Raymond Kipkoech Chemwelo

Raymond Kipkoech (born 29 April 1978) He is the cousin of fellow Kenyan marathon runner Eric Kimaiyo.

Career Kipkoech started running professionally in 2000. His coach was Italian Gabriele Rosa, who also trained Kenyan marathon runners Paul Tergat and Moses Tanui. In 2002, Kipkoech won the Enschede Marathon, and came second at the Los Angeles Marathon. He secured his place at the 2002 Berlin Marathon a week before the race, Kipkoech won the race in a final sprint with fellow Kenyans Simon Biwott and Vincent Kipsos. The top five finishers in the race were all Kenyan, which beat his previous personal best by over 4 minutes. He had to withdraw from the event due to an injury. He competed at the 2003 Berlin Marathon, his first marathon since winning the race in 2002. Later in the year, he came 13th at the 2003 New York City Marathon. In 2004, Kipkoech won the Venice Marathon, beating Italian Danilo Goffi by a fraction of a second. In the same year, Kipkoech came second at the Paris and Vienna City Marathons. despite accidentally running to the half-marathon finish line rather than the marathon finish line.