‘Kiptum showed me it’s possible’: Korir dreams big in the marathon

Even as these stars prepare to leave active competition, the production line of athletics talent has not gone silent.

A generational change is slowly taking place as a new crop of youthful athletes emerges to take over.

Athletes like 2008 Olympics marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru and marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum treated fans to awe-inspiring performances, then  left the scene prematurely when athletics fans were just settling down to watch them, hoping to enjoy the show for many years.

But there are others who have grown up watching Kipchoge and his peers dominate the sport, and are now strategically taking positions to build a legacy for themselves, and to take the game to the next level. Boston Marathon champion John Korir belongs to this category. 

Read: Obiri, Chebet on parade in star-studded Boston Marathon field

One of the new kids on the block, he walked in the shadow of his elder brother, former Cherangany MP Wesley Korir who is also the 2012 Boston Marathon champion.

But last year, the 28-year-old won his first race in  the prestigious Abbott Marathon Majors series when he triumphed in Chicago Marathon last October in 2:02:44. This year, he won  the Boston Marathon on April 21 in 2:04:45.

John went to 2025 Boston Marathon race on a mission - to run a good race, and make some money to support students on scholarship at Transcend Talent Academy in Cherangany, Trans Nzoia County. 

Wesley had started the school to support bright students from poor backgrounds, who are talented in athletics.

Read: Why Chepng’etich and Jepchirchir are out of London Marathon

John won Boston Marathon 13 years after Wesley had won the same race in 2012. John won ahead of Tanzania’s Simbu (2:05:04),  and  Cyprian Kotut (2:04:04) from Kenya, joining an exclusive group of siblings to have won the race since it was started 129 years ago.

“We have many athletes under the scholarship programme and I’m happy to have won here because some of the prize money I won will be channeled to the school to support those kids, and I believe it will go a long way in  inspiring them to always do well,” said Korir.

John has a unique running style. He hangs in the leading pack, and breaks after 32 kilometres and employs searing pace which he maintains to the finish line.

He applied the tactic last year in Chicago Marathon, and at Boston Marathon this year, with devastating effect on his opponents.

Speaking in Eldoret last week, John told Nation Sport,  John admitted that apart from Wesley who has been pushing him to do better in races, the late Kiptum also played taught him to push the limits through his record-breaking run.

On October 8, 2023 when Kiptum broke the world record at Chicago Marathon, Korir finished fourth in the same race,  and returned to win it the following year.

In 2022, John had finished third in the race behind winner Benson Kipruto, and second-placed Seifu Tura Abdiwak from Ethiopia.

“When I competed with Kiptum in Chicago Marathon, he showed me that it is possible to run fast times, and when I went back last year, I won it and dedicated the victory to him. He showed us the art of clocking faster times in the marathon, and it has taken me places,” John says.

“The sport is changing. Technology and training programmes are taking a different dimension and it is evident that faster times will always be witnessed. That is why you are seeing the younger generation taking over,” he observed.

He attributes his improved performances in the marathon to support from his family, particularly his elder brother Wesley.

“Family plays a key role in athletics success. My brother Wesley has always pushed me to do better in races.

When I won in Boston this year, he was all smiles knowing that I had achieved my goal. My wife, kids, brothers and sisters have been very supportive of me, and the results are there to be seen,” John, who has hit the gym in readiness for the next season, said.

Gym sessions are essential before he embarks on long runs and speed sessions in preparation for his next assignment.

Has he made enough impression on the coaches, with the 2025 World Athletics Championships in mind?

“It’s good to represent your country but we shall have a discussion with my manager on the next assignment so I can’t say anything conclusive for now but I will definitely run another marathon in the new season,” he said.

Korir started developing an interest in athletics in 2011 as a Standard Three pupil at Biribiriet Primary School.

He would follow his brother to training sessions daily at Mwaita village in Cherangany, Trans Nzoia County.

The seventh born in a family of eight children,  John saw Wesley winning races and changing the family’s fortunes, and made the decision to pursue athletics at the age of 11.

He joined St Francis Kimuron High School in Elgeyo Marakwet County but quit at Form Two to pursue arunning full time.

Unlike Wesley who started his career with middle and long distance track events, John went straight to road running, finishing third at the 2018 Ottawa Marathon, and the 2019 Los Angeles Marathon.

John almost hung his boots in 2019 when he competed at the Frankfurt Marathon and finished a disappointing 12th in 2:13:09 but Wesley urged him to soldier on.

He is married to Sheila Chebet and they are blessed with three daughters.