Updated 11 August 2008

ASBEL KIPROP, Kenya (800m/1500m/3,000m/Cross Country)

Born: 30 June 1989, Kaptinga (20km from Eldoret), Uasin Gishu District, Rift Valley Province
1.88m (6’ 2”) / 62kgs
Lives in Eldoret

Coach: Jimmy Beauttah; Camp: IAAF/IOC High Performance Training Centre

The name Kiprop means one born in the rainy season.

His father, David Kebenei, finished 4th for Kenya at 1500m at the 1987 All Africa Games in Nairobi

Two years before he was born, Asbel Kiprop’s father – David Kebenei - finished 4th for Kenya at 1500m at the 1987 All Africa Games in Nairobi. It did not take Asbel long to do even better – at the age of 18, the youngster whose hero and role model is Hicham El Guerrouj won the 1500m at the 2007 All Africa Games in Algiers.

Kiprop is a fresh middle distance running phenomenon from Kenya. His burgeoning career has grown in leaps and bounds. The second born in a family of three, he started running while at Kaptinga Primary School, winning zonal competitions. But his father advised him to halt running until his body had developed.

Kiprop resumed while at Kaptinga Secondary School in 2003 and dropped out of school to concentrate on athletics. He teamed up with coach Jimmy Beauttah, who has trained former greats such as Moses Kiptanui and Daniel Komen, and, in June 2006, he took part in trials to select the Kenyan team for the World Junior Championships, in Beijing.

Although he could only manage fourth position, missing out on a place in the team, Kiprop was introduced to Martin Keino, the son of the legendary Kipchoge Keino. The younger Keino, also a former athlete, saw the raw talent and, in October 2006, Kiprop joined the Kip Keino High Performance Training Centre in Eldoret.

Not a fan of cross country, Kiprop had to be cajoled and convinced by Beauttah to take part in the cross country season prior to the 2007 World Championships in his home country, in Mombasa. In December 2006, he finished 14th in an 8km junior men’s race in Eldoret and, in January 2007, he finished 11th in another junior 8km race in Eldoret.

On February 10, Kiprop finished second in the boys’ 8km race during the national cross country championships in Mombasa, a dry run for the World Championships. However, at the trials to select the team, held at Ngong racecourse on February 24, he faded to 11th. But he was included because of his strong showing at the national championships.
 
Kiprop could not have done more to repay the selectors, leading a Kenyan 1-2-3-4 finish – a perfect 10 - in the Junior Men’s race on March 24. Running in his first international race, he went into the final kilometre behind Leonard Komon and Vincent Kiprop but shifted through the gears to win by a comfortable margin.

Afterwards, not even the pain from blistered feet could dampen his joy, “To represent my country at an international event in Kenya 20 years after my father did makes me feel like I am continuing his legacy,” he said.

“I didn’t want to run in cross country but my coach convinced me to run as part of my build-up to the season. I am not sure how I won the race because for me it was a build up and I consider cross country like training for track.”

He shifted his focus to they track and on April 1, he won the 3,000m (8:02.16) at the Mauritius International at the Maryse Justin Stadium, Réduit. In Turin on June 8, he improved his PB to 7:42:32.Then, in his speciality event, the 1,500m, he won two weekend meets in Nakuru to qualify for the national championships.

At the national championships in mid-June, Kiprop easily won his heat posting a time of 3:41.6 to qualify for the final, where he again emerged victorious (3:43.0). Buried deep in the field, Kiprop accelerated in the final 150 metres for his first national title. On July 2, he competed in the IAAF Super Grand Prix meeting, in Athens, where - despite finishing 12th - he set a new PB of 3:35:81.

A week later, Kiprop competed in Lausanne where finished 11th in 3:41.605. Then he was off to Algiers for the All Africa Games. In the final, he hung on in the back of the pack until the final straight, where he unleashed his devastating kick to edge out the pre-race favourites from the home nation, Tarek Boukensa and Antar Zerguelaine, to win gold in 3:38:97.

Invited to take part in the trials, on July 28, to select the squad for the World Championships, again Kiprop stuck to his plan. He was sixth position until the last 100 metres, where he moved outside and sped to victory ahead of his more illustrious opponents, Alex Kipchirchir and Daniel Komen. His winning time (3:35:50) was his then PB.

In Osaka, Kiprop easily won his heat to qualify for the Semi-Finals where he placed third to qualify for the Final. His inexperience told in the Final as he finished just outside the medal bracket in a new PB of 3:35.24.

Kiprop skipped the 2008 cross country season opting instead to concentrate on the track with the Olympic Games in mind. Just like 2007, he started his track season at the Mauritius International meet in Reduit where he won the 3,000m in 8:21:24 in April.

Kiprop opted for 800m instead of his preferred 1500m at the national trials for the African Athletics Championships as he sought to build up on his speed. He won his heat but finished second behind World Junior and Africa Youth Champion David Rudisha in an impressive 1:44.99.

With the Olympics, the main focus this year, Kiprop was looking to make a good start in Addis Ababa. “I made mistakes in Osaka but I am working on that this year because I really want to win at the Olympics,” he said.

At the African Championships Kiprop won bronze in 800m in 1:46.02 before going back to the High Performance Training Centre to train for the national trials.

The 1500 metres was the most competitive race with Wolrd leader Daniel Kipchirchir Komen, former African champion Alex Kipchirchir, Africa championship Haron Keitany, Commonwealth 5,000metres champ Augustine Choge and African silver medalist Gideon Gathimba all on show. Kiprop applied his trademark late burst to finish second (3:36.53) and book a spot in Beijing.

A week later, Kiprop set a new personal best when he won 1500 metres race at the Golden Gala in Rome. The lanky athlete powered forward in the final staright to win and improve his PB to 3:31.64.

He however could not keep up his winning streak in Paris, finishing second to Choge in 3:32.78, before returning to Kenya to finalise preparations for the Olympic Games in the training camp set up by the National Olympic Committee of Kenya.

Personal Bests

800m: 1:44.99 (2008)
1500m: 3:31.64 (2008)
3000m: 7:42.32 (2007)

Yearly Progression

1500m: 2007-3:35:24, 2008- 3:31.64

800m: 2008: 1:44.99

Career Highlights

2007   1st   World Junior Cross Country Championships
2007   1st    All Africa Games (1500m)
2007  4th World Championships (1500m)
2008   3rd      African Athletics Championships (800m)

Prepared by James Wokabi and Mutwiri Mutuota for the IAAF ‘Focus on Athletes’ project. ©  IAAF  2007-08.