There's only three Robert K Cheruiyot's

From Pat Butcher, in Frankfurt

IF your name is Ann Smith, Ali Ahmed, or Liu Chen, chances are you're going to meet quite a few folks with the same moniker in your lifetime.

SUCCESS: Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot is looking to defend his title in Sunday's Frankfurt Marathon

But although Cheruiyot is a common Kenyan name, and there are a lot of good Kenyans among the relatively restricted band of world class marathon runners, you would hardly expect three by the name of Robert K Cheruiyot.

‘Fraid so!

Hence the confusion when Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot won the Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon a year ago in a course record 2.07. 21 - and on his debut no less.

Sure enough, when the newspaper ‘cuttings' came through, half the pictures were of Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, four-time winner of the Boston Marathon.

Perhaps we should think ourselves fortunate that, although he is still competing, Robert Kiprotich Cheruiyot is not running as well as when he clocked 2.08.13 in Amsterdam six years ago.

The Boston Cheruiyot then became a Muslim, and tried to change his name to Omar Ahmed, but race directors understandably didn't like that - who'd pay an appearance fee to Omar Ahmed when you can get a Robert K, and publicity?

"Nothing to do with me," laughed ‘Kiprono' Friday morning, of Kipkoech's name change.

Kiprono is back in Frankfurt for the defence of his title on Sunday.

His course record victory prompted a life-change for him. His coach, William Kiplagat, a successful marathoner himself, had paid the then 20-year old's air fare for his first trip abroad, on the recognition that it would be reimbursed if the youngster ran a sub-2.14.

Kiplagat not only got the air far fare back, his charge won well over 50,000 euros as well.

"Everyone was so happy," said this Robert K at the Frankfurt press conference this morning.

"I was able to build a new house for my family, and my mother now has ten cows instead of three. I've also bought a plot of land in Eldoret, and have plans to build a house for myself."

Read more on Pat Butcher's blog - www.globerunner.org