Abraham Chepkirwok
Encyclopedia
Abraham Chepkirwok (born 18 November 1988) is an Uganda
n middle distance runner who specializes in the 800 metres
. He is the Ugandan record holder in this distance, with 1:43.72 minutes, achieved in July 2008 in Madrid
. He is a World Junior Championships
bronze medalist from 2006 and Olympic competitor from 2008.
He was born in Kapchorwa
. By June 2006 he had run the 800 metres in 1:45.0 minutes, at a meet in Kampala. With this he was the season's world leader for juniors—athletes aged nineteen and less. With electronic timing his best time was 1:45.44 minutes, achieved in a meet in Heusden. He competed at the 2006 World Junior Championships
in Beijing, and won the bronze medal, having led the race halfway through but been outsprinted near the end by two Kenyan runners.
In the 2006–07 indoor season he ran the 800 metres in 1:46.91 minutes in Stuttgart. This was a Ugandan indoor record. He opened the outdoor season by winning the IAAF Grand Prix in Dakar. He also won the Grand Prix meet in Hengelo, and finished third at the Super Grand Prix meet in Doha, the Golden Spike Ostrava
and the Bislett Games
. Then, in July 2007 he achieved a new personal best time of 1:44.78 minutes at the Grand Prix meet in Athens. A fifth place at the All-Africa Games
was followed by the entrance in the 2007 World Championships
. Chepkirwok reached the final round, and in an unusually tight race, where all eight runners finished in the range of 1 minute 47 seconds, Chepkirwok finished fourth with 1:47.41. This was 0.02 seconds behind the bronze medalist, and 0.01 second ahead of the fifth placer. Rounding off the season, Chepkirwok finished seventh at the 2007 World Athletics Final
.
In the 2007–08 indoor season Chepkirwok competed at the 2008 World Indoor Championships
. He reached the semi-final round, finished fourth there but did not progress to the final. During the summer he performed better. He opened with a second place in Doha, then won the ISTAF Golden League
meet in Berlin. He then finished second at the Grand Prix meets in Madrid and Athens, and won the Super Grand Prix meet in Crystal Palace, London. In Madrid he had achieved a personal best time is 1:43.72 minutes, which is also the Ugandan record. Entering the 2008 Olympic Games
, then, Chepkirwok was the only middle distance runner in the Ugandan squad. In the 800 metres competition
he did not reach the final, however. He rounded off the season with a second place at the 2008 World Athletics Final
. In early 2009 it was announced that Chepkirwok was a candidate for the title Ugandan Athlete of the Year. He eventually finished second runner-up for the award, behind Moses Kipsiro
and Benjamin Kiplagat
.
In February 2009 he set a national indoor record in the 1000 metres, running in 2:18.18 minutes in Stuttgart.
Chepkirwok is represented by PACE Sports Management
, and is coached by Ricky Simms.
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n middle distance runner who specializes in the 800 metres
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
. He is the Ugandan record holder in this distance, with 1:43.72 minutes, achieved in July 2008 in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
. He is a World Junior Championships
IAAF World Junior Championships in Athletics
The IAAF World Junior Championships in Athletics are the world championships for junior aged athletes athletes, organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations. It is held biennially since 1986.-Championships:-Men:-Women:-External links:* at...
bronze medalist from 2006 and Olympic competitor from 2008.
He was born in Kapchorwa
Kapchorwa
Kapchorwa is a town in Eastern Uganda. It is the main municipal, commercial and administrative center of Kapchorwa District. The district is named after the town.-Location:...
. By June 2006 he had run the 800 metres in 1:45.0 minutes, at a meet in Kampala. With this he was the season's world leader for juniors—athletes aged nineteen and less. With electronic timing his best time was 1:45.44 minutes, achieved in a meet in Heusden. He competed at the 2006 World Junior Championships
2006 World Junior Championships in Athletics
The 2006 World Junior Championships in Athletics is the 2006 version of the World Junior Championships in Athletics. It was held from 15 August to 20 August at the Chaoyang Sports Center in Beijing, the capital of the People's Republic of China....
in Beijing, and won the bronze medal, having led the race halfway through but been outsprinted near the end by two Kenyan runners.
In the 2006–07 indoor season he ran the 800 metres in 1:46.91 minutes in Stuttgart. This was a Ugandan indoor record. He opened the outdoor season by winning the IAAF Grand Prix in Dakar. He also won the Grand Prix meet in Hengelo, and finished third at the Super Grand Prix meet in Doha, the Golden Spike Ostrava
Golden Spike Ostrava
Golden Spike is an annual athletics event at the Městský Stadion in Ostrava-Vítkovice, Czech Republic as part of the IAAF World Challenge Meetings. It was first organized in 1961.-History:...
and the Bislett Games
Bislett Games
The Bislett Games is an annual track and field event at the Bislett Stadion in Oslo, Norway. Previously one of the IAAF Golden League events, it is now part of the IAAF Diamond League. It is sponsored by ExxonMobil and officially known as the ExxonMobil Bislett Games.-History:The first...
. Then, in July 2007 he achieved a new personal best time of 1:44.78 minutes at the Grand Prix meet in Athens. A fifth place at the All-Africa Games
Athletics at the 2007 All-Africa Games
The athletics competition at the 2007 All-Africa Games was held on the Stade 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers, Algeria between 18 July and 22 July 2007. Nigeria was the most successful nation of the competition having won nine golds and 24 medals in total. South Africa was a close second with seven golds...
was followed by the entrance in the 2007 World Championships
2007 World Championships in Athletics
The 11th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan from 24 August to 2 September 2007...
. Chepkirwok reached the final round, and in an unusually tight race, where all eight runners finished in the range of 1 minute 47 seconds, Chepkirwok finished fourth with 1:47.41. This was 0.02 seconds behind the bronze medalist, and 0.01 second ahead of the fifth placer. Rounding off the season, Chepkirwok finished seventh at the 2007 World Athletics Final
2007 IAAF World Athletics Final
The 5th IAAF World Athletics Final was held at the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion in Stuttgart, Germany on September 22 and September 23, 2007.-Men:- Women :-External links:*...
.
In the 2007–08 indoor season Chepkirwok competed at the 2008 World Indoor Championships
2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships - Men's 800 metres
-Medalists:-Heats:-Semifinals:-Final:...
. He reached the semi-final round, finished fourth there but did not progress to the final. During the summer he performed better. He opened with a second place in Doha, then won the ISTAF Golden League
2008 IAAF Golden League
The 2008 Golden League was the 11th edition of the IAAF's annual series of six athletics meets, held across Europe, with athletes having the chance to win the Golden League Jackpot of $1 million.-Programme:- Men :- Women :...
meet in Berlin. He then finished second at the Grand Prix meets in Madrid and Athens, and won the Super Grand Prix meet in Crystal Palace, London. In Madrid he had achieved a personal best time is 1:43.72 minutes, which is also the Ugandan record. Entering the 2008 Olympic Games
Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics were held during the last 10 days of the games, from August 15 to August 24, 2008, at the Beijing National Stadium. The Olympic sport of athletics is split into four distinct sets of events: track and field events, road running events, and racewalking...
, then, Chepkirwok was the only middle distance runner in the Ugandan squad. In the 800 metres competition
Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Men's 800 metres
-Results:All times shown are in seconds. The following abbreviations are used:* Q denotes qualification by place* q denotes qualification by time* DNS denotes did not start* DNF denotes did not finish* DQ denotes disqualification...
he did not reach the final, however. He rounded off the season with a second place at the 2008 World Athletics Final
2008 IAAF World Athletics Final
The 6th IAAF World Athletics Final was held at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Stuttgart, Germany on September 13 and September 14, 2008.A number of road races also took place on the second day of competition. There were seven different starting points around the Stuttgart area and the distances varied...
. In early 2009 it was announced that Chepkirwok was a candidate for the title Ugandan Athlete of the Year. He eventually finished second runner-up for the award, behind Moses Kipsiro
Moses Kipsiro
Moses Ndiema Kipsiro is a Ugandan long-distance runner who specializes in the 5000 metres. He was the bronze medallist in the event at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics...
and Benjamin Kiplagat
Benjamin Kiplagat
Benjamin Kiplagat ia a Ugandan long-distance runner specializing in the 3000 metres steeplechase.-Achievements:-Personal bests:* 1500 m – 3:38.86 * 3000 m – 7:46.50...
.
In February 2009 he set a national indoor record in the 1000 metres, running in 2:18.18 minutes in Stuttgart.
Chepkirwok is represented by PACE Sports Management
PACE Sports Management
PACE Sports Management is a British athlete management company based in the outskirts of London in Teddington, Middlesex, directed by former Irish under-23 runner Ricky Simms.-Background:...
, and is coached by Ricky Simms.