Age is just a number: Kenyan stars who are not ready to exit track

Kenyan athletes have defied many odds to rise from junior to senior ranks, eventually making history globally.

But a number of them have defied age to stun younger counterparts.

Aging like fine wine, their endurance is unmatched as they get into their 40s and still endure challenges in hotly contested races.

By mid-30s, many athletes sign off as youngsters begin to rule the roost.

Take for instance, the never aging marathon legend, Ednah Kiplagat, 44, who raced to third place at the 2024 Boston Marathon in April.

Kiplagat has bullishly defied age to deliver stellar performances way after attaining masters status.

Her third place at the Boston Marathon in April left athletics enthusiasts surprised.

The marathon legend was competing with global stars almost half her age in the Boston Marathon showdown.

Kiplagat shot to fame in 1996 when she bagged a silver medal at the World Junior Championships in Sydney, Australia.

She has ruled World Marathon Majors in her career spanning 29 years.

Kiplagat has claimed two victories in Boston, that is, in 2017 and in 2021 when she was 41 years old.

She won the New York City and London Marathons in 2010 and 2014.

Ultimately, Kiplagat made history by winning gold medals for Kenya at the 2011 Daegu and 2013 Moscow World Marathons back-to-back, these historic victories made her one of Kenya’s decorated athletes.

After her third place in Boston, Kiplagat told KTN in an interview that the competition was intense and that she had prepared well for it.

“It was an exhilarating race, and I am delighted that we achieved a Kenyan podium sweep. The competition was intense, with many athletes at their peak. I knew I had to be at my best to remain competitive,” Kiplagat said.

At the 2012 London Marathon, Kiplagat ran her personal best of 2:19:50.

You are wrong if you thought Edna Kiplagat was the oldest Kenyan star still ruling the roads.

Mark Kiptoo, a senior sergeant at Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) stunningly claimed victory at the Zurich Marathon on April 21 after running 2:12:31.

Kiptoo is 48 years old. He won Zurich when he was 46.

Born in Lumino Village in Kenya’s Lugari District in June 1976, Kiptoo attended Lumino Primary School before transitioning to Mukumu Boys High School.

After completing high school in 1996, he joined the Kenya Army and trained at the air-force Technical College for four years before he was later posted to Laikipia Air Base in 2002. 

It was during his time at the base that he was encouraged to take part in athletics, representing his technical squad.

In 2005 and 2006 he was sent as part of the Kenyan peace-keeping contingent of the United Nations Operation in Burundi in the final period of a civil war that devastated the East African nation.

He set the world record in the marathon for the Masters age group (40 and over) by running 2:07:50 in the 2018 Frankfurt Marathon.

Kiptoo, who loves visiting camps to encourage budding talents, was a 5000m specialist throughout his career. He is a two-time gold medalist in the event at the Military World Games and won bronze medals over the distance at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the 2010 African Championships in Athletics.

When asked about his longevity in athletics, he says: “It is all about healthy food and taking care of your body. Training hard has meant that my results are good. I have also mastered my body and I listen to it most of the time. I can’t train too hard when the body is not responding well. I ensure I take enough rest as I give the body time to regenerate.”

He also attributes his longevity in athletics to discipline and commitment to the running career.

The discipline inculcated in the military seems to be fueling Kiptoo long stay in long-distance running.

“When you focus, and be disciplined, you can achieve much whether upcoming or experienced,” he during an interview after winning the Zurich Marathon.

Leah Malot, who became a nominated Member of the County Assembly in Uasin Gishu from 2017 to 2022 ran for 27 years.

The former All-African Games champion started her professional career in athletics with a historic 10,000m win at the 1987 All-Africa Games when she was only 15 years old.

She won the All-Africa race barefoot, she recalls.

During her prime, Malot competed with Mary Rono, the wife of Peter Rono, the 1998 Olympic 1500m gold medallist.

“I can attribute my success in athletics to hard training and eating natural food. I ate sukuma wiki (kales), ugali and milk during my career. We would train as a team,” she said in interview.

She continued: “I remind budding athletes that there are no shortcuts in the game. They have to train hard the way we did in our days. They need to think of a healthy lifestyle and shun banned substances. There is a need for them to run clean.”

Two-time Olympic champion and a multiple World Marathon Majors winner Eliud Kipchoge has defied age.

As he turns 40 on November 5 this year, the legend will be making history as the marathon GOAT.

He represented Kenya in 5,000m in 2004 Athens and brought home a bronze and has participated in the Olympics since then, with the last one staged in Paris, 20 years later. He however did not defend his title.

“Running is a profession. It is not about how long someone has been in the profession. My aim in going to Paris is to tell everyone that longevity in the sport will give the time to expose your career. I am happy to be in the team,” Kipchoge said.

Isaiah Kosgei, a 50-year-old marathoner has also declared that he was in the career to stay.

Four years ago, Kosgei switched to charity racing to build schools and support needy students in Uasin Gishu.

He is getting ready to run the Berlin Marathon (September 25) and New York City Marathon (November 3) to raise funds as he continues with charity.

“All my peers have retired. After completing my secondary school education at 41, I decided to use road running to support the education of children from underprivileged backgrounds like me,” he says.

During his prime, Kosgei finished in podium places in several races including a runner-up at the 2005 Kampala International Marathon, third position at the 2011 Karlsruhe Baden Marathon and a similar place at the 2005 edition of See Genezareth Tiberias Marathon among other stellar performances.