Amos Tirop Matui
Encyclopedia
Amos Tirop Matui is a Kenya
n 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
.
His official personal best for the marathon is 2:12:14, although he also has an unratified time of 2:10:32 from the 2006 Ottawa Marathon. which was annulled due to misdirection on the course.
. In Singapore he won the race by overtaking Ashebir Demissu in the last 200 m and earned a $25,000 bonus with a course record performance of 2:15:57 in hot, humid conditions.
He entered the 2006 National Capital Marathon
in Ottawa
and seemingly took victory by crossing the line first in a time of 2:10:32. However, a mistake had occurred on the course as a motorist had moved a barrier while race volunteers were absent from their post. This resulted in Matui and thirteen others cutting some 400 metres off the course distance. His result was annulled but race organisers issued him financial compensation for the mistake in lieu of prize money. His season had a high note at the Singapore Marathon as he successfully defended his title. Taking on Ashebir Demissu for a second time, Matui took the lead at 41 km to improve his course record to 2:15:01 and he also became the first athlete to take successive victories at the race.
He ran at both the Ottawa and Singapore marathons again in 2007, but failed to match his form of the previous year. He finished in seventh in Canada and was second in Singapore. He appeared set to win and break the course record in Singapore for a third time but Elijah Mbogo, who was employed for pacemaking duties, decided to keep going after 30 km. Realising the 19-year-old's intentions, Matui tried to keep up with Mbogo but the gap was too much to make up. He ended up in the runner-up spot with a time of 2:14:25, while Mbogo took his course record just two seconds ahead of him.
Matui reached the Singapore podium for a fourth consecutive time in 2008, taking third place in a time of 2:15:15, although this was two minutes behind the reigning world champion Luke Kibet
, who won the race. He ran in the United States
for the first time in 2009 and went on to win at the Country Music Marathon
in Nashville, Tennessee
, running a time of 2:13:41. He was selected for the Kenyan team in the marathon at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
, gaining his first international selection for Kenya at the age of 34. He felt ill in his race preparations beforehand but managed to reach the Commonwealth podium. Among the leading pack for much of the race, he slowed in the final kilometres and finished in third place to take the bronze medal
while John Kelai
took the title for Kenya. Reflecting upon his performance, he said: "I had been feeling unwell in the build-up to the race, so in the end I am happy with a bronze."
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n 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
Singapore Marathon
The Singapore Marathon is an annual international marathon race which is held on the first Sunday of December in the city of Singapore. It is an IAAF Silver Label Road Race...
, a win at the Country Music Marathon
Country Music Marathon
The Country Music Marathon is located in Nashville, TN. The route begins in Centennial Park and continues along many of Nashville's sights including music row, Belmont University, the State Capitol Building, the Cumberland River, Shelby Park, Shelby Bottoms Greenway, and ends outside LP Field,...
in 2009, and a bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
for Kenya over the distance at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
2010 Commonwealth Games
The 2010 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games, were held in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010. A total of 6,081 athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and dependencies competed in 21 sports and 272 events, making it the largest Commonwealth Games till date...
.
His official personal best for the marathon is 2:12:14, although he also has an unratified time of 2:10:32 from the 2006 Ottawa Marathon. which was annulled due to misdirection on the course.
Career
He scored his first victory in the marathon in 2003 by taking the title at the Baden Marathon in a time of 2:17:59. He improved his personal best time to 2:12:14 with a fourth place finish at the 2004 Brussels Marathon and then finished second at the Hannover Marathon later that year. He also ran at the Hamburg Half Marathon, which he won in a time of 1:05:26. In 2005 he won both the Casablanca Marathon and the Singapore MarathonSingapore Marathon
The Singapore Marathon is an annual international marathon race which is held on the first Sunday of December in the city of Singapore. It is an IAAF Silver Label Road Race...
. In Singapore he won the race by overtaking Ashebir Demissu in the last 200 m and earned a $25,000 bonus with a course record performance of 2:15:57 in hot, humid conditions.
He entered the 2006 National Capital Marathon
National Capital Marathon
National Capital Marathon, or Ottawa Race Weekend, is one of Canada's largest marathons. It is held in the city of Ottawa, Ontario. The 42.195 kilometres event features many races, including: the MDS Nordion 5K Run/Walk, the MDS Nordion 10K Run/Walk, the ING Ottawa Marathon Walk, the ING Marathon...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and seemingly took victory by crossing the line first in a time of 2:10:32. However, a mistake had occurred on the course as a motorist had moved a barrier while race volunteers were absent from their post. This resulted in Matui and thirteen others cutting some 400 metres off the course distance. His result was annulled but race organisers issued him financial compensation for the mistake in lieu of prize money. His season had a high note at the Singapore Marathon as he successfully defended his title. Taking on Ashebir Demissu for a second time, Matui took the lead at 41 km to improve his course record to 2:15:01 and he also became the first athlete to take successive victories at the race.
He ran at both the Ottawa and Singapore marathons again in 2007, but failed to match his form of the previous year. He finished in seventh in Canada and was second in Singapore. He appeared set to win and break the course record in Singapore for a third time but Elijah Mbogo, who was employed for pacemaking duties, decided to keep going after 30 km. Realising the 19-year-old's intentions, Matui tried to keep up with Mbogo but the gap was too much to make up. He ended up in the runner-up spot with a time of 2:14:25, while Mbogo took his course record just two seconds ahead of him.
Matui reached the Singapore podium for a fourth consecutive time in 2008, taking third place in a time of 2:15:15, although this was two minutes behind the reigning world champion Luke Kibet
Luke Kibet
Luke Kibet is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon. He won the marathon race at the 2007 World Championships.- Early career :Kibet was born in Kaplelach village, Moiben division, Uasin Gishu District...
, who won the race. He ran in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for the first time in 2009 and went on to win at the Country Music Marathon
Country Music Marathon
The Country Music Marathon is located in Nashville, TN. The route begins in Centennial Park and continues along many of Nashville's sights including music row, Belmont University, the State Capitol Building, the Cumberland River, Shelby Park, Shelby Bottoms Greenway, and ends outside LP Field,...
in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, running a time of 2:13:41. He was selected for the Kenyan team in the marathon at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
Athletics at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
The athletics competition at the 2010 Commonwealth Games was held in New Delhi, India between 6 and 14 October. The track and field events took place between 6–12 October at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium while the marathon contests were held on a street course running through the city on 14...
, gaining his first international selection for Kenya at the age of 34. He felt ill in his race preparations beforehand but managed to reach the Commonwealth podium. Among the leading pack for much of the race, he slowed in the final kilometres and finished in third place to take the bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
while John Kelai
John Kelai
John Ekiru Kelai is a male long-distance runner from Kenya, who specialises in the marathon. He set his personal best in the men's marathon race in the 2005 edition of the Eindhoven Marathon, where he finished fourth...
took the title for Kenya. Reflecting upon his performance, he said: "I had been feeling unwell in the build-up to the race, so in the end I am happy with a bronze."