Duncan Kibet

Duncan Kibet (born 25 April 1978) 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.[1] As of November 2013, he is the 9th fastest marathoner of all time on a certified world record eligible course.

Duncan Kibet after winning the 2009 Rotterdam Marathon.

Career

Kibet dropped out of school in 1997 due to financial problems.[2] He did not run competitively until after encouraged by his elder brother Luke Metto, who had some success as a runner at the turn of the century. He also followed Luke by moving to France, participating in local races. He won the Lille Half Marathon in 2004.[3] Kibet started marathoning without major success. He finished 8th at the 2002 Monaco Marathon and 2nd at the 2004 Caen Marathon.[4] He had also been in a car accident at age of 16, almost losing his ability to walk. During his early career he was afraid to run and train seriously, fearing he would break his leg again.[3]

His younger brother Shadrack Biwott got a scholarship in the USA and arranged for Kibet to run some races there.[3] Kibet won the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in San Jose in 2006 by running 1:00:22. It was then the 2nd fastest half marathon time in the United States, after Haile Gebrselassie, who had run faster earlier that year.[5] Kibet also won the 2007 Beach to Beacon 10k in a time of 27:51, besting a fast field over a tough, hilly course.[6]

Kibet was a pacemaker for Gebrselassie at the 2008 Dubai Marathon[7] where Gebrselassie failed to break the world marathon record already held by himself, but set the 2nd fastest marathon time (2:04:53 hours) at the time.[8]

Kibet made his full marathon debut at the 2008 Vienna Marathon, finishing 2nd behind compatriot Abel Kirui and setting 2:08:33 hours. Later the same year he won the Milan Marathon, breaking the course record by running 2:07:53 hours.[7]

Kibet won the Rotterdam Marathon on 5 April 2009, posting the 3rd fastest marathon time ever, 2:04:27 hours and was closely followed by James Kwambai who set the same time. Abel Kirui, who had beaten Kibet in 2008 in Vienna was now third also with a fast time (2:05:04 hours). The only one to have run faster marathons at the time was Haile Gebrselassie, who set world records at the 2007 and 2008 Berlin Marathons (2:04:26 and 2.03:59 hours, respectively), although in 2011, Geoffrey Mutai and Moses Mosop ran 2:03:02 and 2:03:06, respectively, on a point-to-point course not eligible for world record status, while Patrick Makau ran 2:03:38 for a new world record, and Wilson Kipsang ran 2:03:42 for the new 2nd best mark.[9] The time was also a Kenyan record, beating Paul Tergat's world record time 2:04:55 set at the 2003 Berlin Marathon.[4]

He is known for his bearded appearance as well as for wearing jewellery when running. He is nicknamed "Jamaican" and "Rasta" by fellow runners.[4]

Kibet is married. His siblings, including Luke Metto, are also runners.[2] His younger brother Shadrack Kiptoo-Biwott is an All-American runner at the University of Oregon. Duncan and Luke have a combined personal best marathon time of 4:15:24, a "world record" for siblings. The time is five seconds better than the combined time of Eric and Boaz Kimaiyo.[3]

He is managed by the Rosa Associati led by Federico Rosa.[4]

Achievements
  • All results regarding marathon and half marathon
YearCompetitionVenuePositionNotes
Representing  Kenya
2002 Monaco Marathon Monaco 8th 2:28:37
2004 Lille Half Marathon Lille, France 1st 1:01:01
2004 Chassieu Half Marathon Chassieu 1st 1:01:50
2004 Trith-Saint Leger Half Marathon Trith-Saint-Léger 1st 1:02:13
2004 La Rochelle Marathon La Rochelle, France 2nd 2:19:52
2004 Caen Marathon Caen, France 2nd 2:20:13
2005 Delhi Half Marathon New Delhi, India 2nd 1:02:18
2005 Vitry-sur-Seine Half Marathon Vitry-sur-Seine 9th 1:02:42
2005 Boulogne Half Marathon Boulogne-Billancourt, France 2nd 1:00:53
2006 Rock ‘n’ Roll San Jose Half Marathon San Jose, California 1st 1:00:22
2006 Vitry-sur-Seine Half Marathon Vitry-sur-Seine 2nd 1:00:59
2007 Saltillo Half Marathon Saltillo, Mexico 1st 1:02:41
2008 Vienna City Marathon Vienna, Austria 2nd 2:08:33
2008 Milano City Marathon Milan, Italy 1st 2:07:53
2009 Ribarroja del Turia Half Marathon Riba-roja de Túria, Spain 1st 1:01:37
2009 Lagos Half Marathon Lagos, Nigeria 1st 1:02:09
2009 Rotterdam Marathon Rotterdam, Netherlands 1st 2:04:27
2010 Lisbon Half Marathon Lisbon, Portugal 4th 1:00:21

References
  1. "Kibet edges Kwambai as both clock 2:04:27 - Rotterdam Marathon". IAAF. 5 April 2009. Retrieved 5 April 2009.
  2. "Marathoner Kibet undone by visa delay, oversized shoes". news.SmasHits.com. 18 October 2005. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2009.
  3. "Accidental runner Duncan Kibet takes on Marathon Emperor in Berlin". IAAF. 18 September 2009. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  4. "Duncan Kibet, marathoner extraordinaire". Daily Nation. 9 April 2009. Retrieved 10 April 2009.
  5. "Duncan Kibet Runs 2nd Fastest Half Marathon Ever in America at Inaugural San Jose Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon". Letsrun.com. 8 October 2006. Retrieved 5 April 2009.
  6. Past Champions Retrieved 5 April 2009.
  7. "Kibet cruises 2:07:53 course record in Milan". IAAF. 24 November 2008. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  8. "Dubai to stage $1 Million Marathon". IAAF. 14 April 2007. Archived from the original on 7 October 2008. Retrieved 5 April 2009.
  9. "Kibet edges Kwambai as both clock 2:04:27 - Rotterdam Marathon report". IAAF. 5 April 2009. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
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