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Benjamin Kiplagat
Benjamin Kiplagat FBK Games 2010.jpg
Kiplagat in 2010
Born (1989-03-04)4 March 1989
Magoro, Uganda
Died 31 December 2023(2023-12-31) (aged 34)
Eldoret, Kenya
Occupation Long-distance runner

Benjamin Kiplagat (4 March 1989 – 31 December 2023) was a Ugandan long-distance runner specialising in the 3000 metres steeplechase.

Kiplagat took up running following the success of Boniface Kiprop, who is from the same village as Kiplagat, in the 2004 World Junior Championships. He began by competing in the 10,000 metres, but on the advice of his coach, he dropped down to the 1500 and 5000 m.

Kiplagat made his international debut at the 2006 World Cross Country Championships, having qualified by finishing 6th in the Ugandan Junior Cross Country Championships. That year he also qualified for the World Junior Championships. There, he set a new national junior record of 8:35.77, which he then lowered to 8:34.14 in the final, where he finished 6th.

In 2008, Kiplagat finished 4th in the World Cross Country Championships. That year, he lowered the Uganda record to 8:16.06 and then 8:14.29 before finishing second in the World Junior Championships.

Kiplagat's 2009 season was disrupted by malaria and typhoid, but he still managed to further lower the Ugandan national record to 8:12.98. He was again affected by malaria, and a boil on his leg, in 2010, but again lowered the Ugandan record to 8:03.81. He finished 4th at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Kiplagat was reported to have been killed, after his body was found in a car on 31 December 2023, near Eldoret in Kenya.

International competitions

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing  Uganda
2006 World Cross Country Championships Fukuoka, Japan 50th Short race (4 km) 11:31
World Junior Championships Beijing, China 6th 3,000 m st 8:34.14
2007 World Cross Country Championships Mombasa, Kenya 5th Junior race (8 km) 24:31
All-Africa Games Algiers, Algeria 7th 3,000 m st 8:34.83
World Championships Osaka, Japan 28th (h) 3,000 m st 8:40.65
2008 World Cross Country Championships Edinburgh, United Kingdom 4th Junior race (7.905 km) 22:43
World Junior Championships Bydgoszcz, Poland 2nd 3,000 m st 8:19.24
Olympic Games Beijing, China 9th 3,000 m st 8:20.27
2009 World Championships Berlin, Germany 11th 3,000 m st 8:17.82
2010 African Championships Nairobi, Kenya 5th 3,000 m st 8:32.03
Commonwealth Games Delhi, India 4th 3,000 m st 8:24.15
2011 World Championships Daegu, South Korea 10th 3,000 m st 8:22.21
2012 African Championships Porto Novo, Benin 3rd 3,000 m st 8:18.73
Olympic Games London, United Kingdom 6th (h) 3,000 m st 8:18.44
2013 World Championships Moscow, Russia 14th 3,000 m st 8:31.09
2015 World Championships Beijing, China 31st (h) 3,000 m st 8:54.46
2016 Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 19th (h) 3000 m st 8:30.76
2019 World Championships Doha, Qatar 18th (h) 3000 m s'chase 8:24.44

Personal bests

  • 1500 m – 3:38.86 (Nijmegen 2009)
  • 3000 m – 7:46.50 (Dakar 2010)
  • 5000 m – 13:22.67 (Kassel 2007)
  • 10,000 m – 29:03.1 (Bugembe 2006)
  • 2000 m st – 5:41.1 (Nairobi 2005)
  • 3000 m st – 8:03.81 (Lausanne 2010)
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