Wilson Chebet
Encyclopedia
Wilson Kwambai Chebet is a Kenya
n professional long-distance runner who specialises in road running
competitions.
He began competed internationally in 2005 and established himself with a number of circuit wins in his first three years of competitionr, including the Marseille-Cassis Classique Internationale
, Route du Vin Half Marathon and America's Finest City Half Marathon
. He managed podium finishes at the Granollers Half Marathon, Rotterdam Half Marathon
and Delhi Half Marathon in 2008. He represented Kenya at the 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
and helped win the team gold medal
.
Although he has often been a top contender in major races (and won many second-tier road races), he is frequently beaten into second or third place at the top-level races. In spite of this he is among the fastest runners on the circuit, holding a half marathon
best of 59:15 minutes (which ranks among the top 15 fastest ever), as well as being in the top ten fastest ever over 20 km. He began pacemaking in marathon
races in 2009 and made his competitive debut over the distance in 2010. His clocking of two hours, 6:12 minutes to finish as runner-up at the Amsterdam Marathon
was the second fastest debut run of all-time. In 2011, won both the Amsterdam and Rotterdam Marathon
s.
and he took second place in a 15K road race in January 2005 behind Clement Koech. He made his debut on the European circuit later that year, winning at the Route du Vin Half Marathon in September in 1:02:19 and then going on to finish tenth at the Paris 20K the following month. In January 2006 he returned to his native country and ran at the Discovery Kenya Cross Country and finished third in a long race won by Moses Masai. He ran a series of races in Spain from March to April, starting with a win at the Ribarroja Del Turia Half Marathon, before taking third in the Azkoitia-Azpeitia race, second at the Málaga Half Marathon behind Silas Sang
and ending with a podium finish at the Gran Fondo Nacional Villa de Masamagrell.
His 2006 season peaked at road races in the United States
: he won America's Finest City Half Marathon
in San Diego with a time of 1:02:38 and later that month he ran at the Crim 10-Mile Race and was the runner-up Samuel Kosgei. Two months later he won the Medical Center 10K Classic in Bowling Green, Kentucky
. He returned to the Route du Vin race in 2007 and took his second win, this time setting a course record of 1:00:13 (a personal best). He also won at the Marseille-Cassis Classique Internationale
in France
– his time of 59:24 was the second fastest winning time for the course. In December that year he ran at the Lagos Half Marathon and finished runner-up to Dieudonné Disi
.
. Surprisingly, he ran in the Barcelona Half Marathon only seven days later and managed to finish as runner-up to Jacob Yator. This was followed by a fourth place at the Paris Half Marathon
in March and a second victory at the Ribarroja Half Marathon in April. He ran under an hour for the half marathon in September, clocking a time of 59:33 for third place behind world medallists Evans Cheruiyot
and Patrick Makau at the Rotterdam Half Marathon
.van Hemert, Wim (2008-09-14). Double Kenyan victory, as six go sub-60 in Rotterdam. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-10-21. Looking for a title defence, he returned to the Marseille-Cassis race and managed to fend off a challenge from Disi (his rival in Lagos) to increase his winning streak. He was among the leaders at the Delhi Half Marathon in September, his last major run of the year, and he was one second off his personal best with a third place finish.
He knocked a second off his best in a quick RAK Half Marathon in February 2009, where the winner Patrick Makau set the second fastest mark ever. He gained his first major win over 20 km in the Netherlands three weeks later at the 20 van Alphen race.van Hemert, Wim (2009-03-20). Chebet and Wangui, the winners at a very windy Alphen 20km. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-10-21. He was employed as the pacemaker for the Rotterdam Marathon
and excelled in the role, leading and keeping the pace strong among the racers – work which resulted in Duncan Kibet
completing the third fastest ever time for the marathon
. Following this, he managed half marathon wins at the Pardubice Wine Half-Marathon and Rabat International Half-Marathon. He ran at the tenth edition of the Bogota International Half Marathon in August, but was beaten to the finish line by Isaac Macharia. His best run of the year came at the Rotterdam Half Marathon as he set a new best of 59:15 for the event, which was the seventh fastest time by any athlete in 2009. However, such was the quality of the race, this fast time was only enough for fifth place in Rotterdam. The performance earned him his first international selection Kenya and he took sixth place in the men's race at the 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
in Birmingham
, a finish which earned him the team gold medal
alongside Bernard Kiprop Kipyego and Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich
.
The Zayed International Half Marathon
was his first stop of 2010, but he only managed to finish in sixth. He set his sights on completing the Prague Half Marathon
unbeaten: "Although I have run better than 60 minutes four times, I have not won. I need now to win one in under one hour". He left the race with his desire unfulfilled, however, as he finished in over an hour behind fellow countryman Joel Kemboi. After doing pacemaking duties at the Lake Biwa Marathon
, he was present at Haile Gebrselassie
's sports resort opening in May and won the inaugural Everyone Half Marathon in Addis Ababa
. He returned to Europe that month to run at the Göteborgsvarvet
half marathon and he was the second runner across the line after Sammy Kirui Kiprono.
but relinquished his lead in the final stages to end up third behind Gebregziabher Gebremariam and Alan Kiprono. Chebet and Gebre went head-to-head a week later at the Falmouth Road Race
but again the Kenyan was beaten to the finish, finishing one second behind his Ethiopian counterpart. He took part in the Amsterdam Marathon
in October and this time he left the pacemaking duties to Jamal Baligha as he marked his competitive debut over the full 42.195 km distance. Ethiopian Getu Feleke
was running at course record pace, but Chebet was the only runner to challenge him. Although Getu eventually won the race almost half a minute ahead of him, Chebet finished the race with a time of 2:06:12 – the second fastest ever time for a marathon debut after Evans Rutto
's debut winning run at the 2003 Chicago Marathon
. Although victory had yet again evaded the Kenyan, he was pleased and confident with the result: "This is great making your debut with the second fastest (such time) ever. I’m happy. I know now what a marathon is and I think I can do faster."
On April 2011, he won his first marathon, at Rotterdam
, in the year's best time of 2:05:27 – six seconds ahead of his village mate Vincent Kipruto
. He recorded a second consecutive win and sub-2:06 run at the 2011 Amsterdam Marathon, finishing just outside the course record with his time of 2:05:53 hours.
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 professional long-distance runner who specialises in 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.
He began competed internationally in 2005 and established himself with a number of circuit wins in his first three years of competitionr, including the Marseille-Cassis Classique Internationale
Marseille-Cassis Classique Internationale
The Marseille-Cassis Classique Internationale is an annual half marathon which follows a course from Marseille to Cassis in France during the last weekend in October. First organised by the SCO Sainte-Marguerite sports club in 1979, the event has grown into a large international competition, with...
, Route du Vin Half Marathon and America's Finest City Half Marathon
America's Finest City Half Marathon
America's Finest City Half Marathon is an annual road running event over the half marathon distance which is held in mid-August on the streets of San Diego, California. The race was inaugurated in 1978 and has been held every year since then...
. He managed podium finishes at the Granollers Half Marathon, Rotterdam Half Marathon
Rotterdam Half Marathon
The Rotterdam Half Marathon was an annual half marathon race over 21.1 kilometres, that was staged in Rotterdam, the Netherlands on the second Sunday in September. The event was contested from 2004 to 2009. It was discontinued in 2010 due to lacking participation.- Winners :-External links:* from...
and Delhi Half Marathon in 2008. He represented Kenya at the 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
The 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships was held in Birmingham, United Kingdom on 11 October 2009. It was the final event of the International Association of Athletics Federations' 2009 World Athletics Series.-Organisation:...
and helped win the team gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
.
Although he has often been a top contender in major races (and won many second-tier road races), he is frequently beaten into second or third place at the top-level races. In spite of this he is among the fastest runners on the circuit, holding a 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...
best of 59:15 minutes (which ranks among the top 15 fastest ever), as well as being in the top ten fastest ever over 20 km. He began pacemaking in 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...
races in 2009 and made his competitive debut over the distance in 2010. His clocking of two hours, 6:12 minutes to finish as runner-up at the Amsterdam Marathon
Amsterdam Marathon
The Amsterdam Marathon is an annual marathon race over the classic distance of 42.195km held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands since 1975. It is one of the top ten marathons in the world.-History:...
was the second fastest debut run of all-time. In 2011, won both the Amsterdam and 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...
s.
Early career
Running in Kenya, he began entering elite competitions as a teenager: he placed top-ten at the 2004 Tegla Loroupe Peace RaceTegla Loroupe Peace Race
The Tegla Loroupe Peace Race is an annual 10-kilometre road running event which takes place in November in Kapenguria, in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. First held in 2003, the race was created by Kenyan runner Tegla Loroupe to bring together warriors of rival tribes to reduce conflict in the...
and he took second place in a 15K road race in January 2005 behind Clement Koech. He made his debut on the European circuit later that year, winning at the Route du Vin Half Marathon in September in 1:02:19 and then going on to finish tenth at the Paris 20K the following month. In January 2006 he returned to his native country and ran at the Discovery Kenya Cross Country and finished third in a long race won by Moses Masai. He ran a series of races in Spain from March to April, starting with a win at the Ribarroja Del Turia Half Marathon, before taking third in the Azkoitia-Azpeitia race, second at the Málaga Half Marathon behind Silas Sang
Silas Sang
Silas Kipngetich Sang is a Kenyan 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....
and ending with a podium finish at the Gran Fondo Nacional Villa de Masamagrell.
His 2006 season peaked at road races in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
: he won America's Finest City Half Marathon
America's Finest City Half Marathon
America's Finest City Half Marathon is an annual road running event over the half marathon distance which is held in mid-August on the streets of San Diego, California. The race was inaugurated in 1978 and has been held every year since then...
in San Diego with a time of 1:02:38 and later that month he ran at the Crim 10-Mile Race and was the runner-up Samuel Kosgei. Two months later he won the Medical Center 10K Classic in Bowling Green, Kentucky
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Bowling Green is the third-most populous city in the state of Kentucky after Louisville and Lexington, with a population of 58,067 as of the 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Warren County and the principal city of the Bowling Green, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area with an estimated 2009...
. He returned to the Route du Vin race in 2007 and took his second win, this time setting a course record of 1:00:13 (a personal best). He also won at the Marseille-Cassis Classique Internationale
Marseille-Cassis Classique Internationale
The Marseille-Cassis Classique Internationale is an annual half marathon which follows a course from Marseille to Cassis in France during the last weekend in October. First organised by the SCO Sainte-Marguerite sports club in 1979, the event has grown into a large international competition, with...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
– his time of 59:24 was the second fastest winning time for the course. In December that year he ran at the Lagos Half Marathon and finished runner-up to Dieudonné Disi
Dieudonné Disi
Dieudonné Disi is a Rwandan long-distance and cross country runner.In 2009 he competed in the marathon at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics, but pulled out at the 28 km mark due to an injury...
.
Half marathon specialist
He ran extensively in 2008, beginning with a second place run at the Granollers Half Marathon behind then world record holder Samuel WanjiruSamuel Wanjiru
Samuel Kamau Wanjiru was a Kenyan athlete, who specialized in long distance running. He became a professional at a young age and broke the world record in the half marathon when he was 18 years old...
. Surprisingly, he ran in the Barcelona Half Marathon only seven days later and managed to finish as runner-up to Jacob Yator. This was followed by a fourth place at the Paris Half Marathon
Paris Half Marathon
Paris Half Marathon is an annual half marathon held every March in Paris, France. It currently holds IAAF Bronze Label status....
in March and a second victory at the Ribarroja Half Marathon in April. He ran under an hour for the half marathon in September, clocking a time of 59:33 for third place behind world medallists Evans Cheruiyot
Evans Cheruiyot
Evans Kiprop Cheruiyot is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in the marathon. He started out as a half marathon runner, taking wins in Rotterdam and Nairobi, and won his debut marathon race in Milan in 2007...
and Patrick Makau at the Rotterdam Half Marathon
Rotterdam Half Marathon
The Rotterdam Half Marathon was an annual half marathon race over 21.1 kilometres, that was staged in Rotterdam, the Netherlands on the second Sunday in September. The event was contested from 2004 to 2009. It was discontinued in 2010 due to lacking participation.- Winners :-External links:* from...
.van Hemert, Wim (2008-09-14). Double Kenyan victory, as six go sub-60 in Rotterdam. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-10-21. Looking for a title defence, he returned to the Marseille-Cassis race and managed to fend off a challenge from Disi (his rival in Lagos) to increase his winning streak. He was among the leaders at the Delhi Half Marathon in September, his last major run of the year, and he was one second off his personal best with a third place finish.
He knocked a second off his best in a quick RAK Half Marathon in February 2009, where the winner Patrick Makau set the second fastest mark ever. He gained his first major win over 20 km in the Netherlands three weeks later at the 20 van Alphen race.van Hemert, Wim (2009-03-20). Chebet and Wangui, the winners at a very windy Alphen 20km. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-10-21. He was employed as the pacemaker for the 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...
and excelled in the role, leading and keeping the pace strong among the racers – work which resulted in Duncan Kibet
Duncan Kibet
Duncan Kibet is a runner from Kenya. He became the second fastest marathoner ever with a time of 2:04:27 hours, when he won the 2009 Rotterdam Marathon.- Career :Kibet dropped out of school in 1997 due to financial problems...
completing the third fastest ever time for 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...
. Following this, he managed half marathon wins at the Pardubice Wine Half-Marathon and Rabat International Half-Marathon. He ran at the tenth edition of the Bogota International Half Marathon in August, but was beaten to the finish line by Isaac Macharia. His best run of the year came at the Rotterdam Half Marathon as he set a new best of 59:15 for the event, which was the seventh fastest time by any athlete in 2009. However, such was the quality of the race, this fast time was only enough for fifth place in Rotterdam. The performance earned him his first international selection Kenya and he took sixth place in the men's race at the 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
The 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships was held in Birmingham, United Kingdom on 11 October 2009. It was the final event of the International Association of Athletics Federations' 2009 World Athletics Series.-Organisation:...
in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, a finish which earned him the team gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
alongside Bernard Kiprop Kipyego and Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich
Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich
Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich is a Kenyan athlete who specialises in long distance running, competing in events ranging from 10 km to full marathon races.He holds the sixth fastest time over the half marathon distance...
.
The Zayed International Half Marathon
Zayed International Half Marathon
The Zayed International Half Marathon is an annual road running competition which takes place in January in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The inaugural edition of the half marathon race, named after Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, was held in 2008...
was his first stop of 2010, but he only managed to finish in sixth. He set his sights on completing 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...
unbeaten: "Although I have run better than 60 minutes four times, I have not won. I need now to win one in under one hour". He left the race with his desire unfulfilled, however, as he finished in over an hour behind fellow countryman Joel Kemboi. After doing pacemaking duties at the Lake Biwa Marathon
Lake Biwa Marathon
The held in Otsu, Shiga, is one of the prominent Japanese marathon races of the year. It is a male only competition and has IAAF Gold Label status. First held in 1946 and having taken place every year since then, it is Japan's oldest annual marathon race...
, he was present at Haile Gebrselassie
Haile Gebrselassie
Haile Gebrselassie is an Ethiopian long-distance track and road running athlete. He won two Olympic gold medals over 10,000 metres and four World Championship titles in the event. He won the Berlin Marathon four times consecutively and also had three straight wins at the Dubai Marathon...
's sports resort opening in May and won the inaugural Everyone Half Marathon in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
. He returned to Europe that month to run at 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 and he was the second runner across the line after Sammy Kirui Kiprono.
Marathons
Travelling to the United States in August, he entered the Beach to Beacon 10K in Cape Elizabeth, MaineCape Elizabeth, Maine
Cape Elizabeth is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The town is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area...
but relinquished his lead in the final stages to end up third behind Gebregziabher Gebremariam and Alan Kiprono. Chebet and Gebre went head-to-head a week later at the Falmouth Road Race
Falmouth Road Race
The Falmouth Road Race is an annual 7-mile road race on Cape Cod from Woods Hole, a village in the town of Falmouth, Massachusetts, to Falmouth Heights.-History:...
but again the Kenyan was beaten to the finish, finishing one second behind his Ethiopian counterpart. He took part in the Amsterdam Marathon
Amsterdam Marathon
The Amsterdam Marathon is an annual marathon race over the classic distance of 42.195km held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands since 1975. It is one of the top ten marathons in the world.-History:...
in October and this time he left the pacemaking duties to Jamal Baligha as he marked his competitive debut over the full 42.195 km distance. Ethiopian Getu Feleke
Getu Feleke
Getu Feleke is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who runs mainly in half marathon and marathon races. He won the 2010 Amsterdam Marathon with a course record time of 2:05:44....
was running at course record pace, but Chebet was the only runner to challenge him. Although Getu eventually won the race almost half a minute ahead of him, Chebet finished the race with a time of 2:06:12 – the second fastest ever time for a marathon debut after Evans Rutto
Evans Rutto
Evans Rutto is a Kenyan long-distance runner, who specialises in road running events. He made the fastest ever debut marathon by winning the 2003 Chicago Marathon in a time of 2:05:50...
's debut winning run at the 2003 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...
. Although victory had yet again evaded the Kenyan, he was pleased and confident with the result: "This is great making your debut with the second fastest (such time) ever. I’m happy. I know now what a marathon is and I think I can do faster."
On April 2011, he won his first marathon, at Rotterdam
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...
, in the year's best time of 2:05:27 – six seconds ahead of his village mate Vincent Kipruto
Vincent Kipruto
Vincent Kipruto Limo is a Kenyan long distance runner who specialises in the marathon. He made his debut in the event in 2008 and won the Paris Marathon a year later...
. He recorded a second consecutive win and sub-2:06 run at the 2011 Amsterdam Marathon, finishing just outside the course record with his time of 2:05:53 hours.
Major competition record
| 2009 | World Half Marathon Championships 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships The 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships was held in Birmingham, United Kingdom on 11 October 2009. It was the final event of the International Association of Athletics Federations' 2009 World Athletics Series.-Organisation:... |
Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a... , England |
6th | Half marathon |
| 1st | Team competition |