Upon the prospective peak of Joshua Cheptegei’s long-distance running career on track, his coach Addy Ruiter began searching for replacements around the Covid-19 period.
One name that has stood for long is Keneth Kiprop. The 21-year-old has occasionally been held back by a spate of injuries but he has remained focused and patient.
The feeling is that Kiprop could eventually announce his grand arrival at the senior level of track long-distance running next month at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Ahead of the trip to the Scottish capital, Kiprop struck delight when he won at the men’s 5000 metres race during the Fanny Blankers-Koen (FBK) Games in Hengelo, Netherlands on Sunday.
Guided by Ruiter’s notes, he measured the hot conditions well to beat a field of 19 runners to win in a time of 13 minutes and 13.43 seconds at the FBK Stadium.
‘It was not easy, the weather was tough,’ a happy Kiprop said. This marked Kiprop’s first 5000 metres race win at an international race since he professionally started out in 2022.
‘When we were at the start line, I said to myself: ‘I must win this race’. It was my first time racing in Hengelo, and I enjoyed the race,’ he said.
‘During the last metres, the only thing in my mind was: ‘I must sprint to win this race’. For the upcoming season, I want to race well at the Commonwealth Games,’ he added.
Kiprop beat Eritrean Saymon Amanuel to the win while the Ugandan’s compatriot Dolphine Chelimo earned a personal best mark of 13:13.72.
‘The boys ran very well and smart,’ Ruiter heaped praise on Kiprop and Chelimo, 20, who came seventh in the senior men’s race during the World Athletics Cross-Country Championships in Florida, USA back in January.
They thrived in hot conditions of 30 degrees Centigrade. ‘I told them not to run too fast in the first 3km because of the conditions. Slowly, they moved up and took the lead, beating guys with PBs below 13 minutes,’ Ruiter added.
In the early periods, Dutch man Lars Laros led, taking the field through 1000 metres in 2:37.31 minutes and Ethiopian Teshager Alemayehu controlled the middle stages.
By the 4000 metres, Kiprop was in the lead and handled the pressure impressively. With a bronze medal to show from the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru, Kiprop could have the nation’s attention in Glasgow.
That’s irrespective of the fact that he has not yet dipped under 13 minutes in his career. However, the victory on the Hengelo track is a huge confidence booster.
Meanwhile, Halimah Nakaayi withered in the last 65 metres to finish sixth in a time of 1:59.88 during the women’s 800 metres race won by crowd’s favourite Dutch Femke Broeders-Bol.
2026 FBK GAMES HENGELO RESULTS
MEN’S 5000 METRES
1 Keneth Kiprop (UGA) 13:13.43
2 Saymon Amanuel (ERI) 13:13.48
3 Dolphine Chelimo (UGA) 13:13.72
WOMEN’S 800 METRES
1 Femke Broeders-Bol (NED) 1:57.41
2 Abbey Caldwell (AUS) 1:58.22
3 Clara Liberman (FRA) 1:58.69
4 Majtie Kolberg (GER) 1:58.78
5 Valentina Rosamilia (SUI) 1:59.75
6 Halimah Nakaayi (UGA) 1:59.88
KIPROP AT A GLANCE
Full Name: Keneth Kiprop
Date of birth: May 13, 2005
Major Race: 5000 Metres, 10000 Metres
Personal Bests: 13:00.49, 27:47.91
Coaches: Denis Okudach, Addy Ruiter
International Manager: Valentijn Trouw
Management: Global Sports Communication
KIPROP HIGHLIGHTS
2026: 1st 5000 Metres International Win – FBK Games Hengelo
2025: 5000 Metres Heat 1 – World Athletics Championships Debut
2025: Semi-Marathon International de Lille – 10km Win
2024: 5000 Metre Bronze – World Athletics U20 Champs
2023: Junior Men’s 8km – 6th at World Athletics Cross-country Champs