James Kwambai
James Kipsang Kwambai (born February 28, 1983) is a runner from Kenya, who specialises in marathons.
Kwambai went to the Kondabilet Primary School in Marakwet East District, but dropped out at standard seven.[1]
He won the Marseille-Cassis Classique Internationale in 2002, breaking the course record by over a minute.[2] In 2006 Kwambai won the Brescia Marathon and Beijing Marathon, which were his first two marathons.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5] At the 2010 New York City Marathon he completed the race in 2:11:31, which brought him fifth place.[6] 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.[7]
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.[8] He was among the leaders at the 2011 London Marathon by the 30 km mark, but dropped out of the race.[9] 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.[10]
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.[11][12]
[edit] Achievements
- All results regarding marathon and half marathon
[edit] References
- ^ Daily Nation, October 26, 2009: Nearly man Kwambai is back
- ^ Historique Il était une fois … (French). Marseille-Cassis. Retrieved on 2009-10-22.
- ^ IAAF website, February 28, 2008: Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot aiming at fourth consecutive Boston marathon title
- ^ Wenig, Jorg (2008-09-28). Haile breaks 2:04 barrier, Mikitenko under 2:20 in Berlin - UPDATED. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-01-01.
- ^ "Kibet edges Kwambai as both clock 2:04:27 - Rotterdam Marathon". IAAF. 5 April 2009. http://www.iaaf.org/LRR09/news/newsid=50069.html. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
- ^ Dunaway, James (2010-11-07). Gebremariam and Kiplagat cruise to New York victories. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-11-07.
- ^ Biscayart, Eduardo (2011-01-01). Dos Santos and Timbilil cruise to Sao Paulo wins. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-01-01.
- ^ van Hemert, Wim (2011-03-14). Desisa and Chepcirchir take fast Half Marathon wins in The Hague. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-11-07.
- ^ Brown, Matthew (2011-04-17). Mutai and Keitany dominate and dazzle in London. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-11-07.
- ^ Yelena Kurdyumova and Sergey Porada (2011-11-06). Kwambai beats the rain and chill in Seoul. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-11-07.
- ^ IAAF website, February 28, 2005: Kwambai and Console run fast Half Marathons in Rome
- ^ IAAF website, February 28, 2008: Women’s course record goes at Rome-Ostia Half Marathon with 1:09 run
