fastest ever over the distance. Runner-up Martin Lel sprinted to the line to beat Patrick Makau, completing a Kenyan sweep of the podium...
. Kirui ran at the Prefontaine Classic
Prefontaine Classic
The Prefontaine Classic is one of the premier track and field meets in the United States. Every year it draws a world caliber field to compete at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.-History:...
track 25K/30K mixed race, hoping to set a new 25k track record. Although he just managed to dip under the previous world record time for the track 25K, he was well beaten by fellow Kenyan and teammate Moses Mosop
Moses Mosop
Moses Cheruiyot Mosop is a Kenyan middle and long distance athlete. He competed for Kenya at the 2004 Olympic Games and went on to take 10,000 metres bronze at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics...
, who broke both 25K and 30K world records.
He was given the wildcard spot on the Kenyan marathon team as the defending champion at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics
2011 World Championships in Athletics
The 13th IAAF World Championships in Athletics was an international athletics competition that was held in Daegu, South Korea. It started on 27 August 2011 and finished on 4 September 2011....
. Kirui ran 2:07:38 hours beating out fellow countryman Vincent Kipruto
Vincent Kipruto
Vincent Kipruto Limo is a Kenyan long distance runner who specialises in the marathon. He made his debut in the event in 2008 and won the Paris Marathon a year later...
and Ethopian Feyisa Lilesa
Feyisa Lilesa
Feyisa Lilesa is a male long-distance runner from Ethiopia. He became the youngest man to run under 2:06 when he set his personal best in the men's marathon at the 2010 Rotterdam Marathon. This makes him the third fastest Ethiopian runner ever over the distance, behind Haile Gebrselassie and...
. This made Kirui the third man to defend the marathon world title, following in the steps of Abel Antón
Abel Antón
Abel Antón Rodrigo is a Spanish long-distance runner. He won gold medals in the marathon at the 1997 and the 1999 World Championships in Athletics. In 1998 Antón became the first Spanish runner to win the London Marathon...
and Jaouad Gharib
Jaouad Gharib
Jaouad Gharib is a Moroccan long-distance runner who competes in the marathon. Winner of the 2003 World Championships and 2005 World Championships over the distance, he is also notable because he only began running seriously at the age of twenty-two...
. He ran over 10 miles at the Great South Run
Great South Run
The Bupa Great South Run is an annual 10 miles road running race which takes place in Portsmouth, United Kingdom. Launched in 1990, it is part of the Great Run series created by former British athlete Brendan Foster...
in October and finished as runner-up to Leonard Komon
Leonard Komon
Leonard Patrick Komon is a Kenyan long-distance runner and the current world record holder in the 10 kilometres and 15 km road races....
.
Kirui lives at Nabkoi, 2 km east of Kapsabet
Kapsabet
Kapsabet is a town in the Rift Valley Province, Kenya. It is the capital of Nandi Central District. Kapsabet hosts a municipal council and divisional headquarters of Kapsabet administrative division...
town. He is married to Stella Jemeli with a son (born 2008). He is coached by Renato Canova (as of 2011). Marathon runner Mike Rotich is his uncle.