Benjamin Kiplagat (March 4, 1989 – December 31, 2023), was a Ugandan long-distance runner, specializing in the 3000 meters steeplechase. Born in Magoro, Bukwo, Uganda, he rose to prominence following the success of Boniface Kiprop, a fellow villager, in the 2004 World Junior Championships. Kiplagat initially competed in the 10,000 meters but later shifted to the 1500 and 5000 meters based on his coach’s advice.
Career Highlights
Kiplagat made his international debut at the 2006 World Cross Country Championships, qualifying by finishing 6th in the Ugandan Junior Cross Country Championships. In the same year, he participated in the World Junior Championships, setting a new national junior record of 8:35.77, later lowering it to 8:34.14 in the final, where he finished 6th.
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In 2008, he achieved a 4th-place finish in the World Cross Country Championships and lowered the Ugandan record to 8:16.06 and then 8:14.29, securing second place in the World Junior Championships.
Despite health challenges in 2009, including malaria and typhoid, Kiplagat further lowered the Ugandan national record to 8:12.98. In 2010, battling malaria and a leg boil, he broke the Ugandan record again, clocking 8:03.81 and finishing 4th at the Commonwealth Games.
Cause of Death
Benjamin Kiplagat met a tragic end on December 31, 2023, at the age of 34, in Kenya, Africa. The Kenyan police reported discovering his lifeless body inside his brother’s car near Kimumu Secondary School along Eldoret-Iten Road in Eldoret, western Kenya, on Saturday night. Authorities revealed that Kiplagat had a deep knife cut wound on his neck. An investigation has been initiated to apprehend those responsible for this shocking incident, marking a devastating loss for the athletics community.
Summary Table:
| Born | March 4, 1989 |
|---|---|
| Birthplace | Magoro, Bukwo, Uganda |
| Died | December 31, 2023 |
| Age at Death | 34 |
| Location of Death | Kenya, Africa |
| Occupation | Long-distance runner |
International Competitions
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | World Cross Country Championships | Fukuoka, Japan | 50th | Short race (4 km) | 11:31 |
| 2006 | World Junior Championships | Beijing, China | 6th | 3,000 m st | 8:34.14 |
| 2007 | World Cross Country Championships | Mombasa, Kenya | 5th | Junior race (8 km) | 24:31 |
| 2008 | World Cross Country Championships | Edinburgh, UK | 4th | Junior race (7.905 km) | 22:43 |
| 2008 | World Junior Championships | Bydgoszcz, Poland | 2nd | 3,000 m st | 8:19.24 |
| 2008 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China | 9th | 3,000 m st | 8:20.27 |
| … | … | … | … | … | … |
Personal Bests
- 1500 m – 3:38.86 (Nijmegen 2009)
- 3000 m – 7:46.50 (Dakar 2010)
- 5000 m – 13:22.67 (Kassel 2007)
- 10,000 m – 29:03.1 (Bugembe 2006)
- 2000 m st – 5:41.1 (Nairobi 2005)
- 3000 m st – 8:03.81 (Lausanne 2010)
