Samuel Wanjiru was a man who did things young and quickly. He moved to Japan aged just 15 to pursue his running career, ran a world junior record of 26:41 in the 10,000m aged 18, broke the half marathon world record at the same age, and stepped up to the marathon barely into his twenties. He married young and tragically died young too, passing away yesterday at the age of 24.
At this stage, the details of Wanjiru’s death are unclear, but what is known is that he fell from a balcony at his home following a dispute with his wife. Wanjiru was a troubled athlete, famous not just for his incredible marathon performances but also for his drinking and his erratic behaviour. Only months ago was he arrested for allegedly threatening to kill his wife with an illegally acquired AK-47 rifle. Though the couple publicly resolved their differences, it was clear that there were deep-lying problems. Matters came to a head yesterday, when Wanjiru’s wife reportedly found another woman in the house and the ensuing argument led to him being pushed or jumping from the first floor.
A sad end indeed for a man who should rightly be heralded as a marathon running legend. Quite simply, he has pushed the limits of marathon running like no other man has done before. He has no world record to show for it, and in today’s era of super-fast times his 2:05:10 personal best is a modest one, but the times do not tell the whole story. His gold medal winning performance at the 2008 Olympics was a breathtaking display of powerful front running, and changed the marathon forever. Wanjiru’s style of marathon running, and indeed his attitude to his competitors, was like nothing ever witnessed before. Rather than sitting back and hanging in behind the leader, he would push the pace from the gun, constantly asking questions of his rivals. If you wanted to compete against him, you would have to do it from the start. Every time he raced a marathon, Sammy Wanjiru grabbed the race by the scruff of the neck and kept shaking until no one was left. His slowest ever marathon was run in 2:06:39 on his debut.
He also broke the mould in other ways. Stepping up to the marathon was once the preserve of seasoned track runners, moving up in distance once the top end of their track speed had gone. No longer is this the case. Along with his great rival Tsegay Kebede, he started young in the marathon and reaped the benefits of racing 26.2 miles at the peak of his powers. Wanjiru burst on to the scene in an era when Haile Gebrselassie, Paul Tergat, Hendrick Ramaala and Jaouad Gharib were leading the world marathon circuit, all well into their 30s. What he lacked in experience however, he more than made up for in grit, determination and an unrivalled work ethic. Most ahletics fans are unanimous in the opinion that it was only a matter of time before the world record would have been his.
It is fitting that his last race was a race that epitomised his style of running. In an epic battle of wills against Kebede, he dug deepest to win the 2010 Chicago Marathon. Dropped repeatedly in the last few miles, he put in a powerful surge near the finish to shake off his rival and claim the World Marathon Majors title. He will not be back this year to defend his Chicago crown, nor will he be present in London, scene of his 2009 London Marathon victory, to defend his Olympic gold medal.
He leaves behind his wife, Teresa, and his two young children Anne and Simon. Almost as importantly he leaves behind a legacy in his event and the memories of the most exciting marathon racer the world has ever seen.
Samuel Kamau Wanjiru, 10 November 1986 – 15 May 2011
Today, the Guardian published a list of 10 reasons to watch athletics in 2011. Now, I’m not the type of person who needs 10 reasons to watch athletics, but I appreciate that others need more persuading. And with the Diamond League starting this evening in Doha, what better time to celebrate the world’s best athletes? Anna Kessel has picked out 10 athletes who are going to make an impact on the world stage this year. Now, I am a fan of Anna Kessel’s and she generally writes knowledgeably and entertainingly about athletics, but I felt that some of the picks were a little bit obvious. Usain Bolt, Blanka Vlasic, Jessica Ennis and David Rudisha are undoubtedly great athletes, but what about the other people who pass under the radar a bit? Here is my list of the track athletes who are going to have a good 2011 season.
Pamela Jelimo
With all the talk in the women’s 800 being dominated by the gender(s?) of Caster Semenya, it is easy to forget that there are actually other athletes who do this event. One of those is Pamela Jelimo, who is not only the third fastest woman ever to run half a mile, but is also the reigning Olympic Champion at the distance. She missed last season through a knee injury but if she can get anywhere near her form of 2008 when she ran an amazing 1:54, she will be unstoppable.
Silas Kiplagat
OK, maybe I’m going for the obvious choice here too but I can see Silas Kiplagat having a great 2011. Overshadowed by his compatriot Asbel Kiprop in the 1500 last year, the 21 year old is still a force to be reckoned with. Though he was not as succesful as Kiprop in the Diamond League, he still managed to run the fastest time in the world and became Commonwealth Champion. Not many people get under 3:30 but Kiplagat managed it with a 3:29.27 that puts him tenth on the world all time list. More of the same this year and we could see a new world champion in South Korea.
Allyson Felix
Moving from Kenyan middle distance runners to American sprinters, I’d like to explain why Allyson Felix will still be World Champion at the end of the year. A 200m specialist, she is rumoured to be doubling up in the 400 as well, whilst also competing in the 400 relay. Felix has run sub 11 for 100m, sub 22 for 200m and sub 50 for 400m, giving her a PB portfolio as impressive as her compatriot Tyson Gay. She has a great combination of pure speed and strength and will undoubtedly lead the way in the long sprints this year.
Mo Farah
I’m surprised the Guardian didn’t mention him. At a time when the standard of distance running in the British Isles leaves a lot to be desired, the NEB athlete represents the one beacon of hope for Great Britain. After a 2010 season in which he became double European Champion and broke 13 minutes for 5000m, Farah’s name can genuinely be uttered in the same breath as those of the Bekele brothers and just about anyone in Kenya. It will be interesting to see the effects of his move to the States to train with Alberto Salazar and Galen Rupp. As a fan of British athletics, I would love to see him do well. A good 2011 season would set him up nicely for next year’s Olympics in his home city of London.
Mahiedine Mekhissi
Why choose a French steeple chaser? Well, this man is the only one who looks like he’s anywhere near the Kenyans in ‘their’ event. The man can certainly shift over the barriers, as shown by his win in Barcelona last year to pick up European gold, and by his truly world class 8:02 clocking. Though he is no more than an outside shot for a medal at the worlds, this chaser of North African origin will definitely have the East Africans looking over their shoulders.
Carmelita Jeter
This woman is the second fastest woman ever over 100 metres. The only female athlete to have run faster is Florence Griffith Joyner, who may or may not have had chemical assistance to do so. Carmelita Jeter is another great American sprinter who will push her Jamaican rivals all the way to the line, and maybe even get there before them. She is in great shape for a woman in her 4th decade and could well be World 100m Champion by September.
So there you go: my picks for 2011. Maybe I will be proven wrong but amongst this collection of unsung heroes, returning greats, outside bets and proven world beaters are some fine athletes. Watch this space.
This links to Ryan Hall’s account of Monday’s Boston Maraton, where he ran an amazing 2:04:57.Though I don’t share his faith, I enjoyed reading this.Ryan Hall: legend.
This is a really good time to be a fan of athletics, or more specifically the marathon. We are living in a golden era for male marathon running. Allow me to explain.
Over the weekend, there were some absolutely staggering performances in big city marathons. It started on Sunday morning in London with one of the greatest fields ever assembled for a marathon. Behind the start line (and just in front of me – very exciting!) at 9:45 in Blackheath were Martin Lel, Tsegay Kebede, James Kwambai, Emmanuel Mutai, Jaouad Gharib, Abel Kirui, Marilson Gomes Dos Santos and Patrick Makau, amongst others. The start list for the 2011 London Marathon read like a who’s who of world marathon running: the fastest man in the world last year (Makau), two former winners (Kebede and Lel), the world champion (Kirui) and a man who is consistently near the sharp end of any marathon he enters (Mutai).
And it was Mutai who proved to be the story of the day. Sitting back in the lead pack of 9 through half way, there was still no sign of what was yet to come from him. The pacemakers took them through 13.1 miles in 62:45 and hung on for a few more miles. The pack stayed together, hanging in behind last year’s winner and pre-race favourite Kebede, who at first seemed reluctant to make a move. Kebede pushed the pace and dropped a couple off the back before Mutai really got the race started. At 20 miles he put the hammer down and ran back to back miles of 4:30 and 4:31. He followed this up with another 2 miles inside 4:45 and the race was won. The only questions that remained as he charged down the Embankment were about whether the course record of 2:05:10 would be broken, and about who would come second. The first of these was answered emphatically. Slowing down only slightly going past Big Ben and into Birdcage Walk, he powered down the Mall to finish in 2:04:40, making him the 4th fastest man of all time. Behind him, an intriguing battle for second place developed between Martin Lel, winner of this event three times previously, and Patrick Makau, a man who has more sub-60 clockings for the half marathon than any other man in the world. Looking beaten as Makau passed him in the 26th mile, Lel surged again and it came down to a sprint finish down the Mall. he tucked in behind his compatriot and launched a brutal kick with 50 metres to go. He beat Makau by less than a second.
What was remarkable about this race was not just the stunning performance of Emmanuel Mutai, but the way in which the Kenyans dominated the race. The top 3 positions were filled by men from Kenya, as were the first and third positions in the women’s race. Though the distance records belong to Ethiopia, the depth lies in Kenya. The world all time list for the marathon is filled with the names of Kenyan men. The Kenyan dominance now means that the World Marathon Majors and the Diamond League are now far more competitive than the World Championships and the Olympic Games. The reason? These events are only allowed 3 Kenyans in. It is often said that the most competitive race on earth is the Kenyan Cross Country Championships. Without any of the other nations’ athletes diluting the quality of the field, this is the real race that sorts the men from the boys.
So by Sunday afternoon, Emmanuel Mutai was the quickest marathoner in the world for 2011. By Monday afternoon, he wasn’t even the fastest Mutai in the world. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage Geoffrey Mutai.
Monday’s Boston Marathon, whilst not boasting as high quality a field as London, still had Gebre Gebremariam, Ryan Hall, debutant Moses Mosop and Geoffrey Mutai. Now this Mutai also has some pedigree. He came second in the Berlin and Rotterdam Marathons last year with 2:05 and 2:04 clockings to his name, and won the Kenyan Cross Country Championships this year by a huge margin. With the American Ryan Hall setting the early pace, the lead group went through half way under 62 minutes. The athletes benefited from a tail wind and ideal temperatures to make this one of the fastest marathons ever. Mosop recorded the fastest time ever by a debutant with 2:03:06, nearly a minute faster than Haile Gebrselassie’s world record. Despite this, he was still outkicked by the phenomenal Geoffrey Mutai, who broke the tape at 2:03:02. Ryan Hall ran the fastest marathon ever by an American in 2:04:57, meaning he now has a better PB than the likes of Wanjiru and Kebede.
Eight years ago Hall’s time would have been a world record. On Monday it was only good enough for 4th. This shows how much men’s marathon running has come on in the last few years. Taking another look at the all time list, there are barely any times in the top 100 where the year doesn’t begin with the digit 2. A golden era indeed.
As an aside, the women’s race at Boston was won by someone from an East African country. Bet you can’t guess which one.
Regular followers of this blog will know that I am running the London Marathon on Sunday. Doing what I do best on my days off work (browsing the internet for running related stories) I found this article about the celebrities who are taking part in this year’s race and which charities they are raising money for.
Here’s my analysis of the competition I’m up against:
Will Young
Though I doubt I will ever forgive Mr Young for his cover of Light My Fire by the Doors, I have quite some admiration for the man. He clearly has an exceptional pair on lungs on him, but will they be good enough to get him round the course in his predicted 3 hours and 30 minutes?
Dwight Yorke
The Trinidadian made his name scoring countless goals for Aston Villa and Manchester United amongst other clubs. He was the classic poacher with a great eye for goal, and is using his celebrity to raise funds for Vision. He famously did a runner from his relationship with Jordan, another person who has participated in this event. Can he do the same thing at London?
Ricky Wilson
I predict a right sore pair of calves in the morning. The Kaiser Chiefs’ singer is competing this year in order to raise money for the Alzheimers Society.
Gary Speed
Another footballer competing in this year’s event, the Welshman had a hugely successful career, scoring in every Premier League season before his retirement. Known for his ability to tuck away a penalty under pressure, the marathon should pose a different challenge. He is now the national team coach. He can manage Craig Bellamy, but can he manage 26.2 miles?
James Cracknell and Matthew Pinsent
These men are machines. Rowers are just about the fittest breed of athlete on the planet, and their lung capacity is matched only by their mental toughness. With numerous World Championship and Olympic golds between them, the marathon should pose little challenge. Who will be first down the Mall?
Jamie Baulch and Iwan Thomas
Another pair who competed together, but in an event slightly more similar to the one taking place on Sunday. In Baulch and Thomas you have two of the finest 400m runners this country has ever produced. Baulch holds the British indoor record, whilst Thomas holds the outdoor equivalent. There is no doubt that these man can run fast, but how do they feel about running 100 times their usual distance?
