Silas Sang
Encyclopedia
Silas Kipngetich Sang is a Kenya
n long-distance runner who mainly competes in half marathon
competitions. He is a three-time winner of the Portugal Half Marathon
and set his personal best of 1:00:20 hours at the race in 2009.
Hailing from Kaptagat
in the Rift Valley Province, he began running in international competitions in his early twenties and initially competed in track races in Finland. He was the 2005 winner of the Lidingöloppet
Swedish cross country
race and also won the Göteborgsvarvet
half marathon that year. Working with long-distance coach El-Mostafa Nechchadi
, he made his debut over the marathon
distance in 2006 at the Madrid Marathon
and came second in a time of 2:11:44 hours. It was over the half marathon that he had more success, however, as he had back-to-back victories from 2006 to 2008 in races in Malaga, Torremolinos, Seville and Albacete. His streak came to an end with a runner-up finish at the 2008 Göteborgsvarvet.
Sang defeated former world record holder Paul Tergat
at the 2008 Portugal Half Marathon
and set a new course record of 1:01:26 hours. He placed eighth at the Kenyan Cross Country Championships at the start of 2009 and spent much of that year competing in road races in the United States, which included top three finishes at the Azalea Trail Run
and Cherry Blossom 10-Miler. He returned to the Portugal Half Marathon in Lisbon and successfully defended his title with a personal best run of 1:00.20 hours, beating World Championship medallist Emmanuel Kipchirchir Mutai
in the process.
The following March he entered the city's other race, the Lisbon Half Marathon
, but proved to be far off the world record pace of winner Zersenay Tadese, as Sang finish in twelfth. Undeterred, he signed up for the same race the following year and although Zersenay Tadese was again the winner, Sang produced one of the best performances of his career, coming third in a time of 1:00:38 hours. He ran at the 2011 Ottawa Marathon in May and set a personal best of 2:10:58 hours in spite of a five-year gap since his previous outing over the distance, taking fourth place. A third career victory at the Portugal Half Marathon came in September, as he held off challenges from Silas Kipruto
and Lucas Rotich
.
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 mainly competes in half marathon
Half marathon
A half marathon is a road running event of . It is half the distance of a marathon and usually run on roads. Participation in half marathons has grown steadily recently. One of the main reasons for this is that it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a...
competitions. He is a three-time winner of the Portugal Half Marathon
Portugal Half Marathon
Portugal Half Marathon is an annual half marathon contested every September in Lisbon, Portugal.A new, faster course was established for the race in 2010 and 25 km record holder Mary Keitany duly responded by setting a women's course record of 1:08:46...
and set his personal best of 1:00:20 hours at the race in 2009.
Hailing from 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....
in the Rift Valley Province, he began running in international competitions in his early twenties and initially competed in track races in Finland. He was the 2005 winner of the Lidingöloppet
Lidingöloppet
Lidingöloppet is an annual Cross-country running competition held in Lidingö, Sweden. The 30 km run has about 15.000 participants per year and the shorter races several thousands, making it the largest cross-country event in the world...
Swedish cross country
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...
race and also won the Göteborgsvarvet
Göteborgsvarvet
Göteborgsvarvet is an annual half marathon running competition in Gothenburg, Sweden . It is the largest annual running competition in Sweden, with about 40,000 participants each year. It is also the largest half-marathon running competition in the world, with its 2011 figure of 43 026...
half marathon that year. Working with long-distance coach El-Mostafa Nechchadi
El-Mostafa Nechchadi
El Mostafa Nechchadi is a retired Moroccan long-distance runner who specialized in the marathon.Nechchadi was a 1988 Olympian in the marathon, but did not finish the race. His personal best time was 2:10:09 hours achieved in 1987, and he held the Moroccan national marathon record for 10 years...
, he made his debut over the 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...
distance in 2006 at the Madrid Marathon
Madrid Marathon
Maratón de Rock 'n' Roll Madrid is an annual marathon race which takes place in Madrid, Spain, in late April. The event was first held in 1978 and has since gained IAAF Silver Label Road Race status and had over 10,000 runners participate in the 2010 edition...
and came second in a time of 2:11:44 hours. It was over the half marathon that he had more success, however, as he had back-to-back victories from 2006 to 2008 in races in Malaga, Torremolinos, Seville and Albacete. His streak came to an end with a runner-up finish at the 2008 Göteborgsvarvet.
Sang defeated former world record holder Paul Tergat
Paul Tergat
Paul Kibii Tergat is a Kenyan professional long distance runner. He held the world record in the marathon from 2003 to 2007, with a time of 2:04:55, and is regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners of all time.Now concentrating exclusively on the marathon, Tergat won many...
at the 2008 Portugal Half Marathon
Portugal Half Marathon
Portugal Half Marathon is an annual half marathon contested every September in Lisbon, Portugal.A new, faster course was established for the race in 2010 and 25 km record holder Mary Keitany duly responded by setting a women's course record of 1:08:46...
and set a new course record of 1:01:26 hours. He placed eighth at the Kenyan Cross Country Championships at the start of 2009 and spent much of that year competing in road races in the United States, which included top three finishes at the Azalea Trail Run
Azalea Trail Run
The Azalea Trail Run is an annual road running event held in late March in Mobile, Alabama which is considered one of the United States' premier road races. Runners, walkers, and wheelchair athletes from around the world and at all levels turn out for the event...
and Cherry Blossom 10-Miler. He returned to the Portugal Half Marathon in Lisbon and successfully defended his title with a personal best run of 1:00.20 hours, beating World Championship medallist Emmanuel Kipchirchir Mutai
Emmanuel Kipchirchir Mutai
Emmanuel Kipchirchir Mutai is a long distance runner from Kenya, who specialises in marathons. He is the sixth fastest man ever over the 42.195 km distance....
in the process.
The following March he entered the city's other race, the Lisbon Half Marathon
Lisbon Half Marathon
First held in 1991, the race has consistently delivered fast winning times. However, many of these times have been unratifiable for record purposes due to factors including: the course being too short , excessive tailwinds, as well as there being an excessive drop in altitude, which boosted...
, but proved to be far off the world record pace of winner Zersenay Tadese, as Sang finish in twelfth. Undeterred, he signed up for the same race the following year and although Zersenay Tadese was again the winner, Sang produced one of the best performances of his career, coming third in a time of 1:00:38 hours. He ran at the 2011 Ottawa Marathon in May and set a personal best of 2:10:58 hours in spite of a five-year gap since his previous outing over the distance, taking fourth place. A third career victory at the Portugal Half Marathon came in September, as he held off challenges from 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...
and Lucas Rotich
Lucas Rotich
Lucas Kimeli Rotich is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specializes in the 5000 metres.He won a silver medal in the 3000 metres at the 2007 World Youth Championships, the bronze medal in the junior race at the 2008 World Cross Country Championships and finished sixth in the 5000 metres at the...
.