Janeth Jepkosgei
Encyclopedia
Janeth Jepkosgei (born December 13, 1983) is a Kenya
n middle distance
runner and world champion.
, near Kapsabet
. Famous athletes Wilson Kipketer
and Wilfred Bungei
are also from the same village. She started athletics while at Kapsumbeiywo Primary School and took several events. Since 1998 she attended Sing’ore Girls High School near Iten
, famous for producing Kenyan women athletes. She won national secondary school championship in heptahlon while still at form one. Her specialty at the time was actually 400 metres hurdles. She attended the Kenyan trials for 1999 World Youth Championships
, but as 400 m hurdles was not competed at the trials, she opted to take part in 800 metres. She finished second and was selected for the Kenyan team, but failed to reach the final of 800 metres competition in World Youth Championships held in Bydgoszcz, Poland
.
In 2000 she won two gold medals at national secondary school championships, the events were 400 metres hurdles and 800 metres. At the East Africa Youth Championships held in the same year she won 400 metres hurdles while at 800 metres she finished second.
She joined IOC
-sponsored High Performance Training Centre in Eldoret
in 2001. She was then coached by 1988 olympic gold medalist Paul Ereng
. The same year, she took 800 metres silver medal at the African Junior Championships
, and the next year she took 800 metres gold medal at the World Junior Championships
in Kingston, Jamaica
.
She took part at the 2003 All-Africa Games
, but failed to reach the 800 metres final. In 2004 she won Kenyan Olympic trials at 800 metres but was not selected since she failed to beat qualifying time. The history repeated itself in 2005, when she won 800 metres at national trials, but did not secure an "A"-qualifying time. She did beat the "B"-qualifying time, but Athletics Kenya
did not sent her or any other Kenyan 800 metres female runner to represent Kenya at the world championships.
with a time of 1 minute, 57.88 seconds. She managed to beat veteran runner Maria de Lurdes Mutola of Mozambique
. Later same year she won African Championships in Athletics
at the 800 metres event. She also beat Kenyan 800 metres women's record twice. Jepkosgei was awarded the 2006 Kenyan Sportswoman of the Year
award.
Jepkosgei made Kenyan History on the 28th August 2007, where she won Gold in the World Championship 800 m Final in Osaka
, becoming the first female Kenyan Middle Distance runner to achieve Gold over 800 m. She led from start to finish to win in a time of 1 minute, 56.04 seconds, beating Kenyan record
and world leading time (1.56,18) she had set at the heats two days earlier. She retained the Kenyan Sportswoman of the Year award.
On May 24, 2008 the 19-year old Pamela Jelimo
set a new Kenyan record of 1:55.76, beating the one previously held by Jepkosgei. Jelimo's dominance throughout the season prevented Jepkosgei from major victories, but won Olympic silver medal over 800 metres
She collided with Caster Semenya
of South Africa
such that Jepkosgei fell and finished last in her heat at the 2009 World Championships
. However, after a successful protest, she was allowed to run in the semifinals and eventually achieved silver medal, well behind the winner Semenya.
Jepkosgei started her 2010 season by a win at the Diamond League meeting in Shanghai
, China
Her father Michael Busienei was an 800 metres runner, as is her younger brother Dennis Kiprotich
She is now coached by Claudio Berardelli. Her manager is Federico Rosa.
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 distance
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 and world champion.
Early career
Janeth, nicknamed "Eldoret Express" is from KabirirsangKabirirsang
Kabirirsang is a village near Kapsabet in the Nandi Hills in the Rift Valley Province, Kenya. Administratively, Kabirirsang is a location in Kilibwoni division of Nandi District . Its local authority is Kapsabet municipality and local constituency is Emgwen ....
, near 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...
. Famous athletes Wilson Kipketer
Wilson Kipketer
Wilson Kosgei Kipketer is a Kenyan born Danish former middle distance runner. He holds the current indoor world records at the 1000 and 800 metres distance. While dominating the 800 m distance for a decade, remaining undefeated for a three-year period and running 8 of the 17 currently all-time...
and Wilfred Bungei
Wilfred Bungei
Wilfred Kipkemboi Bungei is a Kenyan middle distance runner, who won the 800 m gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing...
are also from the same village. She started athletics while at Kapsumbeiywo Primary School and took several events. Since 1998 she attended Sing’ore Girls High School near Iten
Iten
Iten is a town in Rift Valley Province of Kenya. It is located along the road between Eldoret and Kabarnet. Elgeyo escarpment and Kerio River are located east of Iten. The town has a population of 4000 ....
, famous for producing Kenyan women athletes. She won national secondary school championship in heptahlon while still at form one. Her specialty at the time was actually 400 metres hurdles. She attended the Kenyan trials for 1999 World Youth Championships
1999 World Youth Championships in Athletics
The 1999 World Youth Championships in Athletics was the first edition of the World Youth Championships in Athletics. It was held in Bydgoszcz, Poland from July 16 to July 18, 1999.-Boys:-Girls:-Medals table:...
, but as 400 m hurdles was not competed at the trials, she opted to take part in 800 metres. She finished second and was selected for the Kenyan team, but failed to reach the final of 800 metres competition in World Youth Championships held in Bydgoszcz, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
.
In 2000 she won two gold medals at national secondary school championships, the events were 400 metres hurdles and 800 metres. At the East Africa Youth Championships held in the same year she won 400 metres hurdles while at 800 metres she finished second.
She joined IOC
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
-sponsored High Performance Training Centre in Eldoret
Eldoret
Eldoret is a town in western Kenya and the administrative centre of Uasin Gishu District of Rift Valley Province. Lying south of the Cherangani Hills, the local elevation varies from about 2100 metres above sea level at the airport to more than 2700 metres in nearby areas...
in 2001. She was then coached by 1988 olympic gold medalist Paul Ereng
Paul Ereng
Paul Ereng is a former Kenyan athlete, and the surprise winner of the 800 metres at the 1988 Summer Olympics.Born in Kitale, Trans-Nzoia, Kenya, Paul Ereng attended Starehe Boys Centre and School in Nairobi, Kenya. He was a promising 400 m runner until the end of 1987...
. The same year, she took 800 metres silver medal at the African Junior Championships
African Junior Athletics Championships
The African Junior Athletics Championships is a biennial continental athletics event organized by the Confederation of African Athletics. First held in 1994, only athletes aged 19 or under are allowed to compete.- Summary of Championships :...
, and the next year she took 800 metres gold medal 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...
.
She took part at the 2003 All-Africa Games
Athletics at the 2003 All-Africa Games
-Track:-Field:-Track:-Field:-Medal table:-External links:*...
, but failed to reach the 800 metres final. In 2004 she won Kenyan Olympic trials at 800 metres but was not selected since she failed to beat qualifying time. The history repeated itself in 2005, when she won 800 metres at national trials, but did not secure an "A"-qualifying time. She did beat the "B"-qualifying time, but 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...
did not sent her or any other Kenyan 800 metres female runner to represent Kenya at the world championships.
Reaching global top
Her breakthrough year was 2006. On March 24, 2006 she won the women's 800 metres event at the 2006 Commonwealth Games2006 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, 57.88 seconds. She managed to beat veteran runner Maria de Lurdes Mutola of 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...
. Later same year she won African Championships in Athletics
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....
at the 800 metres event. She also beat Kenyan 800 metres women's record twice. Jepkosgei was awarded the 2006 Kenyan Sportswoman 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.
Jepkosgei made Kenyan History on the 28th August 2007, where she won Gold in the World Championship 800 m Final in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, becoming the first female Kenyan Middle Distance runner to achieve Gold over 800 m. She led from start to finish to win in a time of 1 minute, 56.04 seconds, beating Kenyan record
Kenyan records in athletics
The following are the national records in athletics in Kenya maintained by Athletics Kenya .-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:+ = en route to a longer distanceA = affected by altitude# = not officially ratifiedOT = oversized track-External links:*...
and world leading time (1.56,18) she had set at the heats two days earlier. She retained the Kenyan Sportswoman of the Year award.
On May 24, 2008 the 19-year old Pamela Jelimo
Pamela Jelimo
Pamela Jelimo is a Kenyan middle-distance runner, specialising in the 800 metres. She won the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She is the first Kenyan woman to win an Olympic gold medal and also the first Kenyan to win the Golden League Jackpot...
set a new Kenyan record of 1:55.76, beating the one previously held by Jepkosgei. Jelimo's dominance throughout the season prevented Jepkosgei from major victories, but won Olympic silver medal over 800 metres
She collided with Caster Semenya
Caster Semenya
Mokgadi Caster Semenya is a South African middle-distance runner and world champion. Semenya won gold in the women's 800 metres at the 2009 World Championships with a time of 1:55.45 in the final....
of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
such that Jepkosgei fell and finished last in her heat at the 2009 World Championships
2009 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 800 metres
The women's 800 metres at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics was held at the Olympic Stadium on 16, 17 and 19 August. Prior to the championships, there was no clear favourite for the race – the twenty fastest times of the season had been run by seventeen different athletes...
. However, after a successful protest, she was allowed to run in the semifinals and eventually achieved silver medal, well behind the winner Semenya.
Jepkosgei started her 2010 season by a win at the Diamond League meeting in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
Her father Michael Busienei was an 800 metres runner, as is her younger brother Dennis Kiprotich
She is now coached by Claudio Berardelli. Her manager is Federico Rosa.
Achievements
| Representing | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 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:... |
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... |
1st | 800 m |
| 2006 | Commonwealth Games Athletics at the 2006 Commonwealth Games At the 2006 Commonwealth Games, the athletics events were held in Melbourne, Australia from 19 March to 25 March 2006. A total of 47 events were contested, of which 24 by male and 23 by female athletes. Furthermore, three men's and three women's disability events were held within the programme... |
Melbourne Melbourne Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater... , Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
1st | 800 m |
| African Championships 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... |
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... |
1st | 800 m | |
| World Athletics Final 2006 IAAF World Athletics Final The 4th IAAF World Athletics Final was held at the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion in Stuttgart, Germany on September 9 and September 10, 2006.-Results:-External links:*... |
Stuttgart Stuttgart Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million .... , Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
2nd | 800 m | |
| IAAF World Cup 2006 IAAF World Cup The 10th IAAF World Cup in Athletics was an international track and field sporting event, held under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, which took place on 16 and 17 September 2006 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece.... |
Athens Athens Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state... , Greece Greece Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe.... |
2nd | 800 m | |
| 2007 | World Championships 2007 World Championships in Athletics The 11th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan from 24 August to 2 September 2007... |
Osaka Osaka is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe... , Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
1st | 800 m |
| World Athletics Final 2007 IAAF World Athletics Final The 5th IAAF World Athletics Final was held at the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion in Stuttgart, Germany on September 22 and September 23, 2007.-Men:- Women :-External links:*... |
Stuttgart Stuttgart Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million .... , Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
1st | 800 m | |
| 2008 | Olympic Games Olympic Games The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate... |
Beijing Beijing Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's... , China China Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture... |
2nd | 800 m Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 800 metres -Round 1:Qualification: First 3 in each heat and the next 6 fastest advance to the Semifinals.-Semifinals:-Final:-Splits:... |
| World Athletics Final 2008 IAAF World Athletics Final The 6th IAAF World Athletics Final was held at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Stuttgart, Germany on September 13 and September 14, 2008.A number of road races also took place on the second day of competition. There were seven different starting points around the Stuttgart area and the distances varied... |
Stuttgart Stuttgart Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million .... , Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
2nd | 800 m | |
| 2009 | World Championships 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.... |
Berlin Berlin Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union... , Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
2nd | 800 m 2009 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 800 metres The women's 800 metres at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics was held at the Olympic Stadium on 16, 17 and 19 August. Prior to the championships, there was no clear favourite for the race – the twenty fastest times of the season had been run by seventeen different athletes... |
| 2011 | World Championships 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.... |
Daegu Daegu Daegu , also known as Taegu, and officially the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea, the fourth largest after Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, and the third largest metropolitan area in the country with over 2.5 million residents. The city is the capital and principal city of the... , South Korea South Korea The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south... |
3rd | 800 m 2011 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 800 metres The Women's 800 metres at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics was held at the Daegu Stadium on September 1, 2 and 4.The three fastest times prior to the championships were all run at the Russian national trials, with Mariya Savinova leading the rankings with 1:56.95 minutes, followed by... |
Personal best
- 800 metres – 1:56.04 (2007)
- 1000 metres – 2:37.98 (2002)
- 1500 metres – 4:08.48 (2008)
- One Mile – 4:28.72 (2008)