We continue the “Focus on African’s” biographies with the Kenyans Songok and Korir – men’s 1500m.
Isaac Kiprono SONGOK (son-GOK), Kenya (1500m)
Born 5 April 1984, Kaptel, near Kapsabet, Nandi District, Rift Valley Province, Kenya.
Student at St. Patrick's High School, Iten, Keiyo District.
Lives mainly in Iten. Based in Tubingen, Germany during track season.
Manager: James Templeton. Coach: Bro. Colm O'Connell
Nandi (Kalenjin). Second of seven children. Father a farmer with eight acres.
Began running in primary school. National primary school champion at 5000 in 1999 and 2000 (also 2nd in steeplechase in 1999). Finished 3rd in Kenya's 2000 World Junior trials 5000 (13:37, running barefoot). Spotted by Bro. Colm, who urged a switch to 1500. The next year, won primary schools 1500, then Kenya's World Youth trials 1500.and World Youth 1500 in Debrecen, Hungary (3:36.78; championship record).
With help of fellow villager Bernard Lagat, arranged to run in four late season European meets in 2001, improving his PB to 3:35.55 in Leverkusen, breaking Jim Ryun's 37-year-old under-18 mile record in Linz (3:54.56) and setting a WJR at 2000m in Berlin (4:56.86). In 2002 he won the 1500 in Kenya's national junior championships (3:39.2, faster than the winning time in the senior nationals, held simultaneously). He later lowered his PB to 3:34.20 in Zurich but finished a disappointing 7th in the Kingston World Junior Championships, where, according to Bro. Colm, "he was a bit of a marked man" and was badly jostled in the final.
In 2003 he won Kenya's senior National Championships (3:38.6), finished 2nd in the World Championships trials (edging Lagat), and week later in Heusden dropped his PB to 3:31.54. He showed his relative inexperience in the World Championships semi-final, mis-timing his finish and barely qualify on time. But he appears to be a quick learner, and undoubtedly a gritty competitor, and cannot be dismissed as a medal prospect.
Yearly progression: 2001 - 3:35.55; 2002 - 3:34.20; 2003 - 3:31.54
Paul Kipketer KORIR (koh-REER), Kenya (1500m)
Born 15 July 1977, Kipkoror, near Lessos, Nandi District, Rift Valley Province, Kenya.
Completed Kilibwoni High School, Nandi DIstrict, 1996.
Married Edna Chesang of Kapsabet, 2002. Daughter Mercy Cheruto, born 2002.
Lives in Kipkoror and training camp at Kaptagat, NE of Eldoret. Based in London during track season.
Manager: KIM (Ricky Simms). Coach: Jimmy Beauttah.
Nandi (Kalenjin). Eldest of eight children. Father a farmer with 5 acres.
Began running in final year at Kipkoror Primary School when gamesmaster offered students a choice: dig in the school garden or run on the track. Korir ran and came first in 800m; went on to place 3rd at 800 in district primary championships. Credits early conditioning to steep 3 km climb from home to school, which he ran twice a day.
In high school, ran seriously only in thrid year (!995), inspired by success of Wilson Kipketer from nearby Kapchemoiywa. Placed 3rd in Rift Valley Provincial schools 800m, behind current internationals Japheth Kimutai and William Chirchir.
Trained casually on his own in 1998 and '99, running through tea plantations near his home. In April, 2000, entered 800m in Kenya Amateur Athletic Association weekend meeting in Kakamega; took 2nd in 1:45.6. Approached by Moses Tanui for Brescia, Italy-based Fila Club and signed by manager Federico Rosa. Half-dozen races in Italy that summer, plus one in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, resulting in PB 1:44.21.
Switched management to more track-oriented KIM in 2001 ("If I stayed where I was, I knew I wouldn't be recognized"), but then endured two disappointing seasons--not able to crack 1:45 again, nor to break into top eight in major races. Tried two 1500s in Australia in early 2002 and one in Poland in June, but could do no better than 3:39. "My body was not responding to training," he says. "I was working hard, but my running was worse."
At end of 2002 season, KIM athlete/coach Moses Kiptanui suggested switch to 1500 and longer runs in training. Tried 4 km cross-country at KAAA weekend meeting in January 2003 and won. Led much of the way in 4 km race at Kenya nationals in February, but overwhelmed in last 600m by more experienced distance men. "Next year I will be patient," he says.
Cross-country training led to an early-season PB of 3:35.43 in May, but Korir had to settle for pace-making duties in next two races. Breakthrough PB 3:32.44 at Paris GL behind Mehdi Baala and Bernard Lagat showed true potential, confirmed nine days later in Gateshead Super GP, where Korir's late rush failed to catch El Guerrouj by just 0.22 seconds (3:33.41 to 3:33.63). Showed better pace judgment in Kenya's World Championship trials, sprinting past Lagat and young phenom Isaac Songok on home straight, and in London's Emsley Carr mile, where his kick from 200m out left the formidable Chirchir brothers well beaten in a seemingly relaxed 3:48.17. Disappointing 5th in Zurich GL (3:33.25) he puts down to being shoved on third lap; expects Paris result to be more like London.
Yearly progression 800/1500/mile: 1999 - 1:47.6; 2000 - 1:44.21/ 3:41.3; 2001 - 1:45.02/ 3:41.3; 2002 - 1:45.55/ 3:39.18; 2003 - 1:47.40/ 3:32.44/ 3:48.17.
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Paul Korir has only just found his event. After three years as an obscure journeyman 800m runner, he has emerged this season as one of the most serious threats to Hicham El Guerrouj's 1500m supremacy since Korir's countryman, Noah Ngeny, reached his peak in 1999 and 2000.
Advised late last year by three-time steeplechase World Champion Moses Kiptanui to increase his training mileage and move up to the 1500, he opened the 2003 track season with a 4-second PB (3:35.43). But he was still groping his way in the event. He next ran as pacemaker for El Guerrouj over 3000 meters in Turin and for Bernard Lagat and the Chirchir brothers over 1500 in Ostrava, where he dropped out, leading and full of running, with just 200 meters to go.
At that point, El Guerrouj himself suggested that Korir stop pacing and start racing, but at the same time the Moroccan helped arrange a lucrative offer for Korir to pace the 1500 in the Rome Golden Gala the next month. In the meantime, Korir started to get the feel of the distance, running 3:33.06 (6th, Athens), 3:34.77 (1st, Prague), 3:32.44 (3rd, Paris) and 3:34.49 (2nd, Zagreb). He dutifully pulled El Guerrouj to what was then a season-leading 3:29.76 in Rome, but two days later in Gateshead he gave the Moroccan a seriious scare with charge up the home straight that fell just two-tenths of a second short.
Since then he seems to have learned to time his kick. In Kenya's World Championship trials, he left no less a talent than Bernard Lagat looking almost lead-footed on the run to the tape, and at the London Super GP he took the 50th annual Emsley Carr Mile in commanding fashion, striding away from early season leader Cornelius Chirchir over the last 200 to record the second best time (CK) in the race's history, 3:48.17. He dismisses his disappointing 5th in Zurich, saying he was badly pushed on the third lap, causing him to lose rhythm and contact with the fast-moving leaders. A more experienced 1500 runner might have coped better with such an incident, but Korir is learning fast.
Prepared by John Manners for the IAAF "Focus on Africans" project. © 2003 IAAF.
