Charles Gitonga
Encyclopedia
Charles Gitonga is a retired athlete from Kenya
who specialized in the 400 metres
. He is best known for winning the gold medal at the 1994 Commonwealth Games
in Victoria
.
His personal best time was 44.20 seconds, achieved in June 1996 in Nairobi
. The result gives him a 19th place on the world all-time performers list, and is only 0.02 seconds behind the Kenyan record
set by Samson Kitur
four years earlier.
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...
who specialized in the 400 metres
400 metres
The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and...
. He is best known for winning the gold medal at the 1994 Commonwealth Games
1994 Commonwealth Games
The 1994 Commonwealth Games were held in Victoria, in the province of British Columbia in Canada, from 18 August to 28 August 1994.The XV Commonwealth Games marked South Africa's return to the Commonwealth Games following the apartheid era, and over 30 years since the country last competed in the...
in Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
.
His personal best time was 44.20 seconds, achieved in June 1996 in Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
. The result gives him a 19th place on the world all-time performers list, and is only 0.02 seconds behind the Kenyan record
Kenyan records in athletics
The following are the national records in athletics in Kenya maintained by Athletics Kenya .-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:+ = en route to a longer distanceA = affected by altitude# = not officially ratifiedOT = oversized track-External links:*...
set by Samson Kitur
Samson Kitur
Samson Kitur was a Kenyan athlete, and an Olympic medalist in 1992.Unlike most of his compatriots, who run in distances 800 metres and up, Kitur specialised in the 400 metres. He won the continental championship in 1991, and the next year he took the bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics,...
four years earlier.