When the Kenyan contingent graces the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, next month, the nation will seek to reclaim the men’s 10,000m title.
It’s 21 years since Kenya clinched the title at the World Athletics Championships and 54 since they won an Olympic Games gold medal over the distance.
The onus to exorcise the heart-wrenching drought has been bestowed upon a talent-laden trio, determined to storm to the title in Budapest.
Among them is Kibiwott Kandie, who possesses the mojo to turn around the country’s fortunes. He will be flying the country’s flag alongside Nicholas Kimeli and Bernard Kibet.
The Kenyan long-distance and marathon sensation heads to Hungary high on confidence, buoyed by a host of medals in his rich trophy cabinet. The bubbly athlete was born on July 20, 1996, to Alice and Jackson Kandie in Mogotio, Baringo County.
He is the fourth child in a family of five brothers and four sisters. Coming from a humble background, Kandie spent most of his childhood years wading through the terrain of Mogotio bare-footed, where he covered close to seven kilometers a day to access elementary education.
He attended Ngentui Primary School in Baringo, where he sat his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams in 2011 and obtained 320 marks.
“I would make four trips a day for lunch and classes,” Kandie said.
He proceeded to Cheberen Secondary School and managed to score a C+ in his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in 2015.
Kandie began jutting out his talons in athletics during his formative years as a naive schoolboy.
“Yes, I took an interest in athletics immediately when I joined Form One at Cheberen. I once represented my school at the national level despite lacking the necessary training,” he said as he singled out two teachers he believes were responsible for setting his career on course.
“My Biology teacher, Madam Kemboi, and our games teacher Mr. Changwony — who also taught me Business Studies — both happened to encourage me a lot.”
Upon completing high school, Kandie took his career to new heights when he graced the national stage barely a year later.
“I participated in my first road race in Kabarnet, Baringo county in 2016, finishing sixth and receiving Sh10,000 at a time I was just 20,” Kandie said.
The Kenya Defence Forces gunner, who hones his skills under the tutelage of coach Joseph Cheromei, said he loves his job in the military because it synchronises well with his athletics career.
“I joined the military in 2017 through the county recruitment and I believe it was the best job I picked since my bosses have always supported my career,” Kandie said.
Inspired by Kenyan track legend Paul Tergat, Kandie continued to pound the course hard with sights firmly trained on gracing the world stage. The fruits of his resilience and determination eventually came to the fore when he started garnishing his trophy cabinet with consecutive titles and honours.
“I became the national cross country champion in 2020 and 2021, won the national 10, 000m title in 2023, and bagged the silver medal in the World Half Marathon in 2019.
“My latest achievement is the bronze medal I clinched at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.”
Kandie became the first person to finish a half marathon in less than 58 minutes after clocking 57:32 at the 2020 Valencia Half Marathon in Spain.
He romped to another record on April 4, 2021, in a time of 59:32 at the Istanbul Half Marathon in Turkey.
Kandie said he has already gauged his potential in two global events this year and noticed an impressive rise in his curve. The latest of his conspicuous achievements is the scintillating form he pulled off at the Adizero Road to Records event in Herzogenaurach, Germany, on April 29.
Kandie emerged second behind compatriot Sebastian Sawe, who stormed to the title in 26:49 to move to fifth on the men’s world 10km all-time list. Kandie said the outcome attests to the fine form he currently enjoys after recuperating from injuries.
“I successfully competed in the 10km Road to Records event in Germany and was fortunate enough to finish the race second in 26:53. That to me was a great result after recovering from injury,” Kandie said.
“My objective in Germany was to gauge my shape on a faster 10k road race as we head to the World Championships in August,” he added.
He believes he has familiarised himself enough with the track to blaze to the gold podium in Budapest.
“All I can hope for is a positive result in Budapest. My training has been superb and I aim to keep up the effort. That’s why I performed so well in the 10k road race,” said Kandie, who has a personal best time of 27:20.34 over the distance.
“My focus in Budapest will not be to lower my PB but to clinch a medal for the country. I’m not keen on going for the world record either.”
The 2020 World Half Marathon silver medalist took a break from road races to focus on the track ahead of the World Championships.
Kandie told the Star that he is burning the midnight oil in preparation for a masterstroke performance in Budapest.
“All I can hope for is a positive result in Budapest. My training has been superb and I aim to keep up the effort. That’s why I performed so well in the 10k road race and the Commonwealth Games 10,000m,” he remarked.
Kandie reflected on his historic performance in Birmingham, revealing that earning a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games had inspired him to punch above his weight next month.
“Since it was my first international track meet, winning a bronze medal was a huge accomplishment. This was sufficient proof that I can achieve more, not only on the road, but also on the track,” he observed. “I’m working particularly hard to make a name for myself at the worlds.”
Asked if any athlete is causing him sleepless nights ahead of the championships, Kandie said he prefers to focus on making himself a better athlete.
“I am a rival to myself. I don’t go to competition fearing or against anyone.”
Kandie revealed how has worked extremely hard over the years to catapult himself to global stardom, always remaining faithful to a demanding training regimen.
“I wake up as early as 6 am for my first run that covers almost 20km. Afterward, I run another 8km followed by a series of warm-down exercises. In the afternoon, I always ensure I run up to 10 km,” he said.
Kandie, who captained Team Kenya at the World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia, said he was grateful to have been a part of the event since it taught him some significant lessons.
“I’m not wholly dissatisfied with our performance even though the men’s team came back empty-handed. That was my first time representing the country in cross country,” he said.
He described leading the star-studded contingent, which included three-time world half marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor and Commonwealth Games 5000m silver medallist Daniel Simiu, as a privilege.
Meanwhile, the lanky runner said only a smart strategy and planning well will assist Kenyan athletes thrive in Hungary.
“We have a lot to learn from our amazing performance in Australia, and I feel we can put up an even better show in Budapest,” Kandie added.
Kandie hopes to rise from the ashes of nagging injuries that forced him out of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics as well as last year’s World Championships in Oregon and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
“I sustained a knee injury while training which gave me a lot of headaches in 2021. It locked me out of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as well as last year’s World Championships in Oregon,” he said. “My prayer is that the body responds well and will be in a position to score a medal.”
Kandie called upon the Kenyan contingent to put up a valiant fight in Budapest and extolled local athletics enthusiasts for roaring them on.
“We are going to Budapest to fight for victory and to my fans, thanks a lot for the immense support that has brought me this far,” he said.
In the wake of rising cases of doping violations in the country, Kandie has urged budding athletes to resist the urge of attaining fame and fortune through career-threatening shortcuts.
“They need to train, get determined, focus, and never think of shortcuts,” he said.
When he is not pounding his legs hard on the track and the course, Kandie prefers to while away in the company of family while flipping through the pages of his favourite read.
“I spend my free time with my family. Alternatively, I spend the time reading novels.”
BIO
Name: Kibiwott Kandie
Date of Birth: July 20, 1996
Place of Birth: Mogotio, Baringo County
Education: Attended Ngentui primary school in Baringo where he sat his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams in 2011 and obtained 320 marks. Proceeded to Cheberen secondary school and managed to score a C+ in his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in 2015.
Achievements: 2019 Saint Silvester Road Race, Brazil; winner2020 Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, UAE; winner 2020 Prague Half Marathon, Czech Republic; Winner 2020 World Championships (HM), Poland; second place 2020 Valencia Half Marathon, Spain; Winner 2020 marathon world half record 57:32; Winner 2021 Istanbul Half Marathon, Turkey.
