Philemon Kiprono Kemboi: Difference between revisions

'''Philemon Kiprono Kemboi''' (born 1974) is a former [[long-distance running|long-distance runner]] who competed in [[Africa]], [[China]], [[Europe]] and the [[United States]], where he won the [[Grandma's Marathon]] in 2010.<ref name="arrs">{{cite web |title=Philemon Kiprono Kemboi|publisher=Association of Road Racing Statisticians |date=2022|location=Mattole Valley, California|editor1=Ken Young|editor2=Andy Milroy|url=https://more.arrs.run/runner/27515|url-status=live|access-date=1 October 2022|language=en |archiveurl=|archivedate=}}</ref><ref name="worldathletics">{{cite web |title=Philemon Kiprono Kemboi|publisher=World Athletics |date=2022|location=Monaco |url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/kenya/philemon-kiprono-kemboi-14327424|access-date=1 October 2022 |language=en |url-status=live|archiveurl=|archivedate=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Pat|last=Borzi|title=Grandma’s Marathon, Duluth’s unofficial summer kickoff, is both world-class event and big old party|date=19 June 2010|url=https://www.superiortelegram.com/news/kenyan-kemboi-wins-grandmas-marathon|website=Superior Telegram|location=Superior, Wisconsin|access-date=1 October 2022|language=en}}</ref>

In 2008, he finished in the top 10 at the [[IAAF]] gold-labeled [[Ljubljana Marathon]].

One of his first big finishes was at the {{ill|Bonn-Marathon|de}} in [[Germany]], where he raced close to the eventual winner {{ill|Vincent Kipchirchir|de}} before finishing third in 2:14:03.<ref name="arrs" />

In June of 2010, Kemboi traveled to the [[United States]] for the first time ever, landing in [[Duluth, Minnesota]], for the point-to-point marathon race along the shore of [[Lake Superior]]. More than 7,000 were registered for the [[Grandma's Marathon]] (named for its first sponsor, Grandma's Restaurant). After being founded in 1977, the race has been a destination for many runners in the [[United States]]. Kemboi appeared strong at the start, then stayed behind leaders [[Christopher Kipyego]] and [[Marrakech Marathon]]-winner David Rutoh until mile 23, and surged to take the lead at mile 25. He won the race in 2:15:44, and took home $10,900 in winnings.<ref name="strib">{{cite news|first=Rachel|last=Blount|title=Africans Make It Look Easy: Running in only his fourth marathon, Philemon Kemboi led a pack of Kenyans|work=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|language=en|department=sports|page=C9}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Kevin|last=Pates|title=Kenyan Kemboi wins Grandma's Marathon men's title|date=19 June 2010|work=Duluth News Tribune|location=Duluth, Minnesota|publisher=Forum Communications Company|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Pat|last=Borzi|title=Grandma’s Marathon, Duluth’s unofficial summer kickoff, is both world-class event and big old party|date=21 June 2010|url=https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2010/06/grandmas-marathon-duluths-unofficial-summer-kickoff-both-world-class-event-a/|website=MinnPost|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|access-date=1 October 2022|language=en}}</ref>

In October of 2010, as water was pooling in [[St. Mark's Square (Venice)|St. Mark's Square]] and the city of [[Venice]] pulled up their [[galoshes]], Kemboi arrived to race. He dueled with other Kenyans and Ethiopians and ended up finishing 5th (clocking 2:12:45) in the 25th [[Venice Marathon]].<ref>{{cite news|editor=Hugh Jones|title=Venice Marathon, Italy |url=https://aims-worldrunning.org/results-new/2010_10.htm|website=aims-worldrunning.org|date=October 24, 2010|publisher=Association of International Marathons and Road Races|location=Athens, Greece|access-date=1 October 2022|language=en|archiveurl=|archivedate=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Ralf|last=Klink|title=Über Land und übers Wasser|url=https://www.laufreport.de/reisen/archiv/venedig/venedig.htm|website=laufreport.de|date=October 24, 2010|access-date=1 October 2022|language=de|archiveurl=|archivedate=}}</ref>

In 2011, he ran at the {{ill|Marathon de Toulouse Métropole|fr}}, finishing in 2:13:26 for fourth. He was a top finisher at the [[Hong Kong Marathon]] the same year.<ref name="worldathletics" /> By 2012, he was 38, and mostly out of professional running. He entered the [[Mount Kilimanjaro|Mount Kilimanjaro Half Marathon]] where his 1:08:21 was only good enough for 44th place.<ref>{{cite web|title=2012 Mount Kilimanjaro Half Marathon Results|url=https://www.yumpu.com/id/document/read/9560951/2012-half-marathon-results-the-kilimanjaro-marathon|website=yumpu.com|date=2012|format=PDF|access-date=20 October 2022|language=en|archiveurl=|archivedate=}}</ref>

Kemboi is from [[Malaba, Kenya|Malaba]], [[Kenya]], where his family farms. He ran as a professional from the years 2007–2013 and had problems with his [[Visa requirements for United States citizens|visa]] that prevented him from competing in the United States after 2010.<ref>{{cite news|first=Kevin|last=Pates|title=Defending Grandma's Marathon champion out of race|date=15 June 2011|work=Duluth News Tribune|agency=McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |location=Duluth, Minnesota|language=en}}</ref><ref name="strib" />