Phanuel Koech
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech |
| Nationality | Kenyan |
| Born | 1 December 2006 Kewapmwai, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Event(s) | 800m, 1500m |
| Coached by | Claudio Berardelli |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal bests | 800 m: 1:46.93 (Nairobi 2024) 1500 m: 3:27.72 WU20R (Paris 2025) |
Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech (born 1 December 2006) is a Kenyan middle-distance runner. In June 2025, as an 18-year-old, he ran a world under-20 record of 3:27.72 in the 1500 metres.[1]
He is coached by Claudio Berardelli, who also coaches Emmanuel Wanyonyi.[2]
Early life
[edit]Koech was born in Kewapmwai, a village in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. He is the youngest of 10 siblings and was raised by his mother Roselyne after his father died prior to his birth. He began running at Primary School before attending St. Francis Kimuron School near Iten, a school that was previously attended by David Rudisha and Emmanuel Korir.[2]
Career
[edit]He won the Boys Under-18 title during the World Schools Cross Country Championships at the Ngong Race Course on May 12, 2024.[3][4]
He ran a 800 metres personal best of 1:46.93 at the Kenyan U20 trials in Nairobi in June 2024.[5] He competed at the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships over 800 metres in Lima, Peru, placing fifth in the final.[6][7] He finished third behind race winner Emmanuel Wanyonyi at the Athletics Kenya 2km cross country race in Iten in November 2024.[8]
Having signed with Adidas and declined opportunities to enter the collegiate system in the United States, Koech was part of a training group in Iten coached by Gabriele Nicola before joining Claudio Berardelli's coaching group, also containing Wanyonyi, in March 2025.[2]
In June 2025, he ran a personal best of 3:32.26 for the 1500 metres at the Lucca International Meeting, a World Athletics Continental Tour Challenger event.[9] Competing 1500 metres at the 2025 Meeting de Paris on 20 June he ran a world under-20 record time of 3:27.72.[10][11][12][13][14] It was just his second competetive race at the distance.[15] He ran 3:29.05 to win the 1500 metres at the Golden Spike Ostrava on 24 June.[16] He ran 3:28.82 to win the 1500m at the 2025 London Athletics Meet ahead of reigning world champion over that distance, Josh Kerr on 19 July.[17]
He was named in the Kenyan team for the 1500 metres at the 2025 World Athletics Championships.[18]
References
[edit]- ^ "Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech". World Athletics. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ^ a b c Gault, Jonathan (30 June 2025). "3:27 Out of Nowhere? How 18-Year-Old Phanuel Koech Ran So Fast in the Paris 1500". Lets Run. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ "Rising Star Koech targets 1500m glory at the Kip Keino Classic". 15 May 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ^ "Kenyan junior stars steal the show at Ngong course". Nation.Africa. May 13, 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ^ "National Trials For World Athletics Under 20 Championships". World Athletics. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ^ "World Athletics U20 Championships: Kenyan stars ready to conquer in Peru". tv47.digital. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ^ "World U20 Championships". World Athletics. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ^ Cheruiyot, Bernard (November 2, 2024). "Olympic Champion Wanyonyi wins AK Cross Country in Iten". Citizen.digital. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ^ "Zhang throws world U20 hammer record in Fränkisch-Crumbach". World Athletics. 8 June 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
- ^ Gault, Jonathan (20 June 2025). "Azeddine Habz & Phanuel Koech (Who?) Run 3:27: Paris Diamond League Thoughts". Lets Run. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ "Diamond League Paris 2025: Azeddine Habz delights at home as Olympic champions shine". Olympics.com. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ^ Adams, Tim (20 June 2025). "GEORGE MILLS: "I DIDN'T EXPECT THAT TODAY IN ALL HONESTY"". Athletics Weekly. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ^ "Mills runs second fastest British 1500 metres time in Paris". BBC Sport. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ "Habz, Benjamin, Paulino and Stark storm to meeting records in Paris". World Athletics. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ "Duplantis and Koech among meeting record-breakers in Ostrava". World Athletics. 24 June 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ^ Henderson, Jason (24 June 2025). "GOUT GOUT WINS ON EUROPEAN DEBUT IN OSTRAVA". Athletics Weekly. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ^ "Hunter Bell, Dobson and Lake claim wins in London". BBC Sport. 19 July 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ Moses, Martin (22 July 2025). "World Athletics Championships: Faith Kipyegon, Omanyala, Chebet Lead Team Kenya to Tokyo". Toku.co.ke. Retrieved 22 July 2025.