Philemon Limo
Encyclopedia
Philemon Kimeli Limo is a Kenya
n long-distance runner who competes in cross country running
and road running
competitions.
Hailing from Marakwet District
, Kenya, he began to make his mark domestically in 2009 as he was the runner-up at the high level Rift Valley Province Cross Country Championships. In his European debut in March 2010, he came third at the Stramilano Half Marathon, completing the distance in a time of 1:01:34 hours to finish behind Moses Mosop
and Silas Kipruto
. He was the pacemaker for the 2010 European Cup 10000m
and went on to record a 5000 metres
personal best of 13:18.97 minutes at the Memorial Primo Nebiolo
later that June. He won a 10 km race in Rennes
, recording a time which ranked him in the top ten for the distance that year. He defeated all comers in the Marseille-Cassis Classique in October that year.
Representing Kenya Police
, he gained his first national selection in 2011 with a fourth place finish at the Kenyan National Cross Country Championships. On his international debut at the 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
in March, he took seventh place in the men's senior race – the fifth Kenyan to cross the line. He proved himself on the roads a month later at the Prague Half Marathon
as he won the race with a sub-one hour timing, setting the fastest time ever on Czech
soil with his finishing time of 59:30 minutes. A runner-up finish at the Giro Media Blenio
came four weeks later. He won the men's title at the World 10K Bangalore
in June, where he finished in 28:01 minutes, and set a course record and personal best of 27:34 min to win the Prague Metro 10K. He returned to the Marseille-Cassis race to defend his title, but was beaten into third place. He came fifth behind Sammy Kitwara
at the Delhi Half Marathon in November.
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 who competes in 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...
and 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...
competitions.
Hailing from Marakwet District
Marakwet District
Marakwet District is an administrative district in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Kapsowar. The district has a population of 140.629 . Local people are predominantly of the Marakwet tribe....
, Kenya, he began to make his mark domestically in 2009 as he was the runner-up at the high level Rift Valley Province Cross Country Championships. In his European debut in March 2010, he came third at the Stramilano Half Marathon, completing the distance in a time of 1:01:34 hours to finish behind 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...
and Silas Kipruto
Silas Kipruto
Silas Kipruto is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specializes in the 5000 metres.He finished seventh at the 2008 World Athletics Final and eighth at the 2009 World Athletics Final, and also fifth in the 3000 metres at the 2009 World Athletics Final.His personal best times are 7:32.25 minutes in...
. He was the pacemaker for the 2010 European Cup 10000m
European Cup 10000m
The European Cup 10000m is an annual 10,000 metres race for European athletes which was first held in 1997. The competition is organised by the European Athletics Association and first began as the European 10000 Metres Challenge after the event was removed from the European Cup programme...
and went on to record a 5000 metres
5000 metres
The 5000 metres is a popular running distance also known as 5 km or 5K in American English. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics. "5000 metres" refers to racing on a track and "5K" usually refers to a roadrace or cross country event...
personal best of 13:18.97 minutes at the Memorial Primo Nebiolo
Memorial Primo Nebiolo
The Memorial Primo Nebiolo is an annual track and field meeting held at the Stadio Primo Nebiolo in Turin, Italy in early June.The history of the Turin competition dates back to 1963, when the Torino Meeting was first held. This event hosted top level athletes, such as Sebastian Coe and Saïd...
later that June. He won a 10 km race in Rennes
Rennes
Rennes is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France. Rennes is the capital of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department.-History:...
, recording a time which ranked him in the top ten for the distance that year. He defeated all comers in the Marseille-Cassis Classique in October that year.
Representing Kenya Police
Kenya Police
The Kenya Police is a national body in charge of law enforcement in the East Africa State of Kenya. While organised at a national level, each arm reports to a Provincial police authority, which in turn divides its force by local Police Divisions, headquartered at local police stations...
, he gained his first national selection in 2011 with a fourth place finish at the Kenyan National Cross Country Championships. On his international debut at the 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
The 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held in Punta Umbría, Spain on 20 March 2011.-Preparation:The United States had expressed an interest in hosting the competition, but Punta Umbria was chosen as the host at the IAAF Council Meeting in November 2009...
in March, he took seventh place in the men's senior race – the fifth Kenyan to cross the line. He proved himself on the roads a month later at the Prague Half Marathon
Prague Half Marathon
The Prague Half Marathon is an annual half marathon road running event which takes place in Spring on the city streets of Prague, Czech Republic. Known as the Hervis Prague Half Marathon for sponsorship reasons, it holds IAAF Gold Label Road Race status, making it the foremost race of its type in...
as he won the race with a sub-one hour timing, setting the fastest time ever on Czech
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
soil with his finishing time of 59:30 minutes. A runner-up finish at the Giro Media Blenio
Giro Media Blenio
The Giro Media Blenio is an annual road running event over 10 kilometres which takes place in April in the village of Dongio, Switzerland. It was created in honour of Markus Ryffel's silver medal in the 5000 metres at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics....
came four weeks later. He won the men's title at the World 10K Bangalore
World 10K Bangalore
The World 10K Bangalore is an annual 10 kilometres road running competition which takes place in Bangalore, India. The competition was first held in 2008 and usually takes place in late May...
in June, where he finished in 28:01 minutes, and set a course record and personal best of 27:34 min to win the Prague Metro 10K. He returned to the Marseille-Cassis race to defend his title, but was beaten into third place. He came fifth behind Sammy Kitwara
Sammy Kitwara
Sammy Kirop Kitwara is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specialises in road running events. He is coached by Moses Kiptanui....
at the Delhi Half Marathon in November.