Duncan Kibet

Duncan Kibet (born 25 April 1978) is a runner from Kenya. He became the second fastest marathoner ever with a time of 2:04:27 hours, when he won the 2009 Rotterdam Marathon. As of November 2013, he is the 9th fastest marathoner of all time on a certified world record eligible course.

Kibet dropped out of school in 1997 due to financial problems. He did not run competitively until after encouraged by his elder brother Luke Metto, who had some success as a runner at the turn of the century. He also followed Luke by moving to France, participating in local races. He won the Lille Half Marathon in 2004. Kibet started marathoning without major success. He finished 8th at the 2002 Monaco Marathon and 2nd at the 2004 Caen Marathon. He had also been in a car accident at age of 16, almost losing his ability to walk. During his early career he was afraid to run and train seriously, fearing he would break his leg again.

His younger brother Shadrack Biwott got a scholarship in the USA and arranged for Kibet to run some races there. Kibet won the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in San Jose in 2006 by running 1:00:22. It was then the 2nd fastest half marathon time in the United States, after Haile Gebrselassie, who had run faster earlier that year. Kibet also won the 2007 Beach to Beacon 10k in a time of 27:51, besting a fast field over a tough, hilly course.

Kibet was a pacemaker for Gebrselassie at the 2008 Dubai Marathon where Gebrselassie failed to break the world marathon record already held by himself, but set the 2nd fastest marathon time (2:04:53 hours) at the time.

Kibet made his full marathon debut at the 2008 Vienna Marathon, finishing 2nd behind compatriot Abel Kirui and setting 2:08:33 hours. Later the same year he won the Milan Marathon, breaking the course record by running 2:07:53 hours.

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