EL
Elijah Lagat

Elijah Lagat

KENKENMen
Birth dateJun 19, 1966
BirthplaceNandi County, Kenya
Height1.72 m
Weight58 kg

Elijah Kiptarbei Lagat (19 June 1966 – 29 September 2025) was a Kenyan marathon runner and politician who was the winner of the 104th running of the Boston Marathon held in 2000.

He won in the closest finish in the race's history when he edged out Gezahegne Abera of Ethiopia and fellow Kenyan and previous year's champion, Moses Tanui.

Abera and Lagat were both clocked at 2 hours 9 minutes and 47 seconds while Tanui finished three seconds back. Lagat's win enabled the Kenyans to capture the individual men's Boston Marathon title for the 10th straight year. This is a record that still stands.

Key facts
Marathon
2:07:41
#643 all-time
Half Marathon
1:00:24
#482 all-time
2003 season best
9:11.7h
May 10, 2003 · Eldoret (KEN)
2003 season best
Age
60 years old

As of Sep 13, 2026: Marathon 2:07:41 (#643 all-time), Half Marathon 1:00:24 (#482 all-time), 2003 season best 9:11.7h (May 10, 2003, Eldoret (KEN)) · 60 years old

PB

Personal bests

13:43.38
28:09.1HT
1:00:24
#482 all-time
2:07:41
#643 all-time
9:11.7HT
45:08
46:38
59:01
1:16:16

Performance Charts

Season bests

SeasonDisciplineResultWindDateTrendCompetitions
2003
3000mSt
9:11.7h-May 10, 2003-Eldoret (KEN)
2002
Semi
1:03:14-Mar 24, 2002
↓
Lisboa (POR)
2001
Semi
1:03:51-Mar 24, 2001
↓
Praha (CZE)
2001
Marathon
2:12:25-Oct 28, 2001
↑
Madrid (ESP)
2000
Semi
1:04:41-Mar 26, 2000
↓
Lisboa (POR)
2000
Marathon
2:09:47-Apr 17, 2000
↑
Boston Marathon
1999
Semi
1:00:24-Sep 26, 1999
↓
Grevenmacher (LUX)
1999
Marathon
2:08:50-Apr 4, 1999
↑
Paris (FRA)
1998
10000m
28:09.1h-Jul 4, 1998-Kenyan Championships
1998
15Kilometr
45:08-Dec 31, 1998-São Paulo (BRA)
1998
10MilesRoa
46:38-Sep 20, 1998
↑
Amsterdam (NED)
1998
Semi
1:00:53-Mar 15, 1998
↓
Lisboa (POR)
1998
Marathon
2:08:52-May 24, 1998
↑
Praha (CZE)
1997
Marathon
2:07:41-Sep 28, 1997
↑
Berlin (GER)
1996
10MilesRoa
47:24-Sep 22, 1996
↑
Amsterdam (NED)
1996
Semi
1:03:00-Mar 31, 1996
↓
Setúbal (POR)
1996
Marathon
2:11:54-Apr 28, 1996
↑
Rotterdam (NED)
1995
10MilesRoa
48:37-Jun 17, 1995
↑
Borgholzhausen (GER)
1995
20Kilometr
59:01-Oct 8, 1995-Thessaloniki (GRE)
1995
Semi
1:00:51-Sep 24, 1995
↓
Remich (LUX)
1995
25Kilometr
1:16:16-May 7, 1995-Berlin (GER)
1995
Marathon
2:12:40-Oct 29, 1995
↑
Frankfurt (GER)
1994
5000m
13:43.38-Aug 28, 1994-København (DEN)
1994
Semi
1:02:58-Nov 16, 1994
↓
Griesheim (GER)

2003

1 performance
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
3000mSt
9:11.7HT-May 10Eldoret AK Weekend Meeting, Eldoret

2002

1 performance
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
Semi
1:03:14-Mar 24Lisbon Half Marathon, Lisboa

2001

4 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
Marathon
2:12:25-Oct 28Madrid Millennium Marathon, Madrid
Marathon
2:17:59-Apr 16Boston Marathon
Semi
1:03:51-Mar 24Prague International Half Marathon, Praha
Semi
1:05:26-Feb 4Coamo San Blas Half Marathon, Coamo

2000

3 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
Marathon
DNF-Sep 22The XXVII Olympic Games
Marathon
2:09:47-Apr 17Boston Marathon
Semi
1:04:41-Mar 26Lisbon Half Marathon, Lisboa

1999

3 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
Marathon
2:09:59-Nov 7New York Marathon
Semi
1:00:24-Sep 26Grevenmacher Half Marathon, Grevenmacher
Marathon
2:08:50-Apr 4Paris Marathon, Paris

1998

6 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
15Kilometr
45:08-Dec 31Corrida de Sao Silvestre, São Paulo
Marathon
2:10:33-Oct 11Chicago Marathon
10MilesRoa
46:38-Sep 20Dam tot Damloop, Amsterdam
10000m
28:09.1HT-Jul 4Kenyan Championships
Marathon
2:08:52-May 24Praha Marathon, Praha
Semi
1:00:53-Mar 15Lisbon Half Marathon, Lisboa

1997

2 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
Marathon
2:07:41-Sep 28Berlin Marathon, Berlin
Marathon
2:09:19-May 11Torino Marathon, Torino

1996

4 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
10MilesRoa
47:24-Sep 22Dam tot Damloop, Amsterdam
Marathon
2:11:54-Apr 28Rotterdam Marathon, Rotterdam
Semi
1:03:00-Mar 31Setúbal Half Marathon, Setúbal
Semi
1:03:09-Jan 14Egmond aan Zee Half Marathon, Egmond aan Zee

1995

5 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
Marathon
2:12:40-Oct 29Frankfurt Marathon, Frankfurt
20Kilometr
59:01-Oct 820 km, Thessaloniki
Semi
1:00:51-Sep 24Remich
10MilesRoa
48:37-Jun 17Die Nacht von Borgholzhausen, Borgholzhausen
25Kilometr
1:16:16-May 725 km, Berlin

1994

2 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
Semi
1:02:58-Nov 16Half Marathon, Griesheim
5000m
13:43.38-Aug 28Kobenhavn, København

Honours

🥇

Boston Marathon

Marathon

2000
6

New York Marathon

Marathon

1999
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is Elijah Lagat's Marathon personal best?

Elijah Lagat's Marathon personal best is 2:07:41, set on Sep 28, 1997 in Berlin (GER), #643 on the all-time list.

Which events does Elijah Lagat compete in?

Elijah Lagat competes in the Marathon and Half Marathon.

How did Elijah Lagat perform in 2003?

2003 season best: 9:11.7h, set on May 10, 2003 in Eldoret (KEN).