{{Short description|Kenyan long-distance runner}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Stephen Kiprop | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = Stephen Kiprop | nationality = Kenyan | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|9|8|df=yes}} | birth_place = Baringo County, Kenya | occupation = long-distance runner | years_active = 2018–present | country = {{KEN}} | sport = Athletics | event = Marathon, Half marathon, 15K road | pb = {{Plainlist| * '''Marathon:''' 2:03:37 (2024) * '''Half marathon:''' 58:42 (2019) * '''15 km road:''' 42:16 (2018) }} }}
'''Stephen Kiprop''' (born 8 September 1999) is a Kenyan long-distance runner specializing in marathon and half marathon events. He has quickly risen to prominence in road racing, achieving top results in major international competitions.
== Career == Stephen Kiprop has established himself as one of the fastest road runners in the world. His personal best in the half marathon is 58:42, set in February 2019 at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, where he equaled the course record.<ref name="WA_Profile_Kiprop"/><ref name="Valencia_HR_2019"/><ref name="Sportpesa_RAK"/> This time placed him among the fastest half marathoners of all time. He also holds a personal best of 42:16 for the 15-kilometre road race, achieved in May 2018.<ref name="WA_Profile_Kiprop"/>
Kiprop made his major marathon debut at the 50th edition of the Berlin Marathon.<ref name="Berlin_Marathon_Debut"/> His marathon personal best is 2:03:37, set at the Berlin Marathon on September 29, 2024, where he finished fourth.<ref name="MarathonView_Kiprop"/><ref name="BMW_Berlin_Marathon_News"/> This race saw four men run under 2:04 for the first time in Berlin's history.<ref name="BMW_Berlin_Marathon_News"/>
In April 2024, Kiprop won the Daegu Marathon in South Korea with a time of 2:07:04.<ref name="MarathonView_Kiprop"/><ref name="Media_Guide_Berlin"/> He also competed in the 2023 Valencia Marathon, finishing with 2:09:23.<ref name="MarathonView_Kiprop"/>
Kiprop has also gained experience as a pacemaker, notably for Eliud Kipchoge in the 2019 London Marathon, where he helped Kipchoge reach the halfway mark in 1:01:37.<ref name="Tracksmith_Pacing"/>
== Achievements == {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; background:#faf5ff;" !Year !Race !City !Position !Time |- |2018 |Ústí nad Labem Half Marathon |Ústí nad Labem |1st |1:00:15<ref name="WA_Profile_Kiprop"/> |- |2018 |Olomouc Half Marathon |Olomouc |1st |1:00:46<ref name="WA_Profile_Kiprop"/> |- |2019 |Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon |Ras Al Khaimah |1st |58:42 (PB)<ref name="WA_Profile_Kiprop"/><ref name="Sportpesa_RAK"/> |- |2023 |Valencia Marathon |Valencia |39th |2:09:23<ref name="MarathonView_Kiprop"/> |- |2024 |Daegu Marathon |Daegu |1st |2:07:04<ref name="MarathonView_Kiprop"/> |- |2024 |2024 Berlin Marathon |Berlin |4th |2:03:37 (PB)<ref name="MarathonView_Kiprop"/><ref name="BMW_Berlin_Marathon_News"/> |}
== References == {{reflist| <ref name="WA_Profile_Kiprop">{{cite web |url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/kenya/stephen-kiprop-14834360 |title=Stephen KIPROP Profile |website=World Athletics |access-date=2025-06-01}}</ref> <ref name="MarathonView_Kiprop">{{cite web |url=https://marathonview.net/marathon-results-of-Stephen-Kiprop |title=Marathon Results of Stephen Kiprop |website=MarathonView |access-date=2025-06-01}}</ref> <ref name="Valencia_HR_2019">{{cite web |url=https://www.valenciaciudaddelrunning.com/en/half-marathon-selection-of-elite-athletes-hoping-to-set-new-world-records/ |title=Valencia Half Marathon hopes to set new world records in 2019 |website=Valencia Ciudad del Running |date=2019-07-31 |access-date=2025-06-01}}</ref> <ref name="Tracksmith_Pacing">{{cite web |url=https://www.tracksmith.com/journal/article/leader-of-the-pack |title=Leader of the Pack |website=Tracksmith |date=2022-02-11 |access-date=2025-06-01}}</ref> <ref name="Berlin_Marathon_Debut">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxzs4sggTlU |title=Stephen Kiprop makes his major marathon debut at the 50th edition of the Berlin Marathon |website=NTV Kenya (via Googleusercontent) |date=2024-09-23 |access-date=2025-06-01}}</ref> <ref name="BMW_Berlin_Marathon_News">{{cite web |url=https://www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/en/news-media/news-blog/detail/the-largest-marathon |title=BMW BERLIN-MARATHON is the largest marathon in the world with 54,280 finishers |website=BMW BERLIN-MARATHON |date=2024-09-29 |access-date=2025-06-01}}</ref> <ref name="Media_Guide_Berlin">{{cite web |url=https://www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/en/media-section/media-guide |title=Media Guide |website=BMW BERLIN-MARATHON |access-date=2025-06-01}}</ref> <ref name="Sportpesa_RAK">{{cite web |url=https://www.sportpesanews.com/ke/posts/post/Rising-Star-Stephen-Kiprop-Equals-RAK-Course-Record-In-Storming-Victory/17716 |title=Rising Star Stephen Kiprop Equals RAK Course Record In Storming Victory |website=Sportpesa News |access-date=2025-06-01}}</ref> }}
== External links == * {{World Athletics profile|id=14834360|name=Stephen Kiprop}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kiprop, Stephen}} Category:1999 births Category:Living people Category:Kenyan men long-distance runners Category:Kenyan men marathon runners Category:21st-century Kenyan sportspeople