John Ekiru Kelai (born 29 December 1976) is a male long-distance runner from Kenya, who specialises in the marathon. He set his personal best of 2:09:09 hours for the distance at the 2005 edition of the Eindhoven Marathon, where he finished fourth. He is a two-time winner of the Enschede Marathon, also in the Netherlands, and had consecutive wins at the Mumbai Marathon in 2007–2008.
Kelai won the 2003 Singapore Marathon, the 2004 Brussels Marathon, and was the 2007 winner of the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. In 2009 he was third at the Mumbai Marathon, failing to defend his title, and took fourth at both the Singapore and Karstadt Marathons. [1]
He was selected for the marathon at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and he moved away from the field in the final 10 km to become Commonwealth champion (only the second Kenyan man to take the title after Douglas Wakiihuri). "I am so humbled to win here. It is an honour. I didn't know I could be the winner", said Kelai, "I feel on top of the world". [2] He stayed on in Asia for 2011, coming sixth at the Mumbai Marathon and third in Singapore. [3] [4]
He was invited to the 2012 Brighton Marathon and was third in a Kenyan podium sweep. [5]
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing  Kenya | |||||
| 2003 | Singapore Marathon | Singapore | 1st | Marathon | 2:19:02 |
| 2004 | Brussels Marathon | Brussels, Belgium | 1st | Marathon | 2:10:59 |
| Singapore Marathon | Singapore | 4th | Marathon | 2:17:49 | |
| 2005 | Enschede Marathon | Enschede, Netherlands | 1st | Marathon | 2:11:44 |
| Eindhoven Marathon | Eindhoven, Netherlands | 4th | Marathon | 2:09:09 | |
| Singapore Marathon | Singapore | 5th | Marathon | 2:16:58 | |
| 2006 | Enschede Marathon | Enschede, Netherlands | 2nd | Marathon | 2:12:05 |
| Eindhoven Marathon | Eindhoven, Netherlands | 14th | Marathon | 2:18:37 | |
| 2007 | Mumbai Marathon | Mumbai, India | 1st | Marathon | 2:12:30 |
| National Capital Marathon | Ottawa, Canada | 4th | Marathon | 2:11:10 | |
| Toronto Waterfront Marathon | Toronto, Canada | 1st | Marathon | 2:09:30 | |
| 2008 | Mumbai Marathon | Mumbai, India | 1st | Marathon | 2:12:22 |
| Toronto Waterfront Marathon | Toronto, Canada | 5th | Marathon | 2:12:43 | |
| 2009 | Mumbai Marathon | Mumbai, India | 3rd | Marathon | 2:12:13 |
| Ruhr Marathon | Essen, Germany | 4th | Marathon | 2:11:15 | |
| Singapore Marathon | Singapore | 4th | Marathon | 2:13:14 | |
| 2010 | Enschede Marathon | Enschede, Netherlands | 1st | Marathon | 2:12:17 |
| Commonwealth Games | Delhi, India | 1st | Marathon | 2:14:35 | |
Eliud Kipchoge is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in the marathon and formerly specialized in the 5000 metres. Kipchoge is the 2016 and 2020 Olympic marathon champion, and was the world record holder in the marathon from 2018 to 2023, until that record was broken by Kelvin Kiptum at the 2023 Chicago Marathon. Kipchoge has run four of the 10 fastest marathons in history.
Paul Malakwen Kosgei is a Kenyan long-distance and marathon runner. He first came to prominence in athletics by taking the World Junior Record of 3000m steeple in 1997, and later with consecutive medals at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships from 1998 to 2000.
Eyerusalem Kuma is an Ethiopian long-distance runner, who competes in marathons. She has a personal best of 2:24:55 hours for the distance and was the 2009 winner of the Amsterdam Marathon.
Caroline Cheptanui Kilel is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specializes in road running competitions. She was the winner at the 2011 Boston Marathon and the Frankfurt Marathon in 2010 and 2013. Kilel took the silver medal in the marathon at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Koren Jelela, also known as Koren Jelila Yal, is an Ethiopian long-distance runner.
Doris Chepkwemoi Changeywo is a Kenyan professional long-distance runner who specialises in the 10,000 metres and cross country running.
Kenneth Mburu Mungara, also known as Kennedy Mburu, is a Kenyan long distance runner who specialises in the marathon. He holds the Master's 40-44 age group world record in the marathon.
Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich is a Kenyan professional athlete who specialises in long-distance running, competing in events ranging from 10 km to the marathon. He was the bronze medallist in the marathon at the 2012 Summer Olympics. He is the former world record holder in the marathon with a time of 2:03:23, which he set at the 2013 Berlin Marathon. He has run under 2 hours 4 minutes for the marathon on four occasions.
Mark Kosgey Kiptoo is a Kenyan long-distance runner who set the world record in the marathon for the Masters age group by running 2:07:50 in the 2018 Frankfurt Marathon. He also specialized in the 5000 metres throughout his career. He is a two-time gold medalist in the event at the Military World Games and won bronze medals over the distance at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the 2010 African Championships in Athletics. He has also represented Kenya at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships and the All-Africa Games.
Firehiwot Tufa Dado is a female long-distance runner from Ethiopia, who won the New York City Marathon in 2011 with a personal best time of 2:23:15 hours. She also took three consecutive victories in the Rome City Marathon.
Sharon Jemutai Cherop is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specialises in the marathon. She won a bronze medal at the age of sixteen in the 5000 metres at the World Junior Championships. She was the bronze medal winner in the marathon at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics and won the Boston Marathon in 2012.
Michael Shelley is an Australian long-distance runner who competes in track events and road races. He has won gold medals in the marathon event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games at Glasgow, Scotland, as well as the 2018 Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast, Australia. He has also represented Australia at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships and the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships. On the road, he has won at the Gold Coast Half Marathon and the City2Surf race in Sydney.
Amos Tirop Matui is a Kenyan professional long-distance and marathon runner. He has won marathons on four continents with career highlights including consecutive wins and course records at the Singapore Marathon, a win at the Country Music Marathon in 2009, and a bronze medal for Kenya over the distance at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Irene Jerotich Kosgei[nb] is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specialises in the marathon. Her first victory over the distance came at the Nairobi Marathon in 2006 and she won the race again in 2010 with a course record and personal best time of 2:28:47. She became the first Kenyan woman to win the Commonwealth marathon title at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
Irene Mogaka Kemunto is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in the marathon.
Bat-Ochiryn "Ziggy" Ser-Od is a Mongolian long-distance runner, particularly the marathon. He represented his country in the marathon at six Summer Olympics, in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2021 and 2024. A member of the Morpeth Harriers running club, he divides his time between his native country and Gateshead in England.
Daniel Rono is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in marathon races. He began his marathon career in 2005 and has won marathons in Mumbai, Toronto and Madrid.
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.
Joyce Chepkirui is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in road running events. She established herself as a half marathon runner, winning races in Granollers, Bogotá and Gothenburg. She set a best of 1:06:19 hours to win the 2014 Prague Half Marathon. She also competes in 10K road races and her personal best of 30:38 minutes makes her fifth fastest woman ever.
Peter Kimeli Some is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in road running events, including the marathon. Some has a marathon best of 2:05:38 hours and a half marathon best of 1:00:21 hours. He won the 2013 Paris Marathon and the 2012 Brighton Marathon. He is the son of former runner Some Muge and the brother of Matthew Kisorio.
Commonwealth Games champions in the men's marathon | |
|---|---|
|
