24 Days to Go
Paul Kibii Tergat (born 17 June 1969) is a retired Kenyan long-distance runner. He was the first Kenyan man to break the marathon world record in 2003, with a time of 2:04:55, and is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners of all time. According to Runnerworld, he is the "most comprehensive runner of all time."
Tergat set a record by winning five consecutive IAAF World Cross Country Championships from 1995 to 1999. In 2000, he won the Lisbon Half Marathon, setting a new course record and personal best time of 59:06. He won the race again in 2005, this time in 59:10. Tergat's accomplishments also include five victories in the traditional Saint Silvester Road Race, the most important event in Latin American street racing. He holds the current 15 km distance record, which he established in 1995. In Brazil, his performances in the Saint Silvester race have earned him celebrity status.
Tergat defeated defending champion Hendrick Ramaala in a thrilling sprint finish through New York's Central Park in November 2005, winning in 2:09:29.90 to 2:09:30.22.Tergat launched the Baringo Half Marathon that year, establishing the professional race on a course near his hometown.
Tergat was named the 2010 Abebe Bikila Award winner by New York Road Runners in recognition of his long-distance achievements, becoming the first Kenyan male winner.
Milcah Chemos Cheywa (born February 24, 1986 in Mount Elgon District) is a Kenyan runner who specializes in the 3000m steeplechase. She was the African record holder at the distance until 2015, and she won gold at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics.
Chemos won gold medals in the 3000m steeplechase at both the African Championships and the Commonwealth Games in 2010, leading Kenya to a clean sweep of medals in the latter. She also won Diamond League races in Oslo, Rome, Eugene, and London on her way to winning the overall Diamond League steeplechase title. Chemos was one of five females shortlisted for the IAAF World Athlete of the Year award, which was won by high jumper Blanka Vlai, as a result of her success during the 2010 season.
Chemos entered the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, as the favorite in the 3000m steeplechase, having won all five Diamond League races prior to the championship. She was unable to improve on her bronze medal from two years prior, finishing third, more than ten seconds behind race winner Yuliya Zaripova. Chemos lost to Zaripova again at the season's final Diamond League event, the Memorial Van Damme in Brussels, but the she had already established an unbeatable lead in the Diamond Race standings and thus retained her title.
Chemos finished second at the Cross de San Sebastián in 2012, trailing Nazareth Weldu. She dominated the steeplechase in Shanghai, Eugene, and Oslo to start the 2012 IAAF Diamond League season. Chemos broke Eunice Jepkorir's African 3000 metre steeplechase record in the third of these victories, winning in a new personal best and Bislett Games record time of 9:07.14.
She won the women's 3000m Steeplechase at the World Athletics Championships in 2013 with a time of 9:36.16.