Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Focus on Athletes - Stephen Kiprotich
Comfortable victory for Stephen Kiprotich in Bukwo (Daniel Senfuma)
Updated 25 March 2009
Stephen KIPROTICH, Uganda (3000m, 5000m, 10,000m, 3000m Steeplechase, Cross Country)
Born: 27 February, 1989, Cheptiyal village, Kapchorwa District, Uganda
1.65/54kg
Some people around Stephen Kiprotich think he is stubborn. He always finds a way of making his teammates laugh with his sense of humour even during difficult times. “He is an interesting but complicated character to deal with,” national team coach Nalis Bigingo said of Kiprotich. Interesting because he has a passion for what he does and complicated because he sticks to his decisions even when others have an arguably better suggestion.
Kiprotich is one of the most enlightened runners on Uganda’s long distance team. Although only 20, he managed to secure a place in the senior team due to compete at the 2009 World Cross Country Championships in Amman, Jordan. But, to get to where he is, he went through thick and thin and had to make some radical decisions.
Born to James Kiptui and Cheptum Kokop, of Cheptiyal village, Kapchorwa District, Kiprotich was inspired by fellow runners, in particular Francis Musani, a national marathoner, to join athletics. “I used to see Musani and other boys jogging near our home in the morning,” Kiprotich said. “I chose running after seeing them several times.”
Kiprotich joined Kaminy Primary School, where he met a teacher who inspired him still more. “There was a teacher called Patrick Chemonges,” Kiprotich said. “He was in charge of sports. He always encouraged me to run.”
Alongside Kiprotich’s growing interest in athletics came a terrible sickness that almost ended his career prematurely. “I was in form six when a strange sickness attacked me,” he recalled. “They took me to all hospitals around but we failed to get the right medication.” Seemingly resigned to the situation, Kiprotich’s parents took him home and waited for fate to dictate. “I was out of school for almost three or more years,” he said. “I rejoined and sat my form seven examinations in 2001.”
In 2002, Kiprotich joined Kapchorwa Secondary School. His health had, by now, stabilised and he managed to represent his school at the District competition. “I think my body was still weak because I was lapped in the 10,000m,” he said. “I eventually finished ninth but being lapped haunted me a lot. I felt like not running anymore.”
Kiprotich switched schools in 2003, joining Sebei College for his senior two. He had fallen out of love with athletics and wanted nothing more to do with the sport. “I decided to concentrate on my books,” Kiprotich stressed. Until 2005, when he completed his ordinary level education, Kiprotich never stepped on the track. “People were always castigating me for sitting on my talent but I felt I could gain a lot more from education,” he said.
In 2006, Kiprotich returned to Sebei College for his advanced level education and resumed training. He made his debut at the National Cross Country Championships, finishing fifth in the 8km junior race. That performance earned him a ticket to the World Cross Country Championships, in Fukuoka, Japan, where he placed 24th. “I wouldn’t say that I performed badly because it was my first appearance in an international race,” he said. “I returned to school and added more effort in training.”
Kiprotich shocked his parents and the Sebei College headmaster Sam Cheptoris, when, at the end of 2006, he told them he was quitting school to concentrate on athletics. “It was a very difficult decision because I had one year left to join university or any other higher institution of learning,” Kiprotich said after deep thought. At first the headmaster couldn’t accept it but has now learnt to live with Kiprotich’s decision. “I begged him to stay and complete the one year but he refused,” the headmaster said. “But it’s good he is making progress in his career.”
In February 2007, Kiprotich finished second to Geofrey Kusuro in the National Cross Country 8km junior race. He made it to the World Cross in Mombasa, Kenya. He finished 19th but was not content. His local manager, Godfrey Nuwagaba, got him a training camp in Kenya and connected him to Global Sports Communication, a sports management company. “I don’t have a contract with Global but they have been helpful,” he said. “They facilitate me and take me for training outside the country.”
Kiprotich won his first national title on 31 May 2007, when he clocked 28:42:54 for 10,000m at Namboole. Global Sports took him to Belgium where he trained for some time and later hit the World Championships qualifying mark. He clocked 13:27.40 for ninth place over 5000m at the KBC Night of Athletics in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium, to land a place in the Uganda team for the World Championships in Osaka. There he did not reach the final but he admits to an unforgettable experience.
Last year, at the FBK-Games, in Hengelo, Kiprotich wrote a 5000m personal best of 13:23.70 (seventh) but failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics. “I didn’t feel bad at all for missing out on Beijing,” he said. “One day my chance will come and I will compete at the Olympics.” He spent some months training in the Netherlands and stamped a personal best of 28:00.98 for 10,000m in Neerpelt, Belgium, on 31 May.
As one of the best up and coming runners in the country, Ugandans had great expectations that Kiprotich could snatch a medal at the World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland. But the runner revealed he wasn’t in good shape. “I actually competed just because I had qualified,” he said. “I wasn’t feeling well but again my performance was fair.” Kiprotich clocked 28:10.71 to finish fifth.
Having reached the senior ranks this year, Kiprotich made his first attempt on the 12km National Cross Country Championships and placed third. After one month of residential training, Kiprotich declared: “I am ready to beat anyone and I believe it is possible. Our team is strong and can win a medal if we stick to the coaches’ instructions.”
The second-last born of seven (four boys and three girls), Kiprotich is the only distinguished sportsman in his family. “I want to first achieve something in athletics before I can return to school,” he noted.
Personal Bests
3000m: 7:48.06 (2007)
3000m Steeplechase: 8:36.2 (2008)
5000m: 13:23:70 (2008)
10,000m: 28:00.98 (2008)
Yearly Progression
3000m: 2007 - 7:48.06; 2008 – 8:01.31
5000m: 2007 - 13:27.40; 2008 - 13:23.70
10,000m: 2006 - 29:19.4; 2007 - 28:42.54; 2008: 28:00.98
Career Highlights
2006 24th World Cross Country Championships (junior)
2007 1st National Championships (10,000m, combined)
2007 19th World Cross Country Championships (junior)
2007 16th h World Championships
2008 12th World Cross Country Championships (junior)
2008 5th World Junior Championships (10,000m)
Prepared by Sande Bashaija for the IAAF ‘Focus on Athletes’ project. Copyright 2009.
Stephen KIPROTICH, Uganda (3000m, 5000m, 10,000m, 3000m Steeplechase, Cross Country)
Born: 27 February, 1989, Cheptiyal village, Kapchorwa District, Uganda
1.65/54kg
Some people around Stephen Kiprotich think he is stubborn. He always finds a way of making his teammates laugh with his sense of humour even during difficult times. “He is an interesting but complicated character to deal with,” national team coach Nalis Bigingo said of Kiprotich. Interesting because he has a passion for what he does and complicated because he sticks to his decisions even when others have an arguably better suggestion.
Kiprotich is one of the most enlightened runners on Uganda’s long distance team. Although only 20, he managed to secure a place in the senior team due to compete at the 2009 World Cross Country Championships in Amman, Jordan. But, to get to where he is, he went through thick and thin and had to make some radical decisions.
Born to James Kiptui and Cheptum Kokop, of Cheptiyal village, Kapchorwa District, Kiprotich was inspired by fellow runners, in particular Francis Musani, a national marathoner, to join athletics. “I used to see Musani and other boys jogging near our home in the morning,” Kiprotich said. “I chose running after seeing them several times.”
Kiprotich joined Kaminy Primary School, where he met a teacher who inspired him still more. “There was a teacher called Patrick Chemonges,” Kiprotich said. “He was in charge of sports. He always encouraged me to run.”
Alongside Kiprotich’s growing interest in athletics came a terrible sickness that almost ended his career prematurely. “I was in form six when a strange sickness attacked me,” he recalled. “They took me to all hospitals around but we failed to get the right medication.” Seemingly resigned to the situation, Kiprotich’s parents took him home and waited for fate to dictate. “I was out of school for almost three or more years,” he said. “I rejoined and sat my form seven examinations in 2001.”
In 2002, Kiprotich joined Kapchorwa Secondary School. His health had, by now, stabilised and he managed to represent his school at the District competition. “I think my body was still weak because I was lapped in the 10,000m,” he said. “I eventually finished ninth but being lapped haunted me a lot. I felt like not running anymore.”
Kiprotich switched schools in 2003, joining Sebei College for his senior two. He had fallen out of love with athletics and wanted nothing more to do with the sport. “I decided to concentrate on my books,” Kiprotich stressed. Until 2005, when he completed his ordinary level education, Kiprotich never stepped on the track. “People were always castigating me for sitting on my talent but I felt I could gain a lot more from education,” he said.
In 2006, Kiprotich returned to Sebei College for his advanced level education and resumed training. He made his debut at the National Cross Country Championships, finishing fifth in the 8km junior race. That performance earned him a ticket to the World Cross Country Championships, in Fukuoka, Japan, where he placed 24th. “I wouldn’t say that I performed badly because it was my first appearance in an international race,” he said. “I returned to school and added more effort in training.”
Kiprotich shocked his parents and the Sebei College headmaster Sam Cheptoris, when, at the end of 2006, he told them he was quitting school to concentrate on athletics. “It was a very difficult decision because I had one year left to join university or any other higher institution of learning,” Kiprotich said after deep thought. At first the headmaster couldn’t accept it but has now learnt to live with Kiprotich’s decision. “I begged him to stay and complete the one year but he refused,” the headmaster said. “But it’s good he is making progress in his career.”
In February 2007, Kiprotich finished second to Geofrey Kusuro in the National Cross Country 8km junior race. He made it to the World Cross in Mombasa, Kenya. He finished 19th but was not content. His local manager, Godfrey Nuwagaba, got him a training camp in Kenya and connected him to Global Sports Communication, a sports management company. “I don’t have a contract with Global but they have been helpful,” he said. “They facilitate me and take me for training outside the country.”
Kiprotich won his first national title on 31 May 2007, when he clocked 28:42:54 for 10,000m at Namboole. Global Sports took him to Belgium where he trained for some time and later hit the World Championships qualifying mark. He clocked 13:27.40 for ninth place over 5000m at the KBC Night of Athletics in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium, to land a place in the Uganda team for the World Championships in Osaka. There he did not reach the final but he admits to an unforgettable experience.
Last year, at the FBK-Games, in Hengelo, Kiprotich wrote a 5000m personal best of 13:23.70 (seventh) but failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics. “I didn’t feel bad at all for missing out on Beijing,” he said. “One day my chance will come and I will compete at the Olympics.” He spent some months training in the Netherlands and stamped a personal best of 28:00.98 for 10,000m in Neerpelt, Belgium, on 31 May.
As one of the best up and coming runners in the country, Ugandans had great expectations that Kiprotich could snatch a medal at the World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland. But the runner revealed he wasn’t in good shape. “I actually competed just because I had qualified,” he said. “I wasn’t feeling well but again my performance was fair.” Kiprotich clocked 28:10.71 to finish fifth.
Having reached the senior ranks this year, Kiprotich made his first attempt on the 12km National Cross Country Championships and placed third. After one month of residential training, Kiprotich declared: “I am ready to beat anyone and I believe it is possible. Our team is strong and can win a medal if we stick to the coaches’ instructions.”
The second-last born of seven (four boys and three girls), Kiprotich is the only distinguished sportsman in his family. “I want to first achieve something in athletics before I can return to school,” he noted.
Personal Bests
3000m: 7:48.06 (2007)
3000m Steeplechase: 8:36.2 (2008)
5000m: 13:23:70 (2008)
10,000m: 28:00.98 (2008)
Yearly Progression
3000m: 2007 - 7:48.06; 2008 – 8:01.31
5000m: 2007 - 13:27.40; 2008 - 13:23.70
10,000m: 2006 - 29:19.4; 2007 - 28:42.54; 2008: 28:00.98
Career Highlights
2006 24th World Cross Country Championships (junior)
2007 1st National Championships (10,000m, combined)
2007 19th World Cross Country Championships (junior)
2007 16th h World Championships
2008 12th World Cross Country Championships (junior)
2008 5th World Junior Championships (10,000m)
Prepared by Sande Bashaija for the IAAF ‘Focus on Athletes’ project. Copyright 2009.