Albert Yator

{{short description|Kenyan long-distance runner}}

{{MedalTableTop|sport =Men's athletics|nation=KEN|medals=

{{Medal|Competition|World Junior Championships}}

{{Medal|Silver |2010 Moncton|3000 m steeplechase}}

}}

Albert Kiptoo Yator (6 September 1993 – 5 February 2011)[http://www.tilastopaja.org/db/atm.php?ID=125193 Albert Yator]. Tilastopaja. Retrieved on 2011-05-29. was a Kenyan professional long-distance runner who specialised in the steeplechase.

Born in Iten, he was the brother of a former world junior record holder, Raymond Yator.Kibor, Fred (2014-04-17). [http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/lifestyle/article/2000109587/alcohol-robbed-kenya-of-an-athletics-champion Raymond Yator set a world record in athletics but alcohol cut his rise short]. Kenya Standard. Retrieved on 2016-04-10. He won his first and only international medal at the 2010 World Junior Championships in Athletics in Moncton, Canada, taking the silver medal in the 3000 metres steeplechase as part of a Kenyan 1–2 with Jonathan Muia Ndiku.[http://www.iaaf.org/WJC10/news/kind=100/newsid=57771.html Ndiku retains title as Kenyan Steeplechase tradition continues]. IAAF (2010-07-25). Retrieved on 2011-05-29. Having gained representation with PACE Sports Management, he made his debut on the major European track and field circuit later that year.[http://www.pacesportsmanagement.com/news_detail.asp?news_id=820 Vivian Cheruiyot wins diamond in Brussels] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723104833/http://www.pacesportsmanagement.com/news_detail.asp?news_id=820 |date=2011-07-23 }}. PACE Sports Management. Retrieved on 2011-05-29. At the Memorial van Damme Diamond League meeting in Brussels he came fifth in a personal best of 8:23.69 minutes – the fastest time by a youth level athlete that year,[http://www.athleticsweekly.com/news/world-junior-silver-medallist-albert-yator-17-passes-away/ World junior silver medallist Albert Yator, 17, passes away] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613045918/http://www.athleticsweekly.com/news/world-junior-silver-medallist-albert-yator-17-passes-away/ |date=2011-06-13 }}. Athletics Weekly (2011-02-07). Retrieved on 2011-05-29. and also the fourth fastest junior time.[http://www.iaaf.org/statistics/toplists/inout=o/age=j/season=2010/sex=M/all=n/legal=A/disc=3KSC/detail.html 3000 Metres Steeplechase junior 2010]. IAAF (2011-01-26). Retrieved on 2011-05-29.

Yator began his 2011 cross country season on the Athletics Kenya National Cross Series, coming sixth in the junior section.Mutuota, Mutwiri (2011-01-08). [http://www.iaaf.org/WXC11/news/kind=100/newsid=59019.html Chepng’etich’s momentum continues as AK XC series concludes in Iten]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-05-29. However, his running was interrupted by illness and he was admitted to Eldoret Hospital with suspected malaria. His health rapidly worsened and the young athlete died on 5 February at the age of seventeen due to what was later identified as bronchopneumonia.[http://www.athleticsweekly.com/news/albert-yator-cause-of-death-confirmed/ Albert Yator cause of death confirmed] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721064436/http://www.athleticsweekly.com/news/albert-yator-cause-of-death-confirmed/ |date=2011-07-21 }}. Athletics Weekly (2011-02-09). Retrieved on 2011-05-29. Noah Ngeny, the 2000 Olympic champion over 1500 metres, paid tribute to Yator, describing him as a "talented runner".