Peter Koech

Birth dateFeb 18, 1958

BirthplaceKilibwoni, Kenya

Height1.80 m

Weight67 kg

Peter Koech (born February 18, 1958) is a former long-distance runner from Kenya who won a silver medal in the 3,000 meters steeplechase event at the 1988 Summer Olympics. He held the world record in this event for over three years, running 8:05.35 in 1989.

It was the first electronically timed world record for the event and is still in the top 25 performers in history. Koech competed for the Washington State Cougars track and field team, winning an NCAA Division I title in the steeplechase.

He is from Arwos, Nandi District. He now lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico with his wife and three children. He continued to run in the Masters division, winning the Boilermaker Road Race in 1998.

Key facts

3000 m steeplechase

8:05.35

#38 all-time

3000 m

7:39.09

1998 season best

14:23

Sep 12, 1998 · Clarksville, TN (USA)

1998 season best

Medals

Olympic Games: 1 silver

Age

68 years old

As of Sep 12, 2026: 3000 m steeplechase 8:05.35 (#38 all-time), 3000 m 7:39.09, 1998 season best 14:23 (Sep 12, 1998, Clarksville, TN (USA)) · Olympic Games: 1 silver · 68 years old

Personal bests

3:35.67

7:39.09

13:09.50

28:07.28

1:06:07

2:18:02

8:05.35

13:48

4:58.51

5:27.91

8:04.20

43:27

27:47

47:00

8:17.05

🏅

Medals

	🥇	🥈	🥉	Total
Olympic Games	-	1	-	1

Performance Charts

Season bests

Season	Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Trend	Competitions
1998	5Kilometre	14:23	-	Sep 12, 1998	↓	Clarksville, TN (USA)
1998	10Kilometr	29:38	-	Apr 11, 1998	↓	New Orleans, LA (USA)
1998	15Kilometr	47:16	-	Jul 12, 1998	↓	Utica, NY (USA)
1998	Semi	1:06:07	-	Feb 1, 1998	-	Indianapolis, IN (USA)
1998	Marathon	2:18:02	-	Apr 20, 1998	-	Boston Marathon
1992	3000mSt	8:13.02	-	Jul 15, 1992	↑	Nice (FRA)
1992	5000m	13:17.22	-	Jun 6, 1992	↓	Sevilla (ESP)
1991	3000mSt	8:29.25	-	May 30, 1991	↑	Sevilla (ESP)
1990	3000mSt	8:10.95	-	Aug 12, 1990	↑	Hengelo (NED)
1990	5000m	13:28.09	-	May 30, 1990	↓	Sevilla (ESP)
1989	1500m	3:38.91	-	Jun 25, 1989	↑	Villeneuve d'Ascq (FRA)
1989	3000m	7:45.86	-	Jul 10, 1989	↓	Nice (FRA)
1989	3000mSt	8:05.35	-	Jul 3, 1989	↑	Stockholm (SWE)
1989	5000m	13:33.70	-	Jun 20, 1989	↓	Sevilla (ESP)
1988	2000Metres	5:27.91	-	Jun 30, 1988	-	Västerås (SWE)
1988	3000m	7:46.33	-	Jun 1, 1988	↓	Sevilla (ESP)
1988	3000mSt	8:06.79	-	Sep 30, 1988	↑	Olympic Stadium, Seoul (KOR)
1988	5Kilometre	13:48	-	Mar 27, 1988	↓	Carlsbad, CA (USA)
1988	15Kilometr	45:05	-	Feb 13, 1988	↓	Tampa, FL (USA)
1988	10MilesRoa	47:00	-	May 22, 1988	↑	Antwerpen (BEL)
1987	2000m	4:58.51	-	Jul 16, 1987	-	Paris (FRA)
1987	3000mSt	8:15.77	-	Jul 13, 1987	↑	Nice (FRA)
1987	5000m	13:20.85	-	Aug 19, 1987	↓	Letzigrund, Zürich (SUI)
1987	15Kilometr	43:50	-	Jun 28, 1987	↓	Portland, OR (USA)
1987	10MilesRoa	48:10	-	May 17, 1987	↑	Cherry Hill, NJ (USA)
1986	1500m	3:35.67	-	Jun 27, 1986	↑	Hengelo (NED)
1986	3000mSt	8:13.33	-	Jul 15, 1986	↑	Nice (FRA)
1986	5000m	13:34.2h	-	Apr 26, 1986	↓	Walnut, CA (USA)
1986	10Kilometr	27:47	-	Mar 1, 1986	↓	Phoenix, AZ (USA)
1986	15Kilometr	43:27	-	Feb 8, 1986	↓	Tampa, FL (USA)
1985	1500m	3:38.46	-	Jun 8, 1985	↑	Los Angeles, CA (USA)
1985	3000m	7:55.14	-	Jul 10, 1985	↓	Lausanne (SUI)
1985	3000mSt	8:19.84	-	May 31, 1985	↑	Austin, TX (USA)
1985	5000m	13:24.5h	-	Apr 27, 1985	↓	Walnut, CA (USA)
1984	3000m-short-track	8:04.20	-	Mar 9, 1984	-	Syracuse, NY (USA) (i)
1984	3000m	8:04.20	-	Mar 9, 1984	↓	Syracuse, NY (USA) (i)
1984	3000mSt	8:29.09	-	May 4, 1984	↑	Eugene, OR (USA)
1984	5000m	13:30.59	-	Apr 28, 1984	↓	Walnut, CA (USA)
1983	10000m	28:37.3h	-	May 20, 1983	↓	Berkeley, CA (USA)
1982	3000m	7:39.09	-	Jul 17, 1982	↓	London (GBR)
1982	2Miles	8:17.05	-	Aug 20, 1982	-	London (GBR)
1982	5000m	13:09.50	-	Jul 6, 1982	↓	Stockholm (SWE)
1982	10000m	28:07.28	-	Jul 9, 1982	↓	Paris (FRA)
1981	1500m	3:40.95	-	Aug 26, 1981	↑	Pisa (ITA)
1981	CrossCount	35:50	-	Mar 28, 1981	-	9th IAAF World Cross Country Championships

1998

8 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
15Kilometr	47:40	-	Oct 31	15 km, Tulsa, OK
5Kilometre	14:23	-	Sep 12	Clarksville Run by the River, Clarksville, TN
15Kilometr	47:16	-	Jul 12	Boilermaker, Utica, NY
Semi	1:08:11	-	May 1	Half Marathon, Indianapolis, IN
Marathon	2:18:02	-	Apr 20	Boston Marathon
10Kilometr	29:38	-	Apr 11	Crescent City Classic, New Orleans, LA
10Kilometr	30:17	-	Mar 28	Azalea Trail Run, Mobile, AL
Semi	1:06:07	-	Feb 1	Half Marathon, Austin, TX

1992

6 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
3000mSt	8:13.02	-	Jul 15	Nice NIkaďa, Nice
3000mSt	8:25.37	-	Jul 6	-
3000mSt	8:27.92	-	Jun 12	-
3000mSt	8:15.49	-	Jun 9	Roma Golden Gala, Stadio Olimpico, Roma
5000m	13:17.22	-	Jun 6	Sevilla
3000mSt	8:29.30	-	May 30	-

1991

2 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
3000mSt	8:49.57	-	Jul 3	Stockholm DN Galan, Stockholm
3000mSt	8:29.25	-	May 30	Sevilla

1990

13 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
3000mSt	8:21.23	-	Aug 17	Berlin ISTAF, Olympiastadion, Berlin
3000mSt	8:10.95	-	Aug 12	Adriaan Paulen Memorial, Hengelo
3000mSt	8:16.92	-	Jul 30	Getxo
3000mSt	8:24.59	-	Jul 20	London Parcelforce Games, London
3000mSt	8:18.79	-	Jul 16	Barcelona
3000mSt	8:28.99	-	Jul 12	Athletissima Lausanne, Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne
3000mSt	8:14.06	-	Jul 10	Nice
3000mSt	8:18.84	-	Jul 2	Stockholm DN Galan, Stockholm
3000mSt	8:17.09	-	Jun 29	Villeneuve d'Ascq Meeting BNP, Villeneuve d'Ascq
3000mSt	8:25.71	-	Jun 22	Paris-St-Denis
3000mSt	8:27.95	-	Jun 12	-
5000m	13:28.09	-	May 30	Sevilla
3000mSt	8:29.83	-	May 26	Granada

1989

13 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
3000mSt	8:29.01	-	Aug 18	-
3000mSt	8:29.33	-	Aug 16	Weltklasse Zürich, Letzigrund, Zürich
3000mSt	8:16.66	-	Jul 14	London Royal Mail Parcels Games, Crystal Palace, London
3000m	7:45.86	-	Jul 10	Nice Nikaia, Nice
3000mSt	8:05.35	-	Jul 3	Stockholm DN Galan, Stockholm
3000mSt	8:15.78	-	Jun 27	Athletissima Lausanne, Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne
1500m	3:38.91	-	Jun 25	Villeneuve d'Ascq BNP, Villeneuve d'Ascq
3000mSt	8:16.74	-	Jun 23	Paris-St-Denis
5000m	13:33.70	-	Jun 20	Sevilla
3000m	8:27.76	-	Jun 17	Granada
3000mSt	8:27.76	-	Jun 17	-
3000mSt	8:24.59	-	Jun 11	Portsmouth
3000m	7:51.65	-	Jun 9	Madrid

1988

8 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
3000mSt	8:06.79	-	Sep 30	The XXIV Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Seoul
3000mSt	8:15.68	-	Sep 28	The XXIV Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Seoul
3000mSt	8:31.66	-	Sep 23	The XXIV Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Seoul
3000mSt	8:27.09	-	Aug 26	Berlin ISTAF
3000mSt	8:27.0HT	-	Aug 13	Nairobi
3000mSt	8:11.61	-	Jul 10	Nice
3000mSt	8:18.09	-	Jul 8	London Peugeot Games, London
3000mSt	8:15.72	-	Jul 5	Stockholm DN Galan, Stockholm

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is Peter Koech's 3000 m steeplechase personal best?

Peter Koech's 3000 m steeplechase personal best is 8:05.35, set on Jul 3, 1989 in Stockholm (SWE), #38 on the all-time list.

Which events does Peter Koech compete in?

Peter Koech competes in the 3000 m steeplechase and 3000 m.

How did Peter Koech perform in 1998?

1998 season best: 14:23, set on Sep 12, 1998 in Clarksville, TN (USA).

How many medals has Peter Koech won?

Peter Koech has won 1 Olympic Games medal.

Peter Koech

Personal bests

Medals

Performance Charts

Season bests

1998

1992

1991

1990

1989

1988

Honours

Frequently asked questions