Isiah Kiplangat Koech (born 19 December 1993) is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specialises in the 5000 metres.

Isiah Kiplangat Koech
Koech (left) at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Personal information
NationalityKenyan
Born (1993-12-19) 19 December 1993 (age 30)
Kericho
Sport
SportRunning
Event(s)3000 metres, 5000 metres
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)3000 m: 7:32.43 m (Doha 2012)

5000 m: 12:48.64 m (Paris 2012)

Indoor 5000 m: 12:53.29 m (Düsseldorf 2011)
Medal record
Representing  Kenya
Men's athletics
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Moscow 5000 m
African Championships
Silver medal – second place 2014 Marrakech 5000 m
World Youth Championships
Gold medal – first place 2009 Brixen 3000 m

At the 2009 World Youth Championships in Athletics in Brixen, Italy, Koech won a gold medal over 3000 metres, setting a new world youth leading time with 7:51.51.[1]

He also took part in the 2010 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, finishing fourth in the junior men's race.

On 11 February 2011, Koech became just the fourth man to run the 5000 m indoor under 13 minutes when he clinched victory in 12 min 53.29 sec at the PSD Bank Meeting in Düsseldorf.[2] He then ran a world junior indoor best for the 3000 m at the Indoor Flanders Meeting a few days later, running a time of 7:37.50 minutes [3] Koech controlled the junior race at the Kenyan Cross Country Championships and took first place, earning a spot for the Junior World Cross.[4]

Despite being a provisional favourite for the junior race at the 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, he ended the race in tenth place, although he did help Kenya to the team title alongside Geoffrey Kipsang and Patrick Mutunga Mwikya.[5] Moving into the senior ranks, he ran over 5000 m at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics and closely finished behind the medallists to place fourth overall. In December, he returned to cross country and won the Lotto Cross Cup Brussels by a margin of over half a minute.[6]

At the 2012 Kenyan Olympic trials he ran the fastest ever 5000 m time in Kenya to win the race and guarantee his first Olympic selection.[7]

Personal bests

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Distance Time venue
3000 m 7:32.43 Doha, Qatar (11 May 2012)
5000 m 12:48.64 Paris, France (6 July 2012)

References

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  1. ^ "Kenya ends 'Sudtirol 2009' WYC on high, tops medals table". Athletics Africa. 12 July 2009.
  2. ^ "Koech avec les grands". L'Equipe (in French). 11 February 2011. Archived from the original on February 13, 2011.
  3. ^ Hedrix, Ivo (2011-02-14). Kombich clocks world leading 3:34.13 in Gent, junior Koech continues to impress. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-02-14.
  4. ^ Mutuota, Mutwiri (2011-02-19). Mutai and Masai take hard fought wins in Nairobi; reigning World champs Ebuya and Chebet won’t defend. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-02-20.
  5. ^ 2010 IAAF XC Championships - Junior men's race. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-03-29.
  6. ^ Hendrix, Ivo (2011-12-18). Koech puts on a demonstration, while Chepkwony repeats in Brussels. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-12-22.
  7. ^ Mutuota, Mutwiri (2012-06-23). Rudisha runs 1:42.12 at altitude – Kenyan Olympic Trials Archived 2012-06-28 at the Wayback Machine. IAAF. Retrieved on 2012-06-24.
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