Benjamin Kigen

Benjamin Kigen (born July 5, 1993) is a Kenyan athlete who competes primarily in the 3000 metres steeplechase. He won the bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Kigen took gold at the 2019 All-Africa Games.

Benjamin Kigen

Kigen in Madrid in 2017
Personal information
Nationality	Kenyan
Born	(1993-07-05) July 5, 1993 (age 30)
Sport
Country	Kenya
Sport	Track and field
Event	3000 m steeplechase
Achievements and titles
National finals	2018 Kenyan Champs  • 3000m s'chase, 2nd 2018 Kenyan Champs  • 3000m s'chase, 4th 2019 Kenyan Champs  • 3000m s'chase, 1st 2019 Kenyan Champs  • 3000m s'chase, 1st 2019 Kenyan Champs  • 3000m s'chase, 2nd 2019 Kenyan Champs  • 3000m s'chase, 1st 2022 Kenyan Champs  • 3000m s'chase, 3rd 2023 Kenyan Champs  • 3000m s'chase, 5th
Personal best	8:05.12 (Monaco 2019)
Medal record Men's athletics Representing  Kenya Olympic Games 2020 Tokyo 3000 m st. African Games 2019 Rabat 3000 m st. Military World Games 2019 Wuhan 3000 m st.

He is from Baringo County, Kenya and trains with Amos Kirui under coach Isaac Rono.^[1]

Kigen won the 3000 m steeplechase at the 2018 Prefontaine Classic, beating 2017 world champion Conseslus Kipruto and 2016 Olympic silver medalist Evan Jager with a 57.89 second last lap.^[2]

He qualified to represent Kenya at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,^[3] where he won the bronze medal in his specialist event with a time of 8:11.45, behind Soufiane El Bakkali (8:08.90) and Lamecha Girma (8:10.38).^[4]

His personal best is 8:05.12 (Monaco 2019).

Achievements

International competitions

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
2019	African Games	Rabat, Morocco	1st	3000 m st.	8:12.39
	World Championships	Doha, Qatar	6th	3000 m st.	8:06.95
	Military World Games	Wuhan, China	1st	3000 m st.	8:24.50
2021	Olympic Games	Tokyo, Japan	3rd	3000 m st.	8:11.45
2022	African Championships	Port Louis, Mauritius	6th	3000 m st.	8:38.83
	World Championships	Eugene, OR, United States	19th (h)	3000 m st.	8:22.52

Circuit wins and titles, National championships

• Diamond League champion 3000 m steeplechase:   2021^[5]

3000 metres steeplechase wins, other events specified in parentheses

• 2018: Eugene Prefontaine Classic (PB), Rabat Meeting
• 2019: Rome Golden Gala
• 2021: Meeting de Paris, Zürich Weltklasse

• Kenyan Athletics Championships
  • 3000 m steeplechase: 2019

Personal bests

• 800 metres – 1:57.51 (Nairobi 2021)
• 1500 metres – 3:36.36 (Madrid 2017)
• 3000 metres – 7:54.02 (Baie-Mahault 2018)
• 5000 metres – 14:02.78 (Nairobi 2022)
• 3000 metres steeplechase – 8:05.12 (Monaco 2019)

References

1. "Newcomer Kigen shakes up steeplechase status quo".
2. "Prefontaine Classic Men 3000 M Steeplechase (Final)".
3. Olobulu, Timothy (2021-06-19). "Conseslus, Timothy Cheruiyot out as Kenya names team for Tokyo Olympics". Capital Sports. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
4. "Kenya's Reign is Over: Soufiane El Bakkali Wins Olympic Men's Steeplechase in Tokyo". LetsRun.com. 2021-08-02. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
5. "Wanda Diamond League Final | Zürich (SUI) | 8th-9th Sept 2021" (PDF). Diamond League. 2021-09-09. p. 3. Retrieved 2021-09-09.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Benjamin Kigen.

• Benjamin Kigen at World Athletics 
• Benjamin Kigen at Diamond League 
• Benjamin Kigen at Olympedia