Josphat Menjo

Josphat Kiprono Menjo (born 20 August 1979) is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specialises in track and road running.

A relative latecomer to athletics, Menjo began competing around 2002 and first represented his country at the 2006 African Championships in Athletics, where he was fifth in the 5000 metres. A silver medal in the event at the 2007 All-Africa Games was followed by an eighth-place finish on the global stage, running in the 10,000 metres at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics. He won the San Silvestre Vallecana 10K race at the end of the year.

He returned to the continental stage with another fifth place at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics and he continued his road success in Spain with consecutive wins at the Cursa de Bombers in 2008 and 2009. Entering into his thirties, Menjo had a career breakthrough in 2010, recording many personal bests: he won the Cursa Bombers in 27:04 minutes to become the joint third fastest over the distance and ran 26:56.74 for the 10,000 m – the fastest by any athlete that year.

Born in Kapsabet, Kenya, Josphat Kiprono Menjo was educated at Kapkechui primary school and went on to attend Chemundu secondary school, graduating in 1998. He was keen to further his education and hoped to become a teacher. He worked on his father's maize farm for four years before being called for military service in 2002.

At Moi Airbase, he worked with world-class runners Paul Tergat and Wilson Boit Kipketer and, despite his disinterest in sport as a child, the two convinced Menjo to try his hand at running. He began to compete in various cross country and track meets at military level. He won a 5000 metres provincial race in 2004, gaining qualification into his first national championships. It was this race which sparked the Kenyan's interest: "[I] realised I had potential in the distance and, from then on, I decided to specialise in it".

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