Kenya is renowned worldwide for the success of its long-distance runners. Over the years, Kenyan athletes have flown the country’s flag high in several international athletics competitions and 2023 has been no different.
Kenyan athletes have dominated the marathon scene this year, winning numerous major races and setting new personal bests.
Alongside revered marathoners like Eliud Kipchoge, a new generation has emerged ready to assume the mantle and continue Kenya’s dominance in the sport for many years to come.
In this article we look at the six most popular Kenyan marathon athletes of 2023, examining their accomplishments and what makes them so special.
Men in Athletics
Eliud Kipchoge
The 38-year-old five-time Berlin Marathon champion and two-time Olympic Champion is a Kenyan long-distance runner, regarded as the greatest marathon runner of all time.
Also Read: Faith Kipyegon Lifts Gold: from Walking to School in Rural Kenya to Setting World Athletics Alight
Born in Kapsisiywa, Nandi County, Kipchoge’s journey began in 2002 where he won the 2002 IAAF World Cross Country Championships junior race.
He is also the only person to have ever run a marathon in under two hours, although in an unofficial race.
In 2023, Kipchoge won the Tokyo Marathon in a time of 2:02:40, which is the fastest marathon time ever run in Japan.
Moreover, the marathoner has been recognized in international awards including the BBC World Sport Star of the Year 2019, Best male athlete Tokyo Olympics 2020 and more recently the Princess of Asturias Award for sports for 2023.
Kipchoge is a role model for athletes everywhere; he continues to inspire people and is regarded as the greatest athlete of all time.
Ferdinand Omanyala
27-year-old Ferdinand Omanyala is a Kenyan sprinter competing in the 100- and 200-meters races. His career began in 2015 while he was still a student, switching from rugby to track at the time.
He won his first international championships, with victories in the 100 meters at the Commonwealth Games, and African Championships Athletics in 2022.
Additionally, Omanyala is the African record holder and the ninth-fastest man of all time after clocking 9.77 seconds on September 18, 2021, during an event in Nairobi.
This year Omanyala won the 100m race at the African Games in Rabat, Morocco, with a time of 9.98 seconds.
He also finished seventh in the 100m final at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, with a time of 10.14 seconds.
Similarly, the sprinter is expected to be a contender for medals at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Evans Chebet
34-year-old Chebet is world-class Kenyan marathon runner and the current world champion in the marathon, having won the gold medal at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Born in the rift valley known for its high attitude, Evans started running at a young age.
He is the first Kenyan man to win the Boston Marathon twice since Robert Cheruiyot in 2008.
Moreover, Evans Chebet made his debut in 2016 at the Enschede Marathon, where he finished in second place.
He later won his first marathon in Tokyo and the Boston Marathon twice, in 2021 and 2023 respectively.
Evans also won the Boston Marathon this year clocking 2:06:51, which is the fastest marathon time ever run in Boston.
He also finished fourth in the Berlin Marathon, with a personal best time of 2:03:16.
Chebet is among the best marathon runners in the world and will continue to be a contender for major titles in the years to come.
Women in Athletics
Faith Kipyegon
29-year-old Faith is a Kenyan middle-distance runner competing in the 1500 meters and 800 meters.
Born in Eldoret Kenya, Kipyegon started running at a young age.
She showed her potential and won her first international medal at the 2011 World Youth Athletics Championships where she took bronze in the 800 meters.
Since 2015, the 28-year-old has won gold and silver in every major championship 1500m.
Notably, 2023 marked a breakout year for Kipyegon. She won the 1500 meters at the World Championships in Athletics in Budapest, Hungary, clocking 3:52.96.
Kipyegon also won the 800 meters at the Diamond League Final in Zürich, Switzerland, in the time 1:57.68.
Nonetheless, Faith is the current Olympic and world champion in the 1500 meters, and the former world champion in the 800 meters.
In 2021 and 2022, she was awarded Kenyan Sports Personality of the Year.
Also Read: High Schools Faith Kipyegon, Kiptum & Eliud Kipchoge Attended
Beatrice Chebet
Beatrice is a 23-year-old Kenyan middle-distance and long-distance runner.
She won her first international medal at the 2017 World U20 Championships in Athletics, where she took silver in the 3000 meters.
Between 2018 and 2019, Chebet won the world U20 title in the 5000 meters, the World Cross Country Championships and the Kenyan U20 National Cross-Country Championships.
Further, Chebet made her Olympic debut in 2021 where she finished sixth in the 5000 meters.
She later got her first world medal in 2022, when she took bronze in the 5000 meters at the World Indoor Championships in Athletics and became Commonwealth, African and Diamond League champion.
During the 2023 World Cross Country Championships, Chebet claimed the gold medal for the women’s senior race.
Also, the marathoner won the World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia, clocking 33:43 and the 5000 meters at the Diamond League Meeting in Rome, Italy, in a time of 14:30.87.
She is expected to be a contender for medals at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Mary Moraa
Mary is a Kenyan middle-distance runner who competes in the 800 meters.
She won the gold medal at the 2023 World Athletics Championships, a bronze medal in the event at the 2022 World Athletics Championships and gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Mary Moraa specialized in the 400 meters distance running until 2021.
She made her international debut at the World Under-18 Championships in Nairobi and won the silver medal with a personal best time of 53.31 seconds.
Further, Moraa came in fifth over the same distance at the World U20 Championships 2022.
In 2019, she won the 400-meter African U20 title, Kenyan senior title, and placed fourth at the African Games held in Rabat, Morocco.
Nonetheless, Moraa transitioned to the 800 meters in 2020, and represented Kenya at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics in 2021 competing in the event, where she was eliminated in the semi-finals with a time of 2:00.47.
She has also been nicknamed Dancing Queen by fans for her energetic performances after winning a race.
