Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku
Encyclopedia
Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku (born 9 October 1992 in Machakos
) is a Kenya
n middle- and long-distance runner.
Born in Machakos
, he was the son of a javelin throw
er, David Ndiku, but he decided not to follow his father and focused on running instead. He began his career in domestic cross country running
competitions and at the Athletics Kenya
series meeting in Meru
, he took fifth place in the junior men's race at the age of sixteen. He won selection for the 2009 World Youth Championships in Athletics
with a personal best run in the 1500 metres
at the Kenyan youth trials. At the championships in Brixen
, he ran 3:38.42 to win the silver medal behind compatriot Gideon Kiage Mageka. Ndiku returned to the Kenyan cross country circuit at the end of the year, and finished fourth at another Athletics Kenya series race in Nairobi
.
Ndiku earned himself a place on the Kenyan junior men's team for the 2010 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
with a third place finish in the junior race at the Kenya National Cross Country Championships. In the world junior men's race in Bydgoszcz the following month, he formed part of the leading pack before quickening the pace to establish a significant lead. He won the junior title and also headed the Kenyan runners to the team gold as the country grabbed the top four spots. Ndiku took his second title of the year at the 2010 World Junior Championships in Athletics
, where he ran a personal best of 3:37.30 minutes to win the 1500 m world junior crown. He won the Most Promising Kenyan Sportsman of the Year
award at the end that December.
He began competing in senior competitions the following year and was runner-up at the Trofeo Alasport
cross country in March, second only to the newly elected world champion Imane Merga
.
Machakos
Machakos is a town in Kenya, 64 kilometres southeast of Nairobi. It is the capital of the Machakos District in Eastern Province of Kenya. Machakos Town is a major rural centre, and also a satellite town due to its proximity to Nairobi. Its population is rapidly growing and is 192,117...
) is a 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...
n middle- and long-distance runner.
Born in Machakos
Machakos
Machakos is a town in Kenya, 64 kilometres southeast of Nairobi. It is the capital of the Machakos District in Eastern Province of Kenya. Machakos Town is a major rural centre, and also a satellite town due to its proximity to Nairobi. Its population is rapidly growing and is 192,117...
, he was the son of a javelin throw
Javelin throw
The javelin throw is a track and field athletics throwing event where the object to be thrown is the javelin, a spear approximately 2.5 metres in length. Javelin is an event of both the men's decathlon and the women's heptathlon...
er, David Ndiku, but he decided not to follow his father and focused on running instead. He began his career in domestic cross country running
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...
competitions and at the Athletics Kenya
Athletics Kenya
Athletics Kenya is the governing body for the sport of athletics in Kenya. It is a member of the IAAF and Confederation of African Athletics. AK organises athletics competitions held in Kenya. It also sends Kenyan teams to international championships. Isaiah Kiplagat is the current chairman of...
series meeting in Meru
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....
, he took fifth place in the junior men's race at the age of sixteen. He won selection for the 2009 World Youth Championships in Athletics
2009 World Youth Championships in Athletics
The 2009 World Youth Championships in Athletics is the sixth edition of the World Youth Championships in Athletics. They were held in Brixen, Italy from 8–12 July 2009. Athletes must be aged 16 or 17 on 31 December 2009 to compete....
with a personal best run in the 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
at the Kenyan youth trials. At the championships in Brixen
Brixen
Brixen is the name of two cities in the Alps:*Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy*Brixen im Thale, Tyrol, AustriaBrixen may also refer to:*Bishopric of Brixen, the former north-Italian state....
, he ran 3:38.42 to win the silver medal behind compatriot Gideon Kiage Mageka. Ndiku returned to the Kenyan cross country circuit at the end of the year, and finished fourth at another Athletics Kenya series race in Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
.
Ndiku earned himself a place on the Kenyan junior men's team for the 2010 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
2010 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
The 2010 IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held at Myślęcinek Park in Bydgoszcz, Poland on 28 March 2010. It was the first time in over twenty years that Poland hosted the annual championships, having previously held them in Warsaw in 1987. Kenyan runners dominated the competition, taking...
with a third place finish in the junior race at the Kenya National Cross Country Championships. In the world junior men's race in Bydgoszcz the following month, he formed part of the leading pack before quickening the pace to establish a significant lead. He won the junior title and also headed the Kenyan runners to the team gold as the country grabbed the top four spots. Ndiku took his second title of the year at the 2010 World Junior Championships in Athletics
2010 World Junior Championships in Athletics
The 13th World Junior Championships in Athletics was an international athletics competition for athletes under the age of 20 which was held at the Moncton Stadium in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada from 19–25 July 2010. A total of 44 athletics events were contested at the Championships, 22 by male...
, where he ran a personal best of 3:37.30 minutes to win the 1500 m world junior crown. He won the Most Promising 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 at the end that December.
He began competing in senior competitions the following year and was runner-up at the Trofeo Alasport
Trofeo Alasport
The Trofeo Alasport, also known as the Cross di Alà dei Sardi, is an annual cross country running competition which takes place in March in Alà dei Sardi on the Italian island of Sardinia. Unusually for a high-profile cross country event, it has often been held after the IAAF World Cross Country...
cross country in March, second only to the newly elected world champion Imane Merga
Imane Merga
Imane Merga Jida is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who specializes in the 5000 and 10,000 metres. He won his first world title at the 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships...
.
Competition record
| 2009 | World Youth Championships 2009 World Youth Championships in Athletics The 2009 World Youth Championships in Athletics is the sixth edition of the World Youth Championships in Athletics. They were held in Brixen, Italy from 8–12 July 2009. Athletes must be aged 16 or 17 on 31 December 2009 to compete.... |
Brixen Brixen Brixen is the name of two cities in the Alps:*Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy*Brixen im Thale, Tyrol, AustriaBrixen may also refer to:*Bishopric of Brixen, the former north-Italian state.... , Italy |
2nd | 1500 m | |
| 2010 | World Cross Country Championships 2010 IAAF World Cross Country Championships The 2010 IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held at Myślęcinek Park in Bydgoszcz, Poland on 28 March 2010. It was the first time in over twenty years that Poland hosted the annual championships, having previously held them in Warsaw in 1987. Kenyan runners dominated the competition, taking... |
Bydgoszcz, Poland | 1st | Junior race | Individual |
| 1st | Junior race | Team | |||
| World Junior Championships 2010 World Junior Championships in Athletics The 13th World Junior Championships in Athletics was an international athletics competition for athletes under the age of 20 which was held at the Moncton Stadium in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada from 19–25 July 2010. A total of 44 athletics events were contested at the Championships, 22 by male... |
Moncton, Canada | 1st | 1500 m | ||
| 2011 | All-Africa Games Athletics at the 2011 All-Africa Games The athletics competition at the 2011 All-Africa Games was held from 11–15 September 2011 at the Estádio do Zimpeto in Maputo, Mozambique.-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:-Elite competition:-Para-sport competition:-Games statistics:... |
Maputo Maputo Maputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its... , Mozambique Mozambique Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest... |
1st | 1500 m | 3:39.12 Athletics at the 2011 All-Africa Games – Men's 1500 metres The Men's 1500 metres at the 2011 All-Africa Games took place on 14 and 15 september at the Estádio Nacional do Zimpeto.-Medalists:-Records:Prior to the competition, the following records were as follows.-Schedule:-Results:-Semifinals:... |