Benjamin Limo
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Kipkoech Limo (born August 23, 1974 in Chepkongony
, Uasin Gishu
) is a Kenya
n middle distance
runner. He runs every distance from 1500 m to 10,000 m, but mainly competes in 5,000 m, where he has won international medals.
Limo went to Chebara and Lelboinet High Schools, but enlisted for the Kenyan Army in 1993, without completing his studies. He started full-time training in 1996 and was based at an army camp in Ngong
, near capital Nairobi
. He competed at the 1998 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
in Marrakech
, Morocco
and finished fourth in the short race. It was his first race abroad.
His first international medals came in 1999, when he won the 1999 World Cross Country Championships
and placed second in the 5,000 m at the World Championships
, less than a second behind Salah Hissou
. Remindfully, notice that this happened a year after he ran his first 5,000 m.
In 2002, Limo won silver medals at the Commonwealth Games
and at the African Championships. In August 2005 he outsprinted Sileshi Sihine
to become world champion
. He won a bronze medal in the 5000m at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
.
Benjamin Limo has never participated in the Olympic Games, due to the rule which allows only three athletes from each nation to participate. His nation Kenya having an abundance of good middle distance runners, it is extremely difficult to qualify.
He made his marathon debut in October 2008 finishing 12th at the Amsterdam Marathon
.
Limo was awarded the 2005 Kenyan Sportsman of the Year
award. He is managed by Ricky Simms.
He is married with four children (as of 2006).
Limo is not related to world champion Richard Limo
, but might be distantly related to another Kenyan runner, Felix Limo
.
Chepkongony
Chepkongony is a village near Kaptagat in the Uasin Gishu District, Rift Valley Province, Kenya. It is part of Wareng County Council and Eldoret East Constituency.It is the birthplace of famous runner Benjamin Limo....
, Uasin Gishu
Uasin Gishu District
Uasin Gishu District is one of the seventy-one districts of Kenya, located in the Rift Valley Province. The city of Eldoret is its capital, administrative center and commercial center....
) is a Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n middle distance
Middle distance track event
Middle distance running events are track races longer than sprints, up to 3000 metres. The standard middle distances are the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run, although the 3000 metres may also be classified as a middle distance event. The 880 yard run, or half mile, was the forebear to the...
runner. He runs every distance from 1500 m to 10,000 m, but mainly competes in 5,000 m, where he has won international medals.
Limo went to Chebara and Lelboinet High Schools, but enlisted for the Kenyan Army in 1993, without completing his studies. He started full-time training in 1996 and was based at an army camp in Ngong
Ngong, Kenya
Ngong is a town near the Ngong Hills along the Great Rift Valley, located in the southwest of Nairobi, in southern Kenya. The word "Ngong" is a Maasai word meaning "knuckles"...
, near capital Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
. He competed at the 1998 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
1998 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
The 26th IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held 21-22 March 1998 in Marrakech, Morocco.- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :...
in Marrakech
Marrakech
Marrakech or Marrakesh , known as the "Ochre city", is the most important former imperial city in Morocco's history...
, Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
and finished fourth in the short race. It was his first race abroad.
His first international medals came in 1999, when he won the 1999 World Cross Country Championships
IAAF World Cross Country Championships
IAAF World Cross Country Championships is the most important competition in international cross country running. Held annually and organised by International Association of Athletics Federations , it was inaugurated in 1973, when it replaced the International Cross Country Championships...
and placed second in the 5,000 m at the World Championships
1999 World Championships in Athletics
The 7th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held at the Estadio Olímpico, Seville, Spain, between the August 20 and August 29....
, less than a second behind Salah Hissou
Salah Hissou
Salah Hissou is a long-distance runner from Morocco, who won the gold medal over 5000 m at the 1999 World Championships in Athletics in Seville. With 26:38.08 he also set a world record over 10,000 m in Brussels in 1996 and won a bronze medal over 10,000 m at the 1996 Summer Olympics in...
. Remindfully, notice that this happened a year after he ran his first 5,000 m.
In 2002, Limo won silver medals at the Commonwealth Games
2002 Commonwealth Games
The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from 25 July to 4 August 2002. The XVII Commonwealth Games was the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in the UK, eclipsing London's 1948 Summer Olympics in numbers of teams and athletes participating.After the 1996 Manchester...
and at the African Championships. In August 2005 he outsprinted Sileshi Sihine
Sileshi Sihine
Sileshi Sihine is an Ethiopian long-distance runner.Sihine achieved a silver medal in the 10,000 metres at the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2008 Beijing Olympics as well as at the 2005 World Championships and 2007 World Championships as well as a bronze medal in 2003...
to become world champion
2005 World Championships in Athletics
The 10th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held in the Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland , the site of the first IAAF World Championships in 1983. One theme of the 2005 championships was paralympic sports, some of...
. He won a bronze medal in the 5000m at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
.
Benjamin Limo has never participated in the Olympic Games, due to the rule which allows only three athletes from each nation to participate. His nation Kenya having an abundance of good middle distance runners, it is extremely difficult to qualify.
He made his marathon debut in October 2008 finishing 12th at the Amsterdam Marathon
Amsterdam Marathon
The Amsterdam Marathon is an annual marathon race over the classic distance of 42.195km held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands since 1975. It is one of the top ten marathons in the world.-History:...
.
Limo was awarded the 2005 Kenyan Sportsman of the Year
Kenyan Sports Personality of the Year
Kenyan Sport Personality of the Year Awards, also known as SOYA Awards, are annual national awards given for sports personalities and organisations in Kenya. The awards were initiated in 2004 by Paul Tergat. The awards for each year are held at the beginning of the next year Kenyan Sport...
award. He is managed by Ricky Simms.
He is married with four children (as of 2006).
Limo is not related to world champion Richard Limo
Richard Limo
Richard Kipkemei Limo is a Kenyan athlete. He specializes in long distance track events. He won the 5000 metres gold medal at the 2001 World Championships in Athletics....
, but might be distantly related to another Kenyan runner, Felix Limo
Felix Limo
Felix Limo is a Kenyan long-distance runner, who specializes in the marathon.Limo held the 15 Kilometres road running world record from November 2001 to November 2010, where he lost the record to Leonard Komon. Limo set his record of 41:29 minutes in Nijmegen, the Netherlands when winning the...
.