Wilson Chebet

Running in Kenya, he began entering elite competitions as a teenager: he placed top-ten at the 2004 Tegla Loroupe Peace Race and he took second place in a 15K road race in January 2005 behind Clement Koech.{{cite news|last=Macharia|first=David|date=20 November 2004|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/loroupes-peace-race-title-successfully-defend|title=Loroupe's Peace Race title successfully defended by Plimo|publisher= IAAF|access-date=14 May 2016}}{{cite news|last=Okoth|first=Omulo|date=8 January 2005|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/kipchoge-wins-in-eldoret-ak-weekend-xc-sixt|title=Kipchoge wins in Eldoret – AK Weekend XC, sixth race|publisher=IAAF|access-date=14 May 2016}} He made his debut on the European circuit later that year, winning at the Route du Vin Half Marathon in September in 1:02:19 and then going on to finish tenth at the Paris 20K the following month.[http://www.aims-association.org/results/2005_09.htm 25 SEPTEMBER 2005: 44TH DEXIA BIL ROUTE DU VIN HALF MARATHON, LUXEMBOURG]. Association of International Marathons and Distance Races. Retrieved 20 October 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.iaaf.org/statistics/toplists/inout=o/age=n/season=2005/sex=M/all=n/legal=A/disc=20RR/detail.html|title=20 Kilometres 2005|publisher=IAAF|access-date=20 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108182440/http://www.iaaf.org/statistics/toplists/inout=o/age=n/season=2005/sex=M/all=n/legal=A/disc=20RR/detail.html|archive-date=8 January 2011|date=30 January 2006}} In January 2006 he returned to his native country and ran at the Discovery Kenya Cross Country and finished third in a long race won by Moses Masai.{{cite news|last=Okoth|first=Omulo|date=30 January 2006|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/masai-and-ochichi-are-dominant-discovery-cr|title=Masai and Ochichi are dominant – Discovery Cross and Kenyan Police Cross|publisher= IAAF|access-date=14 May 2016}} He ran a series of races in Spain from March to April, starting with a win at the Ribarroja del Turia Half Marathon, before taking third in the Azkoitia-Azpeitia race, second at the Málaga Half Marathon behind Silas Sang and ending with a podium finish at the Gran Fondo Nacional Villa de Massamagrell.[http://www.rfea.es/competi/resultados_otros/2006_5al.pdf Pruebas de Ruta 2006] {{in lang|es}}. RFEA. Retrieved 21 October 2010.

His 2006 season peaked at road races in the United States: he won America's Finest City Half Marathon in San Diego with a time of 1:02:38 and later that month he ran at the Crim 10-Mile Race and was the runner-up Samuel Kosgei.Leydig, Jack (16 August 2010). [https://www.arrs.run/HP_AFCHM.htm America's Finest City Half Marathon]. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 20 October 2010.{{cite news|last=Sailer|first=Victah|date=26 August 2006|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/kosgei-and-alevtina-triumph-at-crim-1|title=Kosgei and Alevtina triumph at Crim 10|publisher=IAAF|access-date=14 May 2016}} Two months later he won the Medical Center 10K Classic in Bowling Green, Kentucky.[https://www.arrs.run/HP_BGn10.htm Medical Center Classic 10 km]. ARRS (9 November 2010). Retrieved 20 October 2010. He returned to the Route du Vin race in 2007 and took his second win, this time setting a course record of 1:00:13 (a personal best).Bouillé, Alain (28 September 2010). [https://www.arrs.run/HP_RVnHM.htm Route du Vin Half Marathon]. ARRS. Retrieved 20 October 2010. He also won at the Marseille-Cassis Classique Internationale in France – his time of 59:24 was the second fastest winning time for the course.[https://www.arrs.run/HP_MCa20.htm Marseille-Cassis 20.3 km]. ARRS (27 October 2009). Retrieved on 20 October 2010. In December that year he ran at the Lagos Half Marathon and finished runner-up to Dieudonné Disi.{{cite news|last=Thobi|first=Louisette|date=9 December 2007|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/disi-and-chepkurui-triumph-ahead-of-40000-in|title=Disi and Chepkurui triumph ahead of 40,000 in Lagos|publisher=IAAF|access-date=14 May 2016}}

He ran extensively in 2008, beginning with a second-place run at the Granollers Half Marathon behind then world record holder Samuel Wanjiru.{{cite news|last=Valiente|first=Emeterio|date=4 February 2008 |url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/wanjiru-takes-overwhelming-5929-half-marathon|title=Wanjiru takes overwhelming 59:29 Half Marathon win in Granollers|publisher=IAAF|access-date=14 May 2016}} Surprisingly, he ran in the Barcelona Half Marathon only seven days later and managed to finish as runner-up to Jacob Yator.[http://www.sport.es/default.asp?idpublicacio_PK=44&idioma=CAS&idnoticia_PK=481879&idseccio_PK=809 Jacob Yator se llevó la Mitja Marató de Barcelona] {{in lang|es}}. Sport.es (10 February 2008). Retrieved 21 October 2010. This was followed by a fourth place at the Paris Half Marathon in March and a second victory at the Ribarroja Half Marathon in April.{{cite news|last=Vazel|first=P-J|date=2 March 2008|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/kibiwot-cheruyiot-take-paris-half-marathon-ti|title=Kibiwot, Cheruyiot take Paris Half-Marathon titles|publisher=IAAF|access-date=14 May 2016}}[http://www.rfea.es/competi/result2008/report/2008esp11.pdf Abril 2008] {{in lang|es}}. Real Federación Española de Atletismo. Retrieved 21 October 2010. He ran under an hour for the half marathon in September, clocking a time of 59:33 for third place behind world medallists Evans Cheruiyot and Patrick Makau at the Rotterdam Half Marathon.{{cite news|last=van Hemert|first=Wim|date=14 September 2008|url=http://www.iaaf.org/LRR08/news/newsid=47730.html|title=Double Kenyan victory, as six go sub-60 in Rotterdam|publisher=IAAF|access-date=21 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091019005504/http://www.iaaf.org/LRR08/news/newsid=47730.html|archive-date=19 October 2009}} Looking for a title defence, he returned to the Marseille-Cassis race and managed to fend off a challenge from Disi (his rival in Lagos) to increase his winning streak.{{cite news|last=Vazel|first=P-J|date=26 October 2008|access-date=14 May 2016|title=Favourites Chebet and Chenonge collect Marseille-Cassis titles|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/favourites-chebet-and-chenonge-collect-marsei|publisher=IAAF}} He was among the leaders at the Delhi Half Marathon in September, his last major run of the year, and he was one second off his personal best with a third-place finish.{{cite news|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/three-go-sub-60-as-ethiopia-sweep-titles-in-d|title=Three go sub-60, as Ethiopia sweep titles in Delhi Half Marathon|publisher=IAAF|date=9 December 2008|access-date=14 May 2016}}

He knocked a second off his best in a quick RAK Half Marathon in February 2009, where the winner Patrick Makau set the second fastest mark ever.{{cite news|last=Minshull|first=Phil|date=20 February 2009|url= http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/makau-produces-second-fastest-time-ever-tune|title=Makau produces second fastest time ever, Tune clocks national record at RAK Half Marathon – updated|publisher=IAAF|access-date=14 May 2016}} He gained his first major win over 20 km in the Netherlands three weeks later at the 20 van Alphen race.{{cite news|last=van Hemert|first=Wim |date=20 March 2009|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/chebet-and-wangui-the-winners-at-a-very-windy|title=Chebet and Wangui, the winners at a very windy Alphen 20km|publisher=IAAF|access-date=14 May 2016}} He was employed as the pacemaker for the Rotterdam Marathon and excelled in the role, leading and keeping the pace strong among the racers – work which resulted in Duncan Kibet completing the third fastest ever time for the marathon.{{cite news|last=van Hemert|first=Wim|date=5 April 2009|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/kibet-edges-kwambai-as-both-clock-20427-rot|title=Kibet edges Kwambai as both clock 2:04:27 – Rotterdam Marathon|publisher=IAAF|access-date=14 May 2016}} Following this, he managed half marathon wins at the Pardubice Wine Half-Marathon and Rabat International Half-Marathon.{{cite web|url=http://www.iaaf.org/statistics/toplists/inout=o/age=n/season=2009/sex=M/all=n/legal=A/disc=HMAR/detail.html|title=Half Marathon 2009|publisher=IAAF|date=20 April 2010|access-date=21 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100802141018/http://www.iaaf.org/statistics/toplists/inout=o/age=n/season=2009/sex=M/all=n/legal=A/disc=HMAR/detail.html|archive-date=2 August 2010}} He ran at the tenth edition of the Bogota International Half Marathon in August, but was beaten to the finish line by Isaac Macharia.{{cite news|last=Kuehls|first=David|date=2 August 2009|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/macharia-and-cheromei-victorious-in-bogota|title=Macharia and Cheromei victorious in Bogota|publisher=IAAF|access-date=14 May 2016}} His best run of the year came at the Rotterdam Half Marathon as he set a new best of 59:15 for the event, which was the seventh fastest time by any athlete in 2009. However, such was the quality of the race, this fast time was only enough for fifth place in Rotterdam.{{cite news|last=van Hemert|first=Wim|date=13 September 2009|url=http://www.iaaf.org/WHM09/news/kind=100/newsid=54356.html|title=Kitwara blazes 58:58 in Rotterdam|publisher=IAAF|access-date=21 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091226191710/http://www.iaaf.org/WHM09/news/kind=100/newsid=54356.html|archive-date=26 December 2009}} The performance earned him his first international selection Kenya and he took sixth place in the men's race at the 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Birmingham, a finish which earned him the team gold medal alongside Bernard Kiprop Kipyego and Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich.{{cite web|url=http://www.iaaf.org/whm09/results/eventCode=4142/sex=M/discCode=HMAR/combCode=hash/roundCode=f/team.html#det|title=2009 World Half Marathon Championships Official Team Results – Men|publisher=IAAF|date=11 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914144037/http://www.iaaf.org/whm09/results/eventCode=4142/sex=M/discCode=HMAR/combCode=hash/roundCode=f/team.html |archive-date=14 September 2010|access-date=21 October 2010}}

The Zayed International Half Marathon was his first stop of 2010, but he only managed to finish in sixth.{{cite news|last=Zorzi|first=Alberto|date=8 January 2010|access-date=14 May 2016|title=Fast wins for Keitany and Regassa in Abu Dhabi Half|publisher=IAAF|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/fast-wins-for-keitany-and-regassa-in-abu-dhab}} He set his sights on completing the Prague Half Marathon unbeaten: "Although I have run better than 60 minutes four times, I have not won. I need now to win one in under one hour".{{cite news|last=Butcher|first=Pat|date=25 March 2010|url=http://www.iaaf.org/LRR10/news/newsid=56271.html|title=Gunning for the one-hour mark at Prague Half Marathon – PREVIEW|publisher=IAAF|access-date=21 October 2010|archive-date=12 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612091513/http://www.iaaf.org/LRR10/news/newsid=56271.html}} He left the race with his desire unfulfilled, however, as he finished in over an hour behind fellow countryman Joel Kemboi.{{cite news|last=Butcher|first=Pat|date=27 March 2010|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/kenyan-double-in-prague-kosgei-defends-her-ti|title=Kenyan double in Prague… Kosgei defends her title|publisher=IAAF|access-date=14 May 2016}} After doing pacemaking duties at the Lake Biwa Marathon,{{cite news|last=Nakamura|first=Ken|date=7 March 2010|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/tsegay-takes-lake-biwa-crown|title=Tsegay takes Lake Biwa crown|publisher=IAAF|access-date=14 May 2016}} he was present at Haile Gebrselassie's sports resort opening in May and won the inaugural Everyone Half Marathon in Addis Ababa.{{cite news|last1=Mochizuki|first1=Jiro|last2=Finn|first2=Richard|date=4 May 2010|url=http://en.olympic.cn/news/sports_news/2010-05-04/2011091.html|title=With races as a backdrop, Gebrselassie inaugurates new resort in Ethiopia|work=IAAF|publisher=Chinese Olympic Committee|access-date=14 May 2016}} He returned to Europe that month to run at the Göteborgsvarvet half marathon and he was the second runner across the line after Sammy Kirui Kiprono.[http://runinfinity.com/2010/05/goteborg-half-marathon-2010-results.html Kiprono, Gobena win at Goteborg Half Marathon]. Run Infinity (22 May 2010). Retrieved 21 October 2010.

Travelling to the United States in August, he entered the Beach to Beacon 10K in Cape Elizabeth, Maine but relinquished his lead in the final stages to end up third behind Gebregziabher Gebremariam and Alan Kiprono.{{cite news|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/course-record-for-chepkurui-in-cape-elizabeth|title=Course record for Chepkurui in Cape Elizabeth 10K|publisher=IAAF|access-date=14 May 2016}} Chebet and Gebre went head-to-head a week later at the Falmouth Road Race but again the Kenyan was beaten to the finish, finishing one second behind his Ethiopian counterpart.{{cite news|url=http://www.iaaf.org/WHM10/news/kind=100/newsid=57997.html|title=Gebremariam and Yimer the winners in Falmouth|publisher=IAAF|date=16 August 2010|access-date=21 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018175951/http://www.iaaf.org/WHM10/news/kind=100/newsid=57997.html|archive-date=18 October 2010}} He took part in the Amsterdam Marathon in October and this time he left the pacemaking duties to Jamal Baligha as he marked his competitive debut over the full 42.195 km distance. Ethiopian Getu Feleke was running at course record pace, but Chebet was the only runner to challenge him. Although Getu eventually won the race almost half a minute ahead of him, Chebet finished the race with a time of 2:06:12 – the second fastest ever time for a marathon debut after Evans Rutto's debut winning run at the 2003 Chicago Marathon. Although victory had yet again evaded the Kenyan, he was pleased and confident with the result: "This is great making your debut with the second fastest (such time) ever. I’m happy. I know now what a marathon is and I think I can do faster."{{cite news|last=van Hemert|first=Wim|date=17 October 2010|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/getu-feleke-sets-amsterdam-course-record-2054 |title=Getu Feleke sets Amsterdam course record: 2:05:44|publisher=IAAF|access-date=14 May 2016}}

In April 2011, he won his first marathon, at Rotterdam, in the year's best time of 2:05:27 – six seconds ahead of his village mate Vincent Kipruto.{{cite news|title=Chebet impresses with 2:05:27 victory in Rotterdam|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/chebet-impresses-with-20527-victory-in-rotter|publisher=IAAF|date=10 April 2011|access-date=14 May 2016}} He placed third in the Bogotá Half Marathon in August.{{cite news|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/mutai-and-chepkirui-the-winners-in-bogota|title=Mutai and Chepkirui the winners in Bogota|publisher=IAAF|access-date=14 May 2016|date=1 August 2011}} He recorded a second consecutive win and sub-2:06 run at the 2011 Amsterdam Marathon, finishing just outside the course record with his time of 2:05:53 hours.{{cite news|last= van Hemert|first=Wim|date=16 October 2011|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/chebet-sizzles-sub-206-course-record-for-gela|title=Chebet sizzles sub-2:06, course record for Gelana in Amsterdam|publisher=IAAF|access-date= 14 May 2016}} His first major race of 2012 came at the Boston Marathon, where he came in fifth place.{{cite news|url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/sports/2012/04/16/boston-marathon-results-kenya-wesley-korir-cherop-win/|title=Boston Marathon Results Kenya's Wesley Korir, Cherop win|agency=Fox News|date=16 April 2012|access-date=27 April 2012}} He was third at the lower profile Bogotá Half Marathon in July.{{cite news|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/kirui-and-cherono-dominate-bogota-half-marath|title=Kirui and Cherono dominate Bogotá Half Marathon|publisher=IAAF|date=30 July 2012|access-date=14 May 2016}} In October he won the Amsterdam Marathon with a time of 2:05:41, a new course record.{{cite news|url= http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/chebet-and-hailu-break-course-records-in-amst|title=Chebet and Hailu break course records in Amsterdam – REPORT|publisher=IAAF|date=21 October 2012|access-date=14 May 2016}}

The following year he was fourth at the World's Best 10K and third at the Tilburg Ten Miles. He made a triumphant return at the Amsterdam Marathon, improving his own record to 2:05:36 hours.{{cite news |last=van den Brink|first=Cors|date=20 October 2013|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/chebet-breaks-amsterdam-course-record-with-th|title=Chebet breaks Amsterdam course record with third victory in a row|publisher=IAAF|access-date=21 October 2013}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{World Athletics}}

{{Footer Rotterdam Marathon Champions Men}}

{{Footer Amsterdam Marathon Champions Men}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Chebet, Wilson}}

Category:1985 births

Category:Living people

Category:Athletes from Elgeyo-Marakwet County

Category:Kenyan male long-distance runners

Category:Kenyan male marathon runners

Category:21st-century Kenyan sportsmen