College: Texas Tech
Event: 5,000 Meters – 13:30.55
Coach: Mark Rowland
A native of Kabarnet, Kenya and an All-Big XII selection while competing at Texas Tech, Chelimo joined OTC Elite in 2009 after serving as a Volunteer Assistant Coach for the Red Raiders for a year.
Professional: Kevin opened his 2012 season with a string of personal bests beginning in the indoor 3,000 meters at the Washington Invite, where he placed 5th among OTC teammates in 7:50.86. Two weeks later, Kevin returned to the Dempsey Indoor Track for the Husky Classic, where he set personal bests in the mile and the 5,000 meters, 4:02.97 and 13:30.25 respectively. Chelimo traveled in March to New York for the NYC Half Marathon. He finished alongside teammate Sam Chelanga in a time of 1:01.21 good for 6th place. In the memorable 5,000 meters at the Payton Jordan Invitational in Palo Alto, CA, Kevin never yielded his position in the lead pack throughout the Olympic 'A' Standard paced race. He out-kicked Matt Tegenkamp for 2nd and a personal best of 13:14.57. Kevin competed against his fellow country men during Kenya's 10,000 meter Olympic team trials at the Prefontaine Classic. He rose to the challenge and stuck with the lead pace well through two thirds of the race. He finished 14th in 27:46.10.
Chelimo got off to a great competitive start in 2011, with a second-place finish to OTC Elite teammate Ben Bruce at the Bay Area Cross Country Challenge. … He went on to set a new personal-best time of 27:30.5 in the 10,000 meters at the Payton Jordan Invitational. In 2010, Chelimo started off the season with a personal best in the indoor 3,000 meters at the Husky Classic – finishing 7th in 7:52.45. Chelimo followed that up with a 19th place finish at the Mt. SAC Relays in a 5,000-meter time of 13:37.55, which was a PR at the time. He bettered that mark a few months later, running a 13:30.55 to take second at the Portland Distance Festival in June.
College: While at Texas Tech, Chelimo set a school record and was a national qualifier in the indoor 3,000 meters with a time of 7:54.92. In the spring of 2005, Chelimo earned All-region honors and an NCAA Championships appearance with a fifth-place finish in the 5,000 meters. He also earned All-Conference honors that year and set personal bests in the 1,500 (3:46.15), the 5,000 (13:54.90) and the 10,000 (29:39.30) that year.
High School: At Tenges High School in Kenya, Chelimo participated in track and field and had prep bests of: 1:50 in the 800, 3:45 in the 1,500 and 14:20 in the 5,000.
Personal: Kevin Chelimo was born on February 14, 1983 to parents James and Rodah Chelimo. He has three brothers: Kiprop, Amos and Daniel. He earned his degree from Texas Tech in Human Development and Family Studies. While at Texas Tech, Chelimo met his current wife and fellow OTC runner, Sally Kipyego.
PERSONAL BESTS- Indoor
Mile - 4:02.97 - Washington Husky Classic, Seattle, Wash. - February 11, 2012
3,000 Meters – 7:50.86 – Washinton Invitational, Seattle, Wash. – January 27, 2012
5,000 Meters - 13:30.25 - Washington Husky Classic, Seattle, Wash. - February 11, 2012
PERSONAL BESTS- Outdoor
5,000 Meters – 13:14.57 – Payton Jordanl Invitational, Palo Alto, Calif. – April 29, 2012
10,000 Meters - 27:30.50 - Payton Jordan Invitational, Palo Alto, Calif. - May 1, 2011
Half Marathon - 1:01.21 - NYC Half Marathon, New York, NY. - March 18th, 2012
