Lucas Sang
Encyclopedia
Lucas Sang was a Kenya
n athlete who participated in the 1988 Summer Olympics
, held in Seoul
. He was a member of the Kenyan 4 x 400 metre relay team, reaching the final and finishing eighth. He also competed in the 400 metre individual race, but failed to make the semifinals.
Sang took part in the 1987 All Africa Games
in Nairobi
, the 1998 African Championships in Athletics
and the 1989 IAAF World Cup
. He then switched to the 800 metre event, but failed to make an impact due to competition from other Kenyan runners. He later became known as a pacesetter
for both Kenyan and international athletes. He was part of the Kenyan Armed Forces athletics team .
After retiring, Sang became a farmer and had a large-scale farm in Moiben
, in the Uasin Gishu District
of Kenya. He was also a business partner of Moses Tanui
, the former 10,000m World Champion
.. He was also involved with sports administration and, at the time of his death, was the chairman of the National Association of Kenyan Olympians (NAKO).
After initial reports that Sang was "hacked to death", it later emerged that he was attacked and killed by a stone-throwing gang in the town of Eldoret
on New Year's Day
2008, while on the way to his home at Kimumu, during the violence gripping Kenya in the aftermath of the controversial December 2007 presidential elections
. After being struck on the head by a rock, Sang's body was then burnt by the gang, which it is believed, mistook him for a member of a rival tribe.
That is very unlikely though because he looked disticintly Kalenjin and he would surely have spoken the language.
Other reports say that Sang was killed by his Kikuyu neighbors as he led a group Kalenjin men to attack them. This version was corroborated to ESPN by a Kikuyu man who was one of the attackers as well as a Kalenjin man who had been conscripted to join in the attack.http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=kenya&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines
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 athlete who participated in the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
, held in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
. He was a member of the Kenyan 4 x 400 metre relay team, reaching the final and finishing eighth. He also competed in the 400 metre individual race, but failed to make the semifinals.
Sang took part in the 1987 All Africa Games
Athletics at the 1987 All-Africa Games
The fourth All-Africa Games were held in August 1987 in Nairobi, Kenya.Four new events were added to the games these were the women's 3000 metres, 10000 metres, 400 metres hurdles and 5000 metres track walk. Additionally the pentathlon for women was replaced with the heptathlon. Also four nations...
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 1998 African Championships in Athletics
1998 African Championships in Athletics
The 11th African Championships in Athletics were held in Dakar, Senegal, from August 18 to August 22 in the Stade Leopold Senghor.-Track:-Field:-Track:-Field:-Medal table:-External links:* - GBR Athletics...
and the 1989 IAAF World Cup
IAAF World Cup in Athletics
The IAAF Continental Cup is an international athletics competition which comprises track and field events. It is the only world cup contested by teams representing entire continents, rather than just those of individual nations...
. He then switched to the 800 metre event, but failed to make an impact due to competition from other Kenyan runners. He later became known as a pacesetter
Pacemaker (track)
A pacemaker or pace-setter is a runner who leads a middle- or long distance running event for the first section to ensure a fast time and avoid excessive tactical racing. Pacemakers are frequently employed by race organisers for world record attempts with specific instructions for lap times...
for both Kenyan and international athletes. He was part of the Kenyan Armed Forces athletics team .
After retiring, Sang became a farmer and had a large-scale farm in Moiben
Moiben
Moiben is a settlement in Kenya's Rift Valley Province....
, in the Uasin Gishu District
Uasin Gishu District
Uasin Gishu District is one of the seventy-one districts of Kenya, located in the Rift Valley Province. The city of Eldoret is its capital, administrative center and commercial center....
of Kenya. He was also a business partner of Moses Tanui
Moses Tanui
Moses Tanui is a former Kenyan long-distance runner who won the gold medal over 10000 m at the 1991 World Championships in Athletics in Tokyo....
, the former 10,000m World Champion
1991 World Championships in Athletics
The 3rd World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held in the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan between August 23 and September 1 and athletes from 167 countries participated in the event.The event is best-remembered for the...
.. He was also involved with sports administration and, at the time of his death, was the chairman of the National Association of Kenyan Olympians (NAKO).
After initial reports that Sang was "hacked to death", it later emerged that he was attacked and killed by a stone-throwing gang in the town of Eldoret
Eldoret
Eldoret is a town in western Kenya and the administrative centre of Uasin Gishu District of Rift Valley Province. Lying south of the Cherangani Hills, the local elevation varies from about 2100 metres above sea level at the airport to more than 2700 metres in nearby areas...
on New Year's Day
New Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
2008, while on the way to his home at Kimumu, during the violence gripping Kenya in the aftermath of the controversial December 2007 presidential elections
Kenyan presidential election, 2007
A presidential election was held as part of the Kenyan general election on December 27, 2007; parliamentary elections were held on the same date. Incumbent President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner and sworn in on December 30, despite opposition leader Raila Odinga's claims of victory...
. After being struck on the head by a rock, Sang's body was then burnt by the gang, which it is believed, mistook him for a member of a rival tribe.
That is very unlikely though because he looked disticintly Kalenjin and he would surely have spoken the language.
Other reports say that Sang was killed by his Kikuyu neighbors as he led a group Kalenjin men to attack them. This version was corroborated to ESPN by a Kikuyu man who was one of the attackers as well as a Kalenjin man who had been conscripted to join in the attack.http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=kenya&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines