STEPHEN KIPROP / KENYA

Stephen is a son of small-scale farmers from Kapngeny village in Baringo County, Kenya. He likes tobe called Chesang (family name) and he is a father of a baby girl, Lyne Jepkemoi Kiprop. Stephen has a passion for goat farming and has fifty goats – Several years ago, he sold, one by one, each of the three goats he had, while trying to become a professional athlete.

Stephen is fastest adidas half marathoner of all-time and his best friend and training partner is 59:28 half marathoner Philemon Kiplimo. Before making it at the top level, Stephen used to be a pacemaker of Ikaika Sports group in Iten before his breakthrough in early 2018 (59:44 debut and victory in Venlo Half Marathon). Nowadays, he is the elected captain of Ikaika Sports training group and is mentoring young athletes.

Athletically, he is motivated by breaking course records and has set three so far out of seven starts; while running five times under one-hour mark.

Stephen dreams of running well for as long as possible and helping the needy in his community. His motto is “train hard, win easy”.

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KIBIWOTT KANDIE / KENYA

Kibiwott is from Eldama Ravine, Kenya and is the fourth child among five brothers and three sisters. As a young boy he loved to run, but it was only in 2017 that he started training professionally.

He is the winner of 2020 Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon and Kenyan National Cross Country Championships. He made his debut over half marathon distance in Lille in August 2019 with a victory in 59:31.

Nowadays he trains in Ngong area near Nairobi and his role models are Paul Tergat and Tegla Loroupe.

Kibiwott is also a soldier in Kenya Defence Forces.

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BENARD KIMELI / KENYA

Benard was born in Chelemetio village, Kenya. He is a ranger with Kenya Wildlife Service and before pursuing career as a professional athlete, Benard did his basic training in Tsavo East National Park for six months and is now based in Rimoi national Reserve near his training base in Iten, Kenya.

In Iten, he is one of the leaders of a world-class training group that includes two sub-59 and six sub60 half marathoners. He holds 5000m stadium record for the famous Chepkoilel track in Eldoret, Kenya.

Benard’s nickname is Chamkazi, because when he is assigned any responsibility he perfects it to the last detail. Dorcas Kimeli, one of his sisters, who is also with us in Prague for the Prague 21,1km - Ready for the Restart, is road racing specialist. They are the fastest brother-sister duo ever for the 10K and half marathon distances.

Benard has won Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon in 2018 and 2019 and Birell 10km Race Prague in 2017. His mentor is former Amsterdam Marathon champion, Fred Kiprop, who also won half marathon in Prague back in 2003.

Benard is also a member of Fujitsu athletics team in Japan and he dreams of building a training camp in Kenya and becoming Olympic Champion over marathon distance. His life philosophy is “the harder the battle, the sweeter the victory”.

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ANDAMLAK BELIHU BERTA / ETHIOPIA

Andamlak was born 200km south from Addis Ababa in Gumer Woreda, Gurage zone. He is a son of farmers and his three brothers are merchants, with Andamlak planning to join them in business in the future, after he retires from professional sport.

He won Airtel Delhi Half Marathon back-to-back in 2018 and 2019, and is a two-time World Athletics Championships finalist over 10,000m - position 10 in London 2017 and 5th in Doha 2019. He broke 60-minute barrier on five occasions (out of eight starts).

Andamlak has been seriously committed to development as an athlete since 2014 and is dedicating himself to training towards Olympic medal as an ultimate goal.

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PHILEMON KIPLIMO KIMAIYO / KENYA

Philemon was born in Kasarani village, Trans Nzoia, Kenya; a place where “nothing is flat”. At home, everybody calls him Moh (derived from his given name “Kiplimo” which means - born among the grazing cattle). His best friend is Stephen Kiprop, the fastest adidas half marathoner of all-time and they come from the same area and are training together since their childhood. Philemon was raised in a large family, with four brothers and five sisters and he runs to support his siblings and to motivate the vulnerable athletes from his area to fulfil their dreams.

Before running his personal best of 59:28 in Houston, TX this year, Philemon’s best achievement was a victory, in his inaugural international season, at the prestigious 2019 B.A.A. Half Marathon.

Philemon believes that impossible is possible for true champions and his goal in sport is to cross the finish line first and strong.

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