He had his first success while competing for Kenya when he won the bronze medal in the 3000 m at the
2001 World Youth Championships in Athletics. His first senior medal came at the
2004 IAAF World Athletics Final, where he took the 3000 m silver. He transferred to represent
Qatar following this and was very successful in Asian competitions, winning at the
2005 Asian Athletics Championships and the
2006 Asian Games. He represented
Qatar at the Olympics for the first time with an appearance at the
2008 Beijing Games – he finished eighth in the 5000 m. He improved at the next major competition, taking the bronze medal at the
2009 World Championships in Athletics. A streak of wins at Asian championships followed: he set a new Games record in the 3000 m at the
2009 Asian Indoor Games, won the 5000 m title at the
2009 Asian Athletics Championships for a second time and won his first indoor title soon after at the
2010 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships. From the beginning of his career, he was coached by the Italian Renato Canova, under the management of Gianni Demadonna. He is from
Kaptama in
Mount Elgon District. Prominent runner
Edith Masai is from the same area. == International competitions ==