Mark Kiptoo

The affable long-distance runner Mark Kosgey Kiptoo specialises in the 5000m event. He is a tw0-time gold medalist and a tw0-time bronze medalist. He has also represented his native Kenya at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships and in the All-Africa Games. He set the world record in the marathon for the Masters age group (40 years old and over) by running 2:07:50 in the 2018 Frankfurt Marathon. His personal best times are 7:32.97 mins in the 3000m, 12:53.46 mins in the 5000m, and 27:14:67 mins in the 10,000m.

Born and raised in the Lugari District of Kenya, Kiptoo didn’t begin taking an interest in athletics until after he had joined the Kenyan Armed Forces. He trained at an air-force technical college for four years, and then later at his posting in Laikipia Air Base. His military duties sent him as part of the Kenyan peace-keeping contingent of the UN operation in Burundi, but upon his return to Kenya, he began preparing for the cross country running season. He reached the top ten in two of the meets and earned a place at the Kenyan National Cross Country Championships. After switching to track running, he had more success and earned a call-up for Kenya at the All-Africa Games. Then in 2007 he won a gold in the 5000m and a silver in the 10,000m at the Military World Games. 2010 saw him achieve two bronze medals, one at the African Championships and one at the Commonwealth Games. Then, in 2011, he won gold at the Military World Games in the 5000m event. The 2012 African Championships saw him take a silver in 10,000m and gold in the 5000m.

Kiptoo is not very prolific on social media, but he does occasionally post via his Facebook page about his life both on and off the track.