Ben Jipcho
 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 March 1943 (age 81) Mount Elgon District, Western Province, Kenya |
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| Weight | 71 kg (157 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Event | 1500-5000 m |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) | 1500 m – 3:33.16 (1974) 5000 m – 13:14.3 (1974) 3000 mS – 8:13.91 (1973) |
Benjamin Wabura "Ben" Jipcho (born 1 March 1943) is a former athlete from Kenya, who won the silver medal in the 3000 meters steeplechase at the 1972 Summer Olympics, behind his teammate Kipchoge Keino.[1]
Jipcho won the 5000 metres race in the 1973 All-Africa Games. He also won the gold medal in the 5000 m and 3000 m steeplechase, and the bronze medal in the 1500 meters at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Jipcho may be as well known for his role in Keino's victory over Jim Ryun in the high altitude 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City as for his own athletic accomplishments. Sacrificing his own chances for a medal to team tactics, he pulled Keino through a 56-second first 400 meters, before being passed by his teammate with 800 meters to go and drifting back into the pack. By that point, Keino had established a lead of 20 meters or more, which Ryun's famous finishing speed could not erase.[2] Jipcho later apologized to Ryun for acting as Keino's rabbit.
He was later quoted:
- "Running for money doesn't make you run fast. It makes you run first."[3]
His granddaughter Esther Chemutai is also a runner,[4] while he is a distant uncle to the siblings Linet Masai and Moses Masai.[5]
References
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Ben Jipcho". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2012-01-31.
- ^ Chan, Andy (July 27, 2010) Team Tactics at Championship Races. Pamakidscoach.wordpress.com
- ^ Oliver, Brian (2014). The Commonwealth Games: Extraordinary Stories Behind the Medals. A&C Black. p. 99. ISBN 978-1-4729-0732-5.
- ^ The Standard, 4 August 2009: Jipcho’s granddaughter wipes tears
- ^ The Standard, 20 August 2009: Mt Elgon celebrates Masai’s triumph
External links
Commonwealth Games champions in men's 5000 metres | |
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| 3 miles (1930–1966) |
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| 5000 metres (1970–present) |
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Commonwealth Games champions in men's 3000 metres steeplechase | |
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| 2 miles steeplechase (1930–1934) |
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| 3000 metres steeplechase (1970–present) |
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| Artists | |
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| People | |
- 1943 births
- Living people
- Kenyan male middle-distance runners
- Olympic athletes of Kenya
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1968 Summer Olympics
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1972 Summer Olympics
- Olympic silver medalists for Kenya
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games
- Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Kenya
- Commonwealth Games medallists in athletics
- Kenyan male steeplechase runners
- Medalists at the 1972 Summer Olympics
- Olympic silver medalists in athletics (track and field)
- African Games gold medalists for Kenya
- African Games medalists in athletics (track and field)