Cyprian Kotut's resounding victory last week in the Hamburg marathon reminds us of his elder sibling Martin Lel.
The 29-year-old roared to victory in a lifetime best of 2:04:47, smashing Eliud Kipchoge's course record of 2:05:30 which has stood for nine years.

Kotut surpassed Martin Lel's personal best of 2:05:15 to keep the family legacy intact. However, the latter is more decorated when it comes to big city marathons and championships.

Lel's maiden victory in the marathon was in 2003 when he won the New York marathon. He was a three-time London marathon champion in 2005,2007, and 2008.

Retired Lel, has represented Kenya in championships. He is a gold medalist in the IAAF world half marathon championship in 2003. 

In 2008, he represented Kenya in the Beijing Summer Olympics where he finished fifth in the marathon. His compatriot the late Samwel Wanjiru, won the first-ever gold medal for Kenya. 

Kotut's breakthrough in marathons came in 2016 when he won the Paris marathon in 2:07:13. He is also a good pacemaker in marathons not to mention his tremendous success in road races.

The Cheptil high school alumni was not a star in the secondary school athletics championship. His favorite events were 1500m and 3000m steeplechase

Both Lel and Kotut are known for their devastating kick. Martin Lel was the only person who could beat Samwel Wanjiru in the last stages of the race.

Kotut held off Stephen Kissa of Uganda in this year's Hamburg marathon, by producing a seismic kick. Enough to affirm family prodigy continuation.