Kenyan runners

12 Stories

For Kenya's Elite Female Runners, a Brutal Price to Pay

'New Yorker' explores the gender-based violence they face at home

(Newser) - Agnes Tirop was found murdered in October 2021. Six months later, Damaris Mutua was strangled to death. Both women were in their 20s and killed in the same town of Iten, Kenya. But they had something more telling in common: Both were elite runners on the world stage. At the...

Marathon's First US Winner in 20 Years Caught a Lucky Break

2 Kenyan leaders were diverted, disqualified at Quad Cities Marathon

(Newser) - An Illinois man became the first US runner since 2001 to claim victory in the Quad Cities Marathon on Sunday after watching the two Kenyan runners ahead of him go the wrong way. "I was about 20 seconds back, so I kind of saw it happening but I'm...

World Marathon Record Set in 2003 Broken in Chicago

Brigid Kosgei beat Paula Radcliffe's time by 81 seconds

(Newser) - The women's marathon world record that Paula Radcliffe set at the London Marathon in April 2003 stood for more than 16 years—until it was smashed by Brigid Kosgei on Sunday. The 25-year-old Kenyan runner finished the Chicago Marathon in 2 hours, 14 minutes, and 4 seconds, beating Radcliffe'...

He Just Did What No Runner Has Ever Done Before

'I am the happiest man,' says Eliud Kipchoge, the first person to run marathon in under 2 hours

(Newser) - With 20 seconds to spare, Eliud Kipchoge has just done what elite marathon runners have tried to do for years. "I am the happiest man," the Kenyan athlete said Saturday in Austria after completing Vienna's Prater Park marathon in less than two hours—1 hour, 59 minutes,...

The Runner's Story Is an Unbelievable One—Perhaps Literally

Moninda Marube claims to be a human trafficking victim, and it's complicated

(Newser) - When Kathryn Miles reached out to Moninda Marube last summer, her intention was to write a profile on the high-profile competitive runner and human trafficking survivor. What she ultimately ended up writing for Down East is a horse of another color. She is far from the first to report on...

Kenyan Keitany Wins a Squeaker in NYC Marathon
 Kenyans Romp 
 at NYC Marathon 
UPDATED

Kenyans Romp at NYC Marathon

Jemima Sumgong 3 seconds behind, tying closest women's finish

(Newser) - Mary Keitany of Kenya has won the women's title at the New York City Marathon, while Wilson Kipsang of Kenya has won the men's title giving him titles in Berlin, London, and New York in the past 13 months. Keitany overtook countrywoman Jemima Sumgong with about a half-mile...

Kenyans Romp at Chicago Marathon

Eliud Kipchoge, Rita Jeptoo win; 1-2-3 sweep for the men

(Newser) - Kenyans ruled the Chicago Marathon today, with Eliud Kipchoge leading a 1-2-3 men's sweep and compatriot Rita Jeptoo repeating as the women's winner. Kipchoge pulled away over the last two miles for his first major marathon victory, finishing in 2 hours, 4 minutes, 11 seconds. He was followed...

Man Has Now Run a Marathon Under 2:03

Kenya's Kimetto shaves 26 seconds off world record

(Newser) - Six years to the day after Haile Gebrselassie became the first runner to finish a marathon in under 2 hours, 4 minutes , another Berlin Marathon runner has cracked the 2 hours, 3 minutes mark. Dennis Kimetto of Kenya won the race and knocked a full 26 seconds off the world...

Kenya's Kimetto Sets Record to Win Chicago Marathon

First major US marathon since Boston bombings

(Newser) - Dennis Kimetto of Kenya broke the course record today in capturing the Chicago Marathon, and compatriot Rita Jeptoo was the women's winner in the first major US marathon since the Boston bombings. Kimetto finished in 2 hours, 3 minutes, 45 seconds, leading a 1-2-3 finish for Kenyan men. He...

Kenyan Runner Loses Feet to Frostbite

Marko Cheseto went missing in Alaska snowstorm

(Newser) - A top college runner at the University of Alaska in Anchorage has lost both his feet to amputation after severe frostbite. Marko Cheseto, 28, disappeared in a snowstorm earlier this month wearing only jeans, running shoes and a light jacket. He was found outside a hotel two days later with...

New Record Set in Boston Marathon

Kenya's Geoffrey Mutai takes first place

(Newser) - Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya took first place at the Boston Marathon today, finishing the race in a record 2:03:02. That time beats the marathon’s previous record, set by fellow Kenyan Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot, by more than two minutes, reports the Boston Globe . It would also be a...

Runners Are Targets Amid Kenya Strife

Athletes meet over accusations of stirring up violence

(Newser) - Some of the world's best runners have been receiving death threats as conflict continues in their native Kenya, where rumors circulate that the athletes were involved in stirring up ethnic killings. Top Kenyan runners are meeting in the town of Eldoret to discuss their response, the AP reports. "I...

12 Stories