Dennis KimettoHome: Eldoret, KenyaBib: #3 Pronunciation: Den-nis Key-met-toe Birthdate: 22 January 1984 Personal Best: 2:03:45 (Chicago, 2013) |
| 13Oct13 | Bank of America Chicago Marathon | 1st | 2:03:45 CR |
| 24Feb13 | Tokyo Marathon | 1st | 2:06:50 |
| 30 Sep12 | BMW Berlin Marathon | 2nd | 2:04:16 |
| 06May12 | Berlin Big 25K | 1st | 1:11:18 WR |
| 01Apr12 | Berlin Half Marathon | 1st | 59:14 |
| 17Feb12 | Ras Al Khaimah International Half Marathon | 1st | 1:00:40 |
| 30Oct11 | Nairobi Standard Chartered Half Marathon | 1st | 1:01:30 |
Dennis Kimetto announced his arrival on the global marathon scene with a 2:04:16 debut at the 2012 Berlin Marathon, the fastest in history on a standard course. (Moses Mosop ran a 2:03:06 debut in Boston in 2011.) Kimetto finished second to his teammate and 2011 Boston Marathon champion Geoffrey Mutai by one second. Also in 2012, Kimetto set a 25K world record at the Berlin Big 25, where he crossed the line in 1:11:18, won the Berlin Half Marathon in a personal best 59:14 and won the Ras Al Khaimah International Half Marathon.
Kimetto chose Tokyo as his first marathon in 2013 and set a course record (which has since been improved to 2:05:42 by Dickson Chumba) as he finished eight seconds ahead of his teammate and defending champion Michael Kipyego. In the fall, he ran to a commanding win at the Chicago Marathon and set a new course record of 2:03:45. His sub 2:04 performance in Chicago was only 22 seconds off Wilson Kipsang’s 2:03:23 world record set at the 2013 Berlin Marathon.
Kimetto trains in Kapng’etuny with a large group of runners, including 2011 Boston champion Geoffrey Mutai. A pivotal moment for Kimetto was when he broke the world record in the 25K. “I was honored in my country as “Athlete of the Year,” says Kimetto. “This let me know my country was happy for me and that they appreciated what I accomplish as a runner.” Kimetto is married to Caroline, and the couple has a son, Alfer Kibet. When he is not training, Kimetto is a farmer. He also helps build churches in his community and assists students with their school fees. “I also help young athletes who are at the start of their running career, because they are now like I also used to be in the past and I know how important it is to be helped at the start,” says Kimetto. “In the future they are the world record holders and champions, so I find it important to help them.” Kimetto says his nickname is ‘Mwafrica’.