5 Kenyan Athletes Who Currently Hold World Records

Beatrice Kenyan
Beatrice Chepkoech celebrating her win at the 2019 World Athletics Championships held in Doha, Qatar.
World Athletics.org

Kenya is a global powerhouse when it comes to field and track events such as athletics. For many years, particularly in the past two decades, several Kenyan runners have broken world records. TeamKenya.co.ke takes a look at Kenyan runners, retired and active, who currently hold world records in various athletics disciplines.

Agnes Tirop

The late Agnes Tirop is the current 10KM (Women’s only) world record holder. Tirop smashed the world record two-years-ago in Herzogenaurach, Germany.

She broke away from the leading pack that included compatriot Sheila Chepkirui and went on to cross the finishing line in 30:01 minutes. Tirop’s time was 28 seconds faster than the previous world record set in 2002 by Morocco’s Asmae Leghzaoui.

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The former senior world athletics cross country champion passed away under mysterious circumstances, one month after shattering the record. A foundation that creates awareness against domestic violence has been established in her honor.

David Rudisha

David Lekuta Rudisha is the current world 800m record holder. The Saint Francis Kimuron Secondary School alumnus produced one of the greatest displays in 800m history to smash his own world record at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games staged in England, United Kingdom.

He crossed the finishing line in 1:40.91 minutes to shatter the previous world record of 1:41:09 minutes he set at the 2012 ISTAF World Challenge in Berlin.  

Rudisha is a double world champion and a two-time Olympic gold medalist. The Kilgoris-born athlete did not have the opportunity to fulfill his full potential. He retired early for personal reasons.

Eliud Kipchoge

Eliud Kipchoge is a name that is recognized worldwide. He is without doubt the greatest athlete ever in world history.

The former milk salesman has won almost everything in his discipline. He ran a brilliant race to break the world record set by Kenya’s Dennis Kimetto at the 2018 BMW Berlin marathon when he crossed the finishing line in 2:01:39.

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Speaking to World Athletics after breaking the world record, Kipchoge revealed that his target was setting a new world record.

“I lack the words to describe how I feel. It was really hard [during the last 17 kilometers] but I was truly prepared to run my own race. I had to focus on the work I had put in in Kenya and that is what helped push me.

"It was my aim to smash the world record and I felt confident before the race. I’ve now run 2 hours 4 mins, 2 hours 3 mins and now 2 hours 1 min. Who knows what the future will bring?” wondered Kipchoge. 

In 2019, Kipchoge became the first human being to run 42.2Km in under two hours when he reached the tape in 1:59:40.2 at the Ineos159 Challenge held in Vienna, Austria.

Beatrice Chepkoech

Beatrice Chepkoech Sitonik produced one of the most spectacular performances in Diamond League history when she ran 8:44.32 minutes to break the 3000m steeplechase world record at the 2018 edition of Herculis Meet in Monaco, France. By doing so, she became the first woman to break the 8:45 and 8:50 mark in the event.

Brigid Kosgei

Kenya has produced numerous female athletes, but Brigid Kosgei is perhaps the greatest of them all. The Iten-based athlete is the current women’s record holder.

Kosgei smashed the world record at the 2018 Bank of America Chicago marathon when she reached the finishing line in 2:14:04 to break Paula Radcliffe’s 16-year-old world record.

Kosgei has won almost all of the major marathon races that she has participated in including the London and Tokyo marathons.

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