Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot
Encyclopedia
Robert "Mwafrika" Kipkoech Cheruiyot (born September 26, 1978 in Kapsabet
, Kenya
), sometimes known as Omar Ahmed, is a Kenya
n marathon
runner
and is the former record holder and four-time winner of the Boston Marathon
.
's training camp in Kaptagat
. Soon thereafter he made a breakthrough by winning a local 10K race in 2001 and headed for international competitions.
Cheruiyot won the Roma-Ostia Half Marathon
in March 2002. His marathon debut, Milan Marathon
in December 2002 saw three top finishers - Cheruiyot, Mike Rotich
and Daniele Caimmi
all posting the same time, 2:08:59 hours, but Cheruiyot emerged the winner. Cheruiyot also won the Saint Silvester Road Race at the end of 2002, the first one of three.
He won the Boston Marathon
in 2003, 2006, 2007 and most recently in 2008. His 2006 Boston finishing time of 2:07:14 broke a Boston marathon course record set by Cosmas Ndeti
that had lasted 12 years. His record was broken in the 2010 Boston Marathon by Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot
(unrelated) with a finishing time of 2:05:52.
He finished 4th in the 2005 New York Marathon and 2nd in the 2009 New York Marathon. He sought to win another title in Boston in 2005 as well but only finished 5th that year.
During his win at Chicago in 2006, Cheruiyot did not actually break the tape at the finish line. He slipped at the end and crossed the finish line as he slipped forward making him the winner. It was ruled that he did cross the finish line in doing so. He injured his head against the ground in the fall and had to be helped from the course in a wheelchair. He suffered a brain contusion
and was released from the hospital after two days of observation. His time of 2:07:35 was five seconds faster than 2nd place finisher Daniel Njenga
. The win in Chicago left him at the top of the 2006 World Marathon Majors standings
and won its grand prize.
In 2007 Cheruiyot defended his title and won his third Boston Marathon with an official time of 2:14:13. Fellow Kenyans were second and third. It was the 15th time in the last 17 years that a Kenyan has won the Boston marathon but it was also the slowest Boston Marathon since 1977 as runners faced cold headwinds gusting up to 50 miles per hour. Cheruiyot also won $100,000 for the victory and gained a significant lead in the World Marathon Majors series.
On April 21, 2008, he won his fourth Boston Marathon title with a time of 2:07:45, making him the first four-time winner in the men's open division since Bill Rodgers
(fellow Kenyan Catherine Ndereba
recorded her fourth win in 2005).
In April 2009 Cheruiyot started the Boston Marathon but did not finish and was sent to the hospital.
He is not to be confused with Robert Kiprotich Cheruiyot or Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot
, who are both also Kenyan marathon runners.
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...
, 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...
), sometimes known as Omar Ahmed, 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 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...
runner
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
and is the former record holder and four-time winner of 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...
.
Early career
Cheruiyot trained running while at school, but was unable to pay school fees and became a high school drop out. He ended up working at a barber shop in Mosoriot, but could hardly buy a meal with his low salary. Later he managed to access Moses TanuiMoses Tanui
Moses Tanui is a former Kenyan long-distance runner who won the gold medal over 10000 m at the 1991 World Championships in Athletics in Tokyo....
's training camp in Kaptagat
Kaptagat
Kaptagat is a village near 40 kilometres east of Eldoret along the B54 Road in the Rift Valley Province, Kenya. It is located near the edge of the Great Rift Valley just to the southeast of the village of Chepkorio.. Administratively, it is a location in Ainabkoi division of Uasin Gishu District....
. Soon thereafter he made a breakthrough by winning a local 10K race in 2001 and headed for international competitions.
Cheruiyot won the Roma-Ostia Half Marathon
Roma-Ostia Half Marathon
The Roma-Ostia Half Marathon is an annual half marathon road running event which takes place in late February in Rome, Italy. The course begins in the EUR district of the city and follows a direct south-easterly route to the finish point near the beaches of Ostia...
in March 2002. His marathon debut, Milan Marathon
Milan Marathon
The Milano City Marathon is a marathon race held every April in Milan, Italy. It was first organised in 2000 by the Milano City Marathon Club and the first nine editions were held in November....
in December 2002 saw three top finishers - Cheruiyot, Mike Rotich
Michael Kosgei Rotich
Michael Kosgei Rotich, or Mike Rotich is a marathon runner from Kenya.Rotich finished second in the 2002 Milan Marathon. Winner Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, Rotich and third placed Daniele Caimmi all clocked the same time, 2:08:59 hours.He won Paris Marathon in 2003 setting course record and...
and Daniele Caimmi
Daniele Caimmi
Daniele Caimmi is an Italian long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon race. His personal best marathon time is 2:08:59 hours, achieved in December 2002 in Milan.He finished tenth at the 1999 World Championships,...
all posting the same time, 2:08:59 hours, but Cheruiyot emerged the winner. Cheruiyot also won the Saint Silvester Road Race at the end of 2002, the first one of three.
Major marathons
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...
in 2003, 2006, 2007 and most recently in 2008. His 2006 Boston finishing time of 2:07:14 broke a Boston marathon course record set by Cosmas Ndeti
Cosmas Ndeti
Cosmas Ndeti is a three time winner of the Boston Marathon. He was the winner of the 1993, 1994, and 1995 races. He set the course record in 1994 with a time of 2:07:15, which was also the best marathon performance in 1994...
that had lasted 12 years. His record was broken in the 2010 Boston Marathon by 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....
(unrelated) with a finishing time of 2:05:52.
He finished 4th in the 2005 New York Marathon and 2nd in the 2009 New York Marathon. He sought to win another title in Boston in 2005 as well but only finished 5th that year.
During his win at Chicago in 2006, Cheruiyot did not actually break the tape at the finish line. He slipped at the end and crossed the finish line as he slipped forward making him the winner. It was ruled that he did cross the finish line in doing so. He injured his head against the ground in the fall and had to be helped from the course in a wheelchair. He suffered a brain contusion
Cerebral contusion
Cerebral contusion, Latin contusio cerebri, a form of traumatic brain injury, is a bruise of the brain tissue. Like bruises in other tissues, cerebral contusion can be associated with multiple microhemorrhages, small blood vessel leaks into brain tissue. Contusion occurs in 20–30% of severe head...
and was released from the hospital after two days of observation. His time of 2:07:35 was five seconds faster than 2nd place finisher Daniel Njenga
Daniel Njenga
Daniel Njenga is a Kenyan long-distance runner, who specializes in the marathon.He had his first successes in 1995 as he won the steeplechase gold medal at the 1995 Summer Universiade and also the Chiba International Cross Country meeting...
. The win in Chicago left him at the top of the 2006 World Marathon Majors standings
World Marathon Majors
The World Marathon Majors is a championship-style competition for marathon runners that started in 2006. It comprises five annual races for the cities of Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, and New York City. Two other races are also included in the series: the IAAF World Championships Marathon and...
and won its grand prize.
In 2007 Cheruiyot defended his title and won his third Boston Marathon with an official time of 2:14:13. Fellow Kenyans were second and third. It was the 15th time in the last 17 years that a Kenyan has won the Boston marathon but it was also the slowest Boston Marathon since 1977 as runners faced cold headwinds gusting up to 50 miles per hour. Cheruiyot also won $100,000 for the victory and gained a significant lead in the World Marathon Majors series.
On April 21, 2008, he won his fourth Boston Marathon title with a time of 2:07:45, making him the first four-time winner in the men's open division since Bill Rodgers
Bill Rodgers
William or Bill Rodgers may refer to:*William Rodgers, Baron Rodgers of Quarry Bank , British politician*Bill Rodgers , American marathon runner*Bill Rodgers , American MLB player...
(fellow Kenyan Catherine Ndereba
Catherine Ndereba
Wincatherine Nyambura Ndereba is a Kenyan marathon runner. She has twice won the marathon at the World Championships in Athletics and won silver medals in the Olympics in 2004 and 2008. She is also a four-time winner of the Boston Marathon...
recorded her fourth win in 2005).
In April 2009 Cheruiyot started the Boston Marathon but did not finish and was sent to the hospital.
He is not to be confused with Robert Kiprotich Cheruiyot or 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....
, who are both also Kenyan marathon runners.
Achievements
| Representing | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 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... |
Rotterdam, Netherlands | 10th | Marathon | 2:10:41 |
| Reims Marathon Reims Marathon Reims à Toutes Jambes is an annual road running event held in Reims, France in the month of October. First held in 1984, the competition comprises three main parts: a 42.195 km marathon, a 21.0975 km half marathon race, and a 10 km race. In addition to these, there are smaller... |
Reims, France | 1st | Marathon | 2:13:17 | |
| 2002 | Milan Marathon Milan Marathon The Milano City Marathon is a marathon race held every April in Milan, Italy. It was first organised in 2000 by the Milano City Marathon Club and the first nine editions were held in November.... |
Milan, Italy | 1st | Marathon | 2:08:59 |
| Paris Marathon Paris Marathon The Paris International Marathon is an annual marathon which takes place from the Champs-Élysées heading towards the Place de la Concorde and continuing through the city to finish at Foch Avenue.... |
Paris, France | 4th | Marathon | 2:09:39 | |
| 2003 | 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... |
Boston, United States | 1st | Marathon | 2:10:11 |
| 2006 | 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... |
Boston, United States | 1st | Marathon | 2:07:14 |
| 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... |
Chicago Chicago Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
1st | Marathon | 2:07:35 | |
| 2007 | 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... |
Boston, United States | 1st | Marathon | 2:14:13 |
| 2008 | 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... |
Boston, United States | 1st | Marathon | 2:07:45 |