Worldclass Athletes: Mohammed AMAN

Mohammed AMAN

Mohammed Aman winning in Milan and beating Kenyan World champion and world record holder David Rudisha, September 10, 2011.

HONOURS:

– 2010 Ethiopia runner-up over 800m
– 2010 Eastern Africa Youth Champion over 800m
– 2010 Youth Olympics Champion over 800m
– 2011 Africa Junior Champion over 800m
– 2011 World Youth silver medallist over 800m
– 2011 World Championship Finalist over 800m
- 2012 World Indoor Champion over 800m

BIO:

Mohammed Aman was born on january 10th 1994 in Asella in central Ethiopia.

Started running around 2006 when he was in school, Mohammed – the only runner in the family – has two brothers and five sisters. His father work for the government while is mother is a housewife.

After finishing second at the 2010 National Championship over 800m, he won the 2010 Eastern Africa Youth Championship in Khartoum (Sudan) over 800m and was the first winner of the 1000 meters at the 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore, setting a new National Record over the distance in 2:19.54.

Right after his indoor debut in early 2011, he went to win is second Africa Junior Title over 800m in may in Gaborone (Bostwana) but was later stripped of his 2009 title for being too young (ten days) to compete in those championship. He then made his debut over other distances (Mile and 1500m) as a preparation for the 2011 World Youth Championship in Lille (France) where he won the silver medal and set a new National Record over 800m in 1:44.68.

He bettered his 800m National Record 7 weeks later during the semi-final at the 2011 World Championship in Daegu (South Korea) and finished 8th in the Final.

The 17 year-old Ethiopian improved in Rieti in September, setting a new World Youth Best in 1:43.37 behind World Record holder David Rudisha whom he beat 8 days later in Milano, ending David Rudisha‘s 34 winning streak.

When he was a kid he liked all the Ethiopian famous athletes that "died" for the Ethiopian flag such as Haile Gebrselassie, Derartu Tulu, Kenenisa Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba.

His goal for this year is to win London Olympics and try to run his personal best.

Training mostly in Addis Abeba and around with the National Team, he runs between 40 and 50 miles a week. Until today, the best workout he did is:
– 2*400m in 46.94 & 47.23 with 10 minutes recovery between each.

If he was not an athlete he thinks he could have been a good mathematics teacher and consider injuries as the hardest part in running.

Mohammed Aman one day before winning The Aviva Indoor Grand Prix, in Birmingham (England), February 17, 2012.

PERSONAL BESTS:

Distance	Time	Year
800m	1:43.37	2011
1 000m	2:19.54	2010
1 500m	3:43.52	2011
Mile	3:57.14	2011
800m (i)	1:45.40	2012
1 500m (i)	3:46.31	2011

ALL TIME TOP 5 + AVG: 

Distance	800m	1 000m	800m (i)
1	1:43.37	2:19.54	1:45.40
2	1:43.50	2:20.59	1:45.84
3	1:44.29	2:24.40	1:46.80
4	1:44.57		1:48.12
5	1:44.68		1:49.21
AVG	1:44.08		1:47.07

PROGRESSION:

Date	800m	Date	1 000m
23/06/2008	1:50.29	12/05/2010	2:20.59
09/01/2009	1:47.75	22/08/2010	2:19.54
17/05/2009	1:46.34
07/06/2011	1:45.74
09/07/2011	1:44.68
10/09/2011	1:43.37

Date	800m (i)
08/02/2011	1:48.12
14/02/2012	1:46.80
18/02/2012	1:45.40

ANNUAL BESTS:

Year	800m	1000m	1 500m
2008	1:50.29	-	-
2009	1:46.34	-	-
2010	1:48.5h	2:19.54	-
2011	1:43.37		3:43.52
2012

Year	Mile	800m (i)	1 500m (i)
2010	-	1:48.12	-
2011	3:57.14	1:45.40	3:46.31
2012

Mohammed Aman

PERFORMANCES:

DATE	CITY	EVENT	TIME	FINISH	MARGIN
23/06/2008	Abuja (NGR)	800M (i)	1:50.29	6th	-2,51sec
09/01/2009	Addis Abeba (ETH)	800M	1:47.75	1st	-
29/04/2009	Addis Abeba (ETH)	NC 800M	1:50.68	6th	-3,17sec
17/05/2009	Rio de Janeiro (BRA)	800M	1:46.34	4th	-1,37sec
20/05/2009	Uberlandia (BRA)	800M	1:49.67	5th	-2,23sec
24/05/2009	Belém (BRA)	800M	1:46.75	4th	-2,12sec
14/06/2009	Casablanca (MAR)	800M	1:47.68	7th	-2,41sec
01/08/2009	Bambous (MRI)	AJC 800M	1:52.52	DQ	-
02/08/2009	Bambous (MRI)	AJC 800M	1:48.82	DQ	-
26/08/2009	Grangemouth (GBR)	800M	1:52.70	1st	+0,81sec
01/05/2010	Addis Abeba (ETH)	NC 800M	1:48.5h	2nd	-1,1hsec
12/05/2010	Khartoum (SUD)	EAY 1 000M	2:20.59	1st	-1,02sec
08/06/2010	Montreuil (FRA)	800M	1:55.44	8th	-9,53sec
12/06/2010	Sotteville (FRA)	800M	1:49.03	10th	-3,49sec
18/08/2010	Singapore (SIN)	YOG 1 000M (H)	2:24.40	1st	+0,11sec
22/08/2010	Singapore (SIN)	YOG 1 000M (F)	2:19.54	1st	+1,71sec
29/01/2011	Bordeaux (FRA)	1 500M (i)	3:46.31	4th	-6,96sec
08/02/2011	Liévin (FRA)	800M (i)	1:48.12	1st	+0,07sec
11/02/2011	Düsseldorf (GER)	800M (i)	1:49.21	2nd	-0,23sec
13/02/2011	Gent (BEL)	800M (i)	DNF	DNF	-
30/04/2011	Philadelphia (USA)	DMR	9:44.96	7th	-27,51sec
14/05/2011	Gaborone (BOT)	AJC 800M (H)	1:50.39	1st	+0,68sec
15/05/2011	Gaborone (BOT)	AJC 800M (F)	1:46.62	1st	+0,54sec
04/06/2011	Eugene (USA)	Mile	3:57.14	8th	-3,28sec
07/06/2011	Montreuil (FRA)	800M	1:45.74	1st	+0,47sec
12/06/2011	Brazzaville (CGO)	1 500M	3:43.52	6th	-5,04sec
06/07/2011	Lille (FRA)	WYC 800M (H)	1:53.17	1st	+0,27sec
07/07/2011	Lille (FRA)	WYC 800M (SF)	1:47.72	2nd	-0,61sec
09/07/2011	Lille (FRA)	WYC 800M (F)	1:44.68	2nd	-0,60sec
27/08/2011	Daegu (KOR)	WC 800M (H)	1:45.17	2nd	-0,34sec
28/08/2011	Daegu (KOR)	WC 800M (SF)	1:44.57	1st	+0,03sec
30/08/2011	Daegu (KOR)	WC 800M (F)	1:45.93	8th	-2,02sec
10/09/2011	Rieti (ITA)	800M	1:43.37	3rd	-2,04sec
13/09/2011	Rovereto (ITA)	800M	1:46.48	1st	+0,45sec
16/09/2011	Bruxelles (BEL)	800M	1:44.29	2nd	-0,33sec
18/09/2011	Milano (ITA)	800M	1:43.50	1st	+0,07sec
14/02/2012	Liévin (FRA)	800M (i)	1:46.80	5th	-2,23sec
18/02/2012	Birmingham (GBR)	800M (i)	1:45.40	1st	+0,01sec
23/02/2012	Stockholm (SWE)	800M (i)	1:45.84	1st	+0,18sec
09/03/2012	Istanbul (TUR)	WC 800M (i) (H)	1:50.56	2nd	-0,07sec
10/03/2012	Istanbul (TUR)	WC 800M (i) (SF)	1:48.07	1st	+0,06sec
11/03/2012	Istanbul (TUR)	WC 800M (i) (F)	1:48.36	1st	+0,26sec

AJ= African Junior Championship; H= Heat; JXC= Junior Cross Country;
KJC=Kenya Junior Championship; NC= National Championship;
PC = Police Championship;RD= Road; SF= Semi Final;
WC= World Championship; WJC= World Junior Championship;
XC= Cross Country; EK=Ekiden; HM= Half-marathon
WYC= World Youth Championship; F= Final
AAG= All-Africa Games; (i)= Indoor; AP= Administration Police
KCSC= Kenya Colleges and Schools Championship
CYC= Commonwealth Youth Championship
EAY= East African Youth Championship
YOG= Youth Olympic Games

Worldclass Athlete: Josphat BETT

Josphat BETT

Josphat Bett, after winning the World Junior 10,000m Title in Bydgoszcz (Poland), July 9th 2008.

HONOURS:

- 2008 World Junior Champion over 10 000m
- 2008 Kenya Junior Champion over 10 000m

 BIO:

Josphat Bett was born on june 12th 1990 in Kericho. The second son of 4 children, he has one sister and two brothers. While is parents are farmers, both of his brother are worldclass athletes known as David and Emmanuel Bett; the later one clocking 26:51.95 last september in Bruxelles over 10 000m. Currently living in Eldoret, running was his hobby at school. He started running after seeing his role model Paul Tergat compete with Haile Gebrselassie in Athens in 2004.

Self-coached runner, he trains in Timborua near Eldoret town where he runs between 10 and 20 kilometers daily. His training partners whom he consider as "very talented" consist of 7:56 steeplechaser Paul Kipsiele KOECH, 3000m World Youth Champion Isaiah KOECH, Vincent RONO (7:37 at 3000m and 13:21 at 5000m) and his younger brother among others.

As of now, Josphat is running for Kenya Police. His last race was in Austria and his next one will be indoor where he is going to make his debut. His goals for this year is to be in London Olympics, aiming for a gold. In addition, like many of his fellow compatriots, Josphat is planning to move to the marathon in around 2 to 3 years to come.

He consider training as the hardest part in running. Two examples of his best workouts are sufficient to illustrate this:

- 10*800m between 2:05-2:08 recovery 60sec.
- 10*1km between 2:40-2:42 recovery 90sec.

Finally, if he was not an athlete, Josphat could have become a farmer like his parents.

PERSONAL BESTS:

Distance	Time	Year
3 000m	7:42.38	2009
5 000m	12:57.43	2009
10 000m	26:48.99	2011
10K	27:45	2011
3 000m (i)	8:02.80	2012
5 000m (i)	13:32.20	2012

ALL TIME TOP 5 + AVG: 

Distance	3 000m	5 000m	10 000m
1	7:42.38	12:57.43	26:48.99
2	7:51.00	13:07.97	27:30.85
3	7:58.93	13:11.29	27:50.0h
4	8:05.50	13:11.60	27:50.40
5		13:19.77	27:57.60
AVG		13:09.61	27:33.97

 PROGRESSION:

Date	3 000m	Date	5 000m
09/09/2008	7:51.00	20/09/2008	13:44.51
15/07/2009	7:42.38	11/06/2009	13:33.69
		18/07/2009	13:07.97
		04/09/2009	12:57.43

Date	10 000m
16/06/2008	28:18.0h
09/07/2008	27:30.85
03/06/2011	26:48.99

 ANNUAL BESTS:

Year	3 000m	5 000m	10 000m	10K
2008	7:51.00	13:44.51	27:30.85	-
2009	7:42.38	12:57.43	28:21.51	-
2010	7:58.93	13:11.60	27:50.40	-
2011	-	13:11.29	26:48.99	27:45
2012

3 000m (i)	5 000m (i)
8:02.80	13:32.20

Josphat Bett winning the 2008 World Junior Championship over 10 000m in a sprint finish with teammate Titus Mbishei, Bydgoszcz (Poland), July 9th, 2008.

PERFORMANCES:

DATE	CITY	EVENT	TIME	FINISH	MARGIN
02/12/2007	Eldoret (KEN)	JXC – 8Km	24:24	1st	+7sec
15/12/2007	Kisii (KEN)	JXC – 8Km	24:10	3rd	-4sec
18/06/2008	Nairobi (KEN)	10 000M KJC	28:18.0h	1st	+0,3hsec
09/07/2008	Bydgoszcz (POL)	10 000M WJC	27:30.85	1st	+0,80sec
05/09/2008	Bruxelles (BEL)	10 000M	28:03.91	14th	-56,94sec
09/09/2008	Zagreb (CRO)	3 000M	7:51.00	8th	-10,10sec
20/09/2008	Shanghai (CHN)	5 000M	13:44.51	11th	-28,25sec
30/11/2008	Eldoret (KEN)	JXC – 8Km	24:52	1st	+3sec
28/12/2008	Funchal (POR	RD – 6Km	16:36	2nd	-2sec
31/12/2008	Soest (NED)	XC	33:53	2nd	-34sec
08/05/2009	Eldoret (KEN)	5 000M	14:14.2h	1st	+0,9hsec
24/05/2009	Belem (BRA)	10 000M	28:21.51	2nd	-0,26sec
11/06/2009	Algiers (ALG)	5 000M	13:33.69	3rd	-1,00sec
15/07/2009	Naimette (BEL)	3 000M	7:42.38	1st	+0,40sec
18/07/2009	Heusden (BEL)	5 000M	13:07.97	3rd	-0,50sec
04/09/2009	Bruxelles (BEL)	5 000M	12:57.43	5th	-2,12sec
25/09/2009	Daegu (KOR)	5 000M	13:25.34	3rd	-0,42sec
06/01/2010	SanGiorgio (ITA)	XC	29:42	6th	-50sec
17/01/2010	Sevilla (ESP)	XC	32:42	11th	-88sec
27/05/2010	Ostrava (CZE)	3 000M	8:05.50	13th	-33,82sec
30/05/2010	Hengelo (NED)	3 000M	7:59.93	16th	-17,45sec
26/06/2010	Nairobi (KEN)	10 000M NC	27:50.40	12th	-28,47sec
03/07/2010	Eugene (USA)	5 000M	13:11.60	10th	-12,67sec
10/07/2010	Heusden (BEL)	5 000M	13:19.77	5th	-20,05sec
19/12/2010	Bruxelles (BEL)	XC	32:57	15th	-90sec
15/01/2011	Nairobi (KEN)	XC – PC	38:18	6th	-52sec
26/03/2011	Kericho (KEN)	21Km	60:38	1st	+4sec
03/06/2011	Eugene (USA)	10 000M	26:48.99	3rd	-2,42sec
11/06/2011	New York (USA)	5 000M	13:19.96	12th	-14,74sec
16/07/2011	Nairobi (KEN)	10 000M NC	27:50.0h	7th	-17,9hsec
22/07/2011	Monaco (MON)	5 000M	13:11.29	10th	-18,18sec
16/09/2011	Bruxelles (BEL)	10 000M	27:57.60	11th	-64,44sec
09/10/2011	Berlin (GER)	RD – 10K	27:45	2nd	-30sec
27/11/2011	Llodio (ESP)	XC	29:28	3rd	-13sec
18/12/2011	Bruxelles (BEL)	XC	34:31	10th	-119sec
31/12/2011	Peuerbach (AUT)	RD – 6.8Km	18:58	2nd	-7sec
14/01/2012	Nairobi (KEN)	XC – PC	38:36	4th	-58sec
10/02/2012	Dusseldorf (GER)	5 000M (i)	13:32.20	8th	-33,53sec
14/02/2012	Lievin (FRA)	3 000M (i)	8:02.80	12th	-30,24sec
31/03/2012	Praha (CZE)	HM	61.01	4th	-74sec
17/04/2012	Nairobi (KEN)	10 000M	28:27.6h	5th	-17,3hsec

AJ= African Junior Championship; H= Heat; JXC= Junior Cross Country;
KJC=Kenya Junior Championship; NC= National Championship;
PC = Police Championship;RD= Road; SF= Semi Final;
WC= World Championship; WJC= World Junior Championship;
XC= Cross Country; EK=Ekiden; HM= Half-marathon
WYC= World Youth Championship; F= Final
AAG= All-Africa Games; (i)= Indoor

Q&A with Leonel Manzano

Interview with our favorite Leonel Manzano, 2009 US 1500m runner-up  & Berlin World Championship Finalist over 1500m.  

Leonel Manzano taking the second place over 1500m in Brussells (Belgium), August 27, 2010.

Last Name : MANZANO
First Name : Leonel
Age : 26 
Country : USA

Palmarès :
– US runner-up in 2009 over 1500m
– 2009 World Championship finalist. 

Progression 800m :

1:53.72 (2002)
1:51.54 (2003)
1:50.48 (2004)
1:49.26 (2006)
1:46.20 (2009)
1:44.56 (2010)

Progression 1500m :

3:37.13 (2005)
3:39.49 (2006)
3:35.29 (2007)
3:36.67 (2008)
3:33.33 (2009)
3:32.27 (2010)

Records :
– 800m : 1:44.56
– 1500m : 3:32.37

L’interview Runafrica :

1/ Where were you born ?
In Dolores Hidalgo in Mexico.

2/ How and when did you start running ? Who is your coach ?
I always ran but I started focusing at 13. Ryan Ponsonby (3:42 for 1500m in 2003) & John Cook (1:47 at 800m in 1988)

3/ What distances are your running ? What are your Personnal Best ?
I run the 800m (1:44.56) and the 1500m (3:32.37)

4/ What race is your best memory ? Can You tell us more about that race ?
The 2005 NCAA Champoionship in Sacramento (California). I was the outsider. Due to little injuries the weekend of the compétition, I was not sure that I could defend my title at 100%. After my heat (where i ended up 5th) I felt cramps to both of my calves and the day before the final my knee was swelling after a run by the Tahoe Lake.  It was not easy to manage. But in the end I won the race in 3’37 with a new PB and a championship record. Happiness! 

5/ When was your last race ? 
My last race was in Europe (Croatia) and I just ran the Boston and New York indoor races. 

6/ The next one ?
Not before april, maybe at the Penn Relays.

7/ What is your actual shape in comparison at last year?
I feel more sharp, strong and fast, Each year is better than the previous one.

8/ What are your goals for this year ? (Time, championship, race)
1:43 for the 800m. 3:30 for the 1500m & 3:49 in the mile.

9/ What are your dreams for tomorrow ?
To run fast!

10/ Who was your role model as a kid ?
Bruce Lee.

11/ If you were not an athlete, what else would you be ?
A slug, someone very slow (laugh).

12/ Where are you mostly training ? 
In Austin (Texas)

13/ How many miles/kilometres are you doing each week ?
I ran between 110 and 130km each week. 

14/ Can you tell us the best workout you have done until today ?
There has been many. Each year workouts are like challenges and I love to take up challenges. My favorite one is 10*400m under 1 minute. 

15/ What do you eat before a race ?
A good steak and some veggies. 

16/ What are you planning after running ?
Many things but for now i stay focus on running. 

17/ Have you ever been to France ? 
I ran in Monaco last year, it was gréât. But I would love to come and run in Paris, maybe this year! 

A last word : Thank you for giving me the opportunity to answer at your questions and good luck for the future. 

Kip Evans – 15/02/2011

Promising Talent: Clement LANGAT

Clement LANGAT

Clement Langat during the 2012 New Year Ekiden in Maebashi (Japan).

HONOURS:

- 2010 World Junior XC Runner-Up
- 2012 Africa XC Champion

BIO:

Clement Langat was born on December 18 1991 in Leldaet in Bomet District in the South Rift Valley.
 He started running at 10 when he was in Primary School.

Coached by Amos Korir (former 8:18.57 Steeplechaser back in 1981) he trains in Kaptagat (40 Kilometers from Eldoret) and Japan where he is running for Team Subaru. 1 500m and 5 000m specialist he excel as well in cross country finishing second at the 2010 World Junior XC Championship behind teamate Caleb Ndiku. He also started to run on the road with some Ekiden and other road relays in Japan and plans to run marathon later in his career.

Training betwween 105 and 120 Miles each week, his best workout is:
– 10*800m in 2:02-2:06 recovery 90sec.

After an excellent season in 2010 where he ran a 13:15.81 Personnal bests for 5 000m; Clement got injured during the winter and made his comeback almost one year later at the Yokohama Nittai University Time Trials. Now his body response better to training and his goals include a qualification at the Olympic Games and the Africa Cross Country Championship.

Very faithful he praise God to beat all his personal bests. If he was not a runner, he would have become a guard and William Sigei ( 1993 and 1994 World Cross Country Champion and former World Record Holder over 10 000m) was his hero as well as his neighbor when he was a kid. After his career he would like to become a coach.

Clement Langat leading Gideon Ngatuny, Caleb Ndiku and Ibrahim Jeilan during the 5000m race at the 2010 Yokohama Nittai University Trials, December 5th 2010.

PERSONAL BESTS:

Distance	Time	Year
1 500m	3:39.0h	2009
5 000m	13:15.81	2011

ALL TIME TOP 5 + AVG: 

Distance	1 500m	5 000m
1	3:39.0h	13:15.81
2	3:40.90	13:19.76
3	3:41.07	13:20.09
4	3:42.31	13:24.89
5	3:42.87	13:37.55
AVG	3:41.33	13:23.62

PROGRESSION:

Date	5 000m
24/10/2010	13:19.76
05/12/2010	13:15.81

ANNUAL BESTS:

Year	1 500m	5 000m
2009	3:39.0h	-
2010	3:40.90	13:15.81
2011	-	13:20.09
2012

Clement Langat during the Junior race at the 2010 World Cross Country Championship in Bydgoszcz (Poland), march 28, 2010.

PERFORMANCES: 

DATE	CITY	EVENT	TIME	FINISH	MARGIN
16/06/2009	Nairobi (KEN)	1 500M	3:39.0h	4th	-2,2hsec
29/11/2009	Eldoret (KEN)	JXC – 8Km	23:02	5th	-14sec
20/02/2010	Nairobi (KEN)	KJC XC – 8Km	-	7th	-
28/03/2010	Bydgoszcz (POL)	WJC XC	22:09	2nd	-2sec
24/05/2010	Rehlingen (GER)	1 500M	3:41.07	7th	-5,84sec
26/06/2010	Nijmegen (NED)	1 500M	3:42.87	4th	-1,58sec
28/05/2010	Dessau (GER)	1 500M	3:40.90	7th	-2,61sec
05/06/2010	Marseille (FRA)	1 500M	3:42.31	6th	-7sec
24/10/2010	Yokohama (JPN)	5 000M	13:19.76	1st	+1,05sec
21/11/2010	Yokohama (JPN)	5 000M	13:37.55	1st	+21,90sec
05/12/2010	Yokohama (JPN)	5 000M	13:15.81	2nd	-0,63sec
01/01/2011	Maebashi (JPN)	EKIDEN – 8.3Km	22:17	2nd	-3sec
19/11/2011	Yokohama (JPN)	5 000M	13:24.89	2nd	-5,34sec
04/12/2011	Yokohama (JPN)	5 000M	13:20.09	4th	-1,57sec
18/12/2011	Nairobi (KEN)	NC XC	35:53	6th	-34sec
18/03/2011	Cape Town (RSA)	AXC	35:43	1st	+7sec
15/04/2012	Yokohama (JPN)	5000M	13:24.22	1st	+7,30sec

AJ= African Junior Championship; H= Heat; JXC= Junior Cross Country;
KJC=Kenya Junior Championship; NC= National Championship;
PC = Police Championship;RD= Road; SF= Semi Final;
WC= World Championship; WJC= World Junior Championship;
XC= Cross Country; EK=Ekiden; HM= Half-marathon
WYC= World Youth Championship; F= Final
AAG= All-Africa Games; (i)= Indoor; AXC= African Cross Country