All the facts and details about Wesley Kiptoo, the Kenyan athlete

All the facts and details about Wesley Kiptoo, the Kenyan athlete

Kevin Omuya
June 23, 2024 at 4:18 PM
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Kenyan long-distance runner Wesley Kiptoo has made a name for himself with stellar results at the collegiate and professional levels. While attending Iowa State University, he ran cross country and track and received much attention for his abilities.

Who is Wesley Kiptoo?
Wesley Kiptoo of Kenya on October 08, 2023(L). Wesley during the Division I Mens and Women's Indoor Track & Field Championship on March 12, 2021. Photo: Michael Reaves, Andy Hancock/Getty Images
Source: UGC

Table of Сontents:

Kiptoo nurtured his running skills at Transcend Academy, a school founded and run by his mentor, Wesley Korir, a Boston Marathon Champion. In 2018, Korir helped Kiptoo relocate to the United States to attend Colby Community College and further his skills.

Profile summary

Title

Details

Full name

Wesley Kiptoo

Gender

Male

Date of birth

May 19, 1996

Place of birth

Lugari, Kakamega, Kenya

Age

28 (as of 2024)

Nationality

Kenyan

Ethnicity

Black

Height

1.74m (5'7")

Weight

62kg (137lbs)

Marital status

Married

Children

2

Profession

Athlete (Long-distance runner)

Organisation

HOKA NAZ ELITE Athlete

Social media

Instagram, X(Twitter)

Who is Wesley Kiptoo?

Kenyan long-distance runner Wesley Kiptoo has a stellar reputation for his work on the track and in cross-country competitions, both at the collegiate and professional levels. He became well-known while he was a student at Iowa State.

Wesley Kiptoo's biography
Wesley Kiptoo of Iowa State wins the 5000m during the Division I Mens and Women's Indoor Track & Field Championship on March 12, 2021. Photo: Andy Hancock
Source: Original

How old is Wesley Kiptoo?

Wesley Kiptoo was born and raised in Lugari, Kakamega County, on May 19, 1996. He is 28 years old as of this writing.

While a student at Lumino Primary and Mukumu Secondary, he dabbled in athletics for enjoyment, but his achievements were limited to intramural contests.

Wesley Kiptoo's family

Kiptoo is married to Maribel, and the couple has two children, Natalia and Santos. According to Purlse Sports, the lovebirds reportedly met in the US after the athlete relocated in 2018. Details of Wesley's parents and siblings remain unknown, apart from them being Kenyans.

Wesley Kiptoo's height and weight

He stands at a height of 1.74m (5'7"). The Kenyan athlete also weighs weighs 62kg (137lbs)

Career and stats

Wesley Kiptoo in the 8th mark competition
Conner Mantz, BYU, (R) Wesley Kiptoo (C), Iowa State and Adriaan Wildschutt (L), Florida State, at the 8K mark on March 15, 2021. Photo: Shane Bevel
Source: Getty Images

From his time as a standout athlete at Iowa State University to his current status as a professional, Kiptoo has proven to be an unstoppable force in distance events like the marathon and the 5,000 meters. Here are his career stats per Cyclones.

NCAA career

While attending Colby Community College, Wesley won the indoor 5,000-meter run and cross-country events at the NJCAA national championships. He continued his impressive career in 2020 at NCAA Division I powerhouse Iowa State University.

He won seven Big 12 titles and became the national champion in the indoor 5,000-meter run in 2021. Kiptoo was named an All-American seven times in cross-country and track and field. In 2022, he became the Iowa state record holder for the steeplechase, outdoor 10,000 meters, and indoor 3,000 and 5,000 meter runs, per TFRRS.

Professional career

In the spring of 2022, Wesley became a member of HOKA NAZ Elite. He had a fantastic start to his season by winning the Pittsburgh Half Marathon in May at 1:01:25.

Kiptoo competed in the Fitness Bank Cross Champs, finishing sixth, and the renowned Manchester Road Race, finishing third. He had a solid start to 2023 by setting a new personal best and team record at the Aramco Houston Half Marathon, where he finished in second position at 1:00:35.

In January, Wesley ran a 5,000-meter indoor race in 13 minutes and 22.52 seconds; in March, he ran a 10,000-meter race in 27 minutes and 45.81 seconds. At the Pittsburgh Half Marathon in May, the athlete successfully defended his championship while setting a new course record of 1:01:21.

Alex Masai and Wesley kiptoo
Alex Masai of Hofstra (L) and Wesley Kiptoo, Iowa State (R), during the Division I Mens and Women's Cross Country Championships on March 15, 2021. Photo: Shane Bevel
Source: Getty Images

On Memorial Day, Kiptoo ran the BOLDERBoulder 10k and came in fifth, as reported by Arizona Daily Sun. With 31 minutes and eight seconds for the 7.1-mile race, Wesley tied the long-standing record and won the Falmouth Road Race to start his autumn 2023 season.

Kiptoo's first marathon was the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in October. He crossed the finish line in 2:10:28 and finished 12th place. The athlete helped HOKA NAZ Elite win the team title at the Cross Champs in Austin, where he finished third. He finished second place at the Aramco Houston Half Marathon in January 2024.

Returning to the roads in April after a handful of track events in March and February, he won the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile with a blistering 45:53. Wesley bagged his third consecutive triumph at the Pittsburgh Half Marathon, which he completed in 1:01:31.

Wesley Kiptoo's awards and honors

Wesley Kiptoo with an award
Wesley Kiptoo of Iowa State wins the 5000m during the Division I Mens and Women's Indoor Track & Field Championship on March 12, 2021. Photo: Andy Hancock
Source: Getty Images

Here is a list of Kiptoo's titles:

  • 2007: Winner 5,000m, Silver 10,000m World Military Games
  • 2010: Bronze 5,000m African Championships
  • 2010: Bronze 5,000m Commonwealth Games
  • 2011: Winner 5,000m World Military Games (Games record of 13:06.17)
  • 2012: Winner 5,000m Africa Athletics Championships
  • 2013: Winner Darica Half marathon
  • 2013: Winner Frankfurt Marathon
  • 2015: Silver Rotterdam Marathon
  • 2016: Bronze Eindhoven Marathon
  • 2023: Winner Zurich Marathon (Masters’ record)
  • 2023: Winner 3-Lander Marathon

Wesley Kiptoo's net worth

Due to a lack of publicly available information, Wesley Kiptoo's net worth remains unknown. Given his reputation as a successful long-distance runner, particularly after turning professional, it is conceivable that the Kenyan athlete has achieved some financial success through race victories and possible sponsorships.

Frequently asked questions

Wesley Kiptoo
Wesley Kiptoo of Iowa State leads the 5000m during the Division I Mens and Women's Indoor Track & Field Championship on March 12, 2021. Photo: Andy Hancock
Source: Getty Images

Long-distance runner Wesley Kiptoo's career statistics attest to his commitment and skill in the sport. The following are some of the most frequent inquiries regarding the sportsman.

Does Wesley Kiptoo have any social media presence?

He is available on social media and has handles on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. He posts photos of his career on his handles.

What distances does Wesley Kiptoo specialise in?

Kiptoo is an expert in the long-distance races, especially the 10,000-meter and 5,000-meter competitions.

Where did Wesley Kiptoo attend college?

Wesley Kiptoo attended Iowa State University, where he competed in both track and cross-country events.

What are Wesley Kiptoo’s achievements?

Among Kiptoo's accomplishments are numerous All-American nods, indoor track record sets, and multiple Big 12 conference championships. His best races have been the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, where he has maintained a steady performance in both professional and NCAA championships.

Final word

Wesley Kiptoo's journey from Kenya to Iowa State University and conquering the long-distance race inspires many. His successes in the NCAA championships and professional races have made him an iconic character in the sport. Despite his fame and fortune, Kiptoo keeps his private life under wraps.

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Sports Brief revealed details on the top 5 greatest Kenyan athletes. Many people would agree Eliud Kipchoge is the best. For decades, Kenya has been the standard in middle and long-distance running. Follow the above link to discover the greatest Kenyan athletes.

Authors
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Kevin Omuya
Kevin Omuya is a Content Writer with 4 years of experience who joined Sports Brief in 2022. In 2019 he held a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Digital Media from KCA University.