Introduction
Bedan Karoki Muchiri (born 21 August 1990) is a Kenyan long distance runner who competes in track, cross country and road running disciplines. He represented Kenya at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
He was a silver medallist at the 2015 IAAF World Cross Country Championships and the 2016 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, and also in the 10,000 m at the 2011 All-Africa Games. His half marathon best of 59:10 minutes ranks him in the all-time top thirty for the distance.
Career
Born in Nyandarua, Muchiri attended Muthiga and Kagondo primary schools in Kenya and joined
The Mt.Kenya Talents Development Centre, before going on to study in Japan. He graduated from high school there and attained a high level of proficiency in Japanese. Karoki spent much of his early career running on the Japanese racing circuit, including wins at the Chiba International Cross Country three years in a row, from 2009 to 2011. He also won the Fukuoka International Cross Country in 2011.
He had his first international call-up for Kenya and won a silver medal in the 10,000 m at the 2011 All-Africa Games in Maputo, despite losing the trials and eventually gaining selection as a wildcard entry.
He won his place on the Kenyan Olympic team by finishing third behind Wilson Kiprop and Moses Masai at the Kenyan Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, which were held during the Prefontaine Classic. He finished fifth in the 10,000 metres at the 2012 Olympics in a time of 27:32.94, the highest finishing Kenyan in the race.
In 2013, he won the Kenyan trials then placed sixth in the 10,000 meters at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics.
In 2014, he competed in his first American road race, winning the Beach to Beacon 10K in 27:36. Later he won the Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon in 59:23.
Karoki placed second at the 2015 IAAF World Cross Country Championships behind countryman Geoffrey Kipsang after leading for much of the race. He represented Kenya in the 10,000 m at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics and narrowly missed out on a medal in fourth place. Medals came at the 2016 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, where he was runner-up to compatriot Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor and shared in the team title.
He is the Ambassodor for The Mt.Kenya Talents Development Centre
International competitions
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | All-Africa Games | Maputo, Mozambique | 2nd | 10,000 m | 28:19.22 |
| 2012 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | 5th | 10,000 m | 27:32.94 |
| 2013 | World Championships | Moscow, Russia | 6th | 10,000 m | 27:27.17 |
| 2015 | World Cross Country Championships | Guiyang, China | 2nd | Senior race | 35:00 |
| 2nd | Senior team | 20 pts | |||
| World Championships | Beijing, China | 4th | 10,000 m | 27:04.77 | |
| 2016 | World Half Marathon Championships | Cardiff, United Kingdom | 2nd | Half Marathon | 59:36 |
| 1st | Team | 2:58:58 | |||
| Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 7th | 10,000 m | 27:22.93 | |
| 2017 | World Championships | London, United Kingdom | 4th | 10,000 m | 26:52.12 |
National titles
- Kenyan Cross Country Championships
- 12 km: 2012, 2014, 2015
- Kenyan World Championships Trials
- 10,000 metres: 2013
- Japan Championships in Athletics
- 5000 metres: 2009, 2011
- Japanese Corporate Championships
- 5000 metres: 2012
Circuit wins
- Copenhagen Half Marathon: 2015
- Philadelphia Half Marathon: 2014
- Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon: 2014
- Lisbon Half Marathon: 2014
- Beach to Beacon 10K: 2014
- World's Best 10K: 2014, 2016
- Discovery Kenya Cross Country: 2016
- Fukuoka International Cross Country: 2011
- Chiba International Cross Country: 2009, 2010, 2011
- Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon: 2017
Personal bests
- 1500 metres – 3:42.1 (2016)
- 3000 metres – 7:37.68 (2013)
- 5000 metres – 13:15.25 (2014)
- 10,000 metres – 26:52.12 (2017)
- 10K run – 27:37 (2014)
- Half marathon – 59:10 (2017)
- Marathon – 02:07:41 (2017)
Info from All Athletics