James Kipsang Kwambai (born February 28, 1983) is a runner from Kenya, who specialises in marathons. He is a former Kenyan record holder in the event, with his personal best of 2:04:27 hours in 2009. At the time this made him the second fastest runner ever, behind Haile Gebrselassie. [1]
Kwambai went to the Kondabilet Primary School in Marakwet East District, but dropped out at standard seven. [2]
He won the Marseille-Cassis Classique Internationale in 2002, breaking the course record by over a minute. [3] In 2006 Kwambai won the Brescia Marathon and Beijing Marathon, which were his first two marathons. [4] He also won the 2008 and the 2009 Saint Silvester Road Race.
He finished second at the 2008 Berlin Marathon, where Haile Gebrselassie set a new marathon world record. Kwambai's time was 2:05:36, that made him the seventh fastest ever marathon runner at the time. [5] At the 2009 Rotterdam Marathon Kwambai again finished second (behind Duncan Kibet) in a time of 2:04:27, the third fastest ever marathon at the time. [6] At the 2010 New York City Marathon he completed the race in 2:11:31, which brought him fifth place. [7] He returned to defend his title at the Saint Silvester race in São Paulo but ended up in third place behind Marílson dos Santos and Barnabas Kosgei. [8]
His first race of 2011 was the CPC Loop Den Haag, but he was off the winning pace and came sixth in a time of one hour and one second. [9] He was among the leaders at the 2011 London Marathon by the 30 km mark, but dropped out of the race. [10] In August he came second at the Rio de Janeiro Half Marathon, but was eighth at the Udine Half Marathon the following month, finishing well off his best in 1:02:06 hours. His season peaked in November when he took the title at the JoongAng Seoul Marathon in a time of 2:08:50 hours, despite rainy conditions. [11] He took on the city's other major race, the Seoul International Marathon, in March 2012 and ran his best race in three years, finishing in 2:06:03 hours to take second behind Wilson Loyanae. [12] In November he competed at the 2012 JoongAng Seoul Marathon, won it convincingly and broke the course record by 2:23 minutes, with a time of 2:05:50 hours. [13]
He was among the fastest entrants at the 2013 Tokyo Marathon, but came fifth a minute and a half behind winner Dennis Kimetto. [14] He was back in form in Seoul in November as he won in 2:06:25 hours for third straight victory at the race (the first person ever to do so). [15] He ran at the city's other major race, the Seoul International Marathon, in March 2014 but his time of 2:07:38 was only enough for sixth place in a quick race. [16]
Kwambai prefers road running over track and cross-country. His training partners include Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, Martin Lel, Sammy Korir and Fred Kiprop in Eldoret and Italy. Kwambai has been coached by Gabriele Rosa and Claudio Berardelli. [17] [18]
Yonas Andebrhan Kifle is an Eritrean runner who specializes in the 10,000 metres, the marathon and cross-country running. He has represented Eritrea at the Olympics on four occasions; in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012. He has also competed at World Championship-level in cross country, road running, and on the track indoors and outdoors.
Askale Tafa Magarsa is an Ethiopian long distance runner, who has specialised in the marathon. Her sister, Tafa Megersa Mergertu, is also a marathon runner.
Duncan Kibet is a runner from Kenya. He became the second fastest marathoner ever with a time of 2:04:27 hours, when he won the 2009 Rotterdam Marathon.
Solomon Molla is an Ethiopian athlete who specialises in long distance running, including the marathon. He has a personal best of 2:08:46 hours that event and won the 2008 JoongAng Seoul Marathon. He is a two-time participant at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
The JoongAng Seoul Marathon is an annual footrace that takes place in Seoul, South Korea, usually in early November. First held in 1999, the race was established as a commemoration of Olympic marathon race which was held as part of the 1988 Seoul Olympics. It features a men's marathon elite race, and also has non-professional races of 10 km as well as the marathon distance. Elite international competitors are usually not invited to the women's race, thus that section tends to be a competition between Korean women only.
Yemane Adhane Tsegay is an Ethiopian long distance runner who specialises in the marathon. He won the 2012 Rotterdam Marathon with a personal best time of 2:04:48 hours. He has also won marathons in Eindhoven, Gyeongju, Macau and Taipei.
Eliud Kiptanui is a Kenyan long distance runner who specialises in the marathon. He won the 2010 Prague International Marathon and has a personal best of 2:05:21 hours. He represented his country at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics.
Nicholas Chelimo Kipkorir is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specialises in road running, including the marathon. He has a personal best of 2:07:38, set at the Eindhoven Marathon in 2010. He took his first win at the 2010 Nagano Marathon and had two straight wins at the Honolulu Marathon. He was the 2013 winner of the Cologne Marathon.
Chung Yun-hee is a South Korean long-distance runner and marathon race specialist.
Amane Gobena Gemeda is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who competes primarily in road running events. She has a marathon best of 2:23:50 hours.
Wilson Kwambai Chebet is a Kenyan professional long-distance runner who specialises in road running competitions. He has a marathon best of 2:05:27 hours.
Benjamin Kolum Kiptoo is a Kenyan professional marathon runner. He has won marathons in Rome, Beijing and Chuncheon, and represented Kenya at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics. He holds a personal best of 2:06:31 for the distance, set en route to victory at the 2011 Paris Marathon. He also holds the fastest ever time recorded on Italian soil (2:07:17), with which he won the 2009 Rome City Marathon.
David Kemboi Kiyeng is a Kenyan marathon runner. He is a two-time winner of the Reims Marathon and has also won the Italian Marathon, JoongAng Seoul Marathon, Chuncheon Marathon and Daegu Marathon. His personal best for the distance is 2:06:26, which was set at the 2009 edition of the Paris Marathon.
Feyse Tadese Boru is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who competes in the half marathon.
Benson Kipchumba Barus is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in marathon and half marathon competitions. He has a personal best of 2:07:07 hours for the distance, set at the 2011 Prague Marathon, which he won. He also won the 2009 Turin Marathon and has placed top three in Rome, Beijing and Chuncheon.
Tariku Jufar is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who competes in marathon races. He has won the Beijing, Beirut and Houston Marathons and has had top-three finishes in Istanbul, Mumbai, Los Angeles, Lake Biwa and Hamburg. His personal best for the distance is 2:06:51 hours.
Wilson Loyanae Erupe, also known as Wilson Loyanai Ekupe, is a Kenyan born Korean long-distance runner who competes in marathons. He has a personal best of 2:05:13 hours for the event and has won races in Mombasa, Gyeongju and Seoul. He has represented South Korea under the name Oh Joo-han, since 2018.
Hellen Wanjiku Mugo is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in marathon races. She has won marathons in Belgrade, Carpi, Mombasa and Košice. Her personal best is 2:27:16 hours, set in Carpi.
Mulugeta Wami is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who specialises in the marathon. He has a personal best of 2:07:11 hours for the distance. He was the 2013 winner of the Ljubljana Marathon.
Stephen Kosgei Kibet is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in road running competitions from the 10K run to the marathon. His half marathon personal best of 58:54 minutes ranks him in the top ten of all-time for the distance. His best of the marathon distance is 2:08:05 hours.
