In 1999 he started his technical collaboration with the Italian Coach Renato Canova, that changed his event, looking at longer distances.

Later that year he became the African champion on the track in the 10,000 metres and also won silver medals at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and 2002 IAAF World Cup.

[1] He began to focus on marathon running and won his first race at the Maratona d'Italia in 2010 with a course record and personal best time of 2:09.00.

[2] He emerged as a senior the following year, taking the bronze in the short race at the 1998 IAAF World Cross Country Championships and helping Kenya to the team gold medal.

He also began taking part in road running competitions and won the 10 km BOclassic race at the end of the year.

[4] He improved to the silver medal position at the 1999 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, finishing behind Paul Tergat to help Kenya to a consecutive team win.

[7] He ran for Kenya in the long race at the 2001 IAAF World Cross Country Championships but could not match his short course form and finished in fifth place.

His first time success did not make him an immediate convert, however: "I have changed my focus from the steeplechase to the 10,000 metres ... Maybe in two or three years I will start to think about running the marathon".

[11] He went unbeaten over the distance at the 2002 African Championships in Athletics the following month, beating John Cheruiyot Korir to the continental title.