Margaret Okayo
Encyclopedia
Margaret Okayo is a professional marathon
runner
from Kenya
. She has won a number of major marathons, including the New York City Marathon
(three times), the Boston Marathon
, and the London Marathon
. She has also won the San Diego Marathon on two occasions.
Okayo started running while at primary school. She graduated from the Itierio Secondary School, located near Kisii
town, in 1993. She was recruited by Kenya Prisons Service, home to the country's top women's marathon runners, in 1995 where she nurtured her running career.
At the 1998 Commonwealth Games
she finished fifth in 10,000 metres. She finished thirteenth at the 1999 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
.
Amongst her most successful races are the wins at the New York Marathon in 2001 and 2003, the Boston Marathon
in 2002 and the London Marathon
in 2004. She still holds the course records at the New York Marathon and the Boston Marathon
.
Other marathons won by Okayo include Milan
in 2003, San Diego in 2000 and 2001. She represented her native Kenya in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens
, Greece
, but did not finish the marathon
. She spends three months of every year training in Italy
.
She won the 2003 Udine Half Marathon and finished third at the 2008 Rome-Ostia Half Marathon.
Okayo is of the Gusii
tribe. She is managed by Federico Rosa and coached by Gabriele Rosa. She is just 152 cm tall and weighs 43 kilograms.
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
runner
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
from Kenya
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...
. She has won a number of major marathons, including the New York City Marathon
New York City Marathon
The New York City Marathon is a major annual marathon that courses through the five boroughs of New York City. It is one of the largest marathons in the world, with 45,103 finishers in 2010...
(three times), the Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
, and the London Marathon
London Marathon
The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
. She has also won the San Diego Marathon on two occasions.
Okayo started running while at primary school. She graduated from the Itierio Secondary School, located near Kisii
Kisii, Kenya
Kisii town, located south-western Kenya, is the main urban and commercial centre in Gusii Highlands. A vibrant town, the Kisii municipality has a population of about 83,000, according to 2008 estimates. However, it has a large dependent metropolitan population of over 100,000 residents, as per the...
town, in 1993. She was recruited by Kenya Prisons Service, home to the country's top women's marathon runners, in 1995 where she nurtured her running career.
At the 1998 Commonwealth Games
1998 Commonwealth Games
The 1998 XVI Commonwealth Games were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 11 September to 21 September 1998 making it the first Asian country to act as host and the last Commonwealth Games for the 20th century. A record 70 nations supplied 3638 athletes...
she finished fifth in 10,000 metres. She finished thirteenth at the 1999 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
1999 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
The 8th IAAF World Half Marathon Championships was held on October 3, 1999 in the city of Palermo, Italy. A total of 193 athletes, 120 men and 73 women, from 48 countries took part.-Individual:-Team:-Individual:-Team:...
.
Amongst her most successful races are the wins at the New York Marathon in 2001 and 2003, the Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
in 2002 and the London Marathon
London Marathon
The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
in 2004. She still holds the course records at the New York Marathon and the Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
.
Other marathons won by Okayo include Milan
Milan Marathon
The Milano City Marathon is a marathon race held every April in Milan, Italy. It was first organised in 2000 by the Milano City Marathon Club and the first nine editions were held in November....
in 2003, San Diego in 2000 and 2001. She represented her native Kenya in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, but did not finish the marathon
Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's Marathon
The Women's Marathon event at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place on August 22, 2004 in the streets of Athens, Greece. World record holder Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain started as favourite for the race, and led from the start. However, she was overtaken by Mizuki Noguchi, from Japan and...
. She spends three months of every year training in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
She won the 2003 Udine Half Marathon and finished third at the 2008 Rome-Ostia Half Marathon.
Okayo is of the Gusii
Kisii people
The Kisii is a community of Bantu speakers who inhabit the two counties in Nyanza Province, Western Kenya...
tribe. She is managed by Federico Rosa and coached by Gabriele Rosa. She is just 152 cm tall and weighs 43 kilograms.
Achievements
- All results regarding marathon, unless stated otherwise
Representing 1999 Chicago Marathon Chicago MarathonThe Bank of America Chicago Marathon is a major marathon held yearly in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Alongside the Boston, New York, London and Berlin Marathons, it is one of the five World Marathon Majors. Thus, it is also an IAAF Gold Label race...Chicago ChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...2nd 2:26:00 2000 Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon San Diego, United States United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...1st 2:27:05 New York City Marathon New York City MarathonThe New York City Marathon is a major annual marathon that courses through the five boroughs of New York City. It is one of the largest marathons in the world, with 45,103 finishers in 2010...New York, United States 3rd 2:26:36 2001 Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon San Diego, United States United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...1st 2:25:05 New York City Marathon New York City MarathonThe New York City Marathon is a major annual marathon that courses through the five boroughs of New York City. It is one of the largest marathons in the world, with 45,103 finishers in 2010...New York, United States 1st 2:24:21 2002 Boston Marathon Boston MarathonThe Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...Boston, United States 1st 2:20:43 Milan Marathon Milan MarathonThe Milano City Marathon is a marathon race held every April in Milan, Italy. It was first organised in 2000 by the Milano City Marathon Club and the first nine editions were held in November....Milan, Italy 1st 2:24:59 2003 Boston Marathon Boston MarathonThe Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...Boston, United States 4th 2:27:39 New York City Marathon New York City MarathonThe New York City Marathon is a major annual marathon that courses through the five boroughs of New York City. It is one of the largest marathons in the world, with 45,103 finishers in 2010...New York, United States 1st 2:22:31 2004 London Marathon London MarathonThe London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...London, United Kingdom 1st 2:22:35 Olympic Games Athletics at the 2004 Summer OlympicsAt the 2004 Summer Olympics, the athletics events were held at the Athens Olympic Stadium from August 18 to August 29, except for the marathons , the race walks , and the shot put...Athens, Greece — DNF Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's MarathonThe Women's Marathon event at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place on August 22, 2004 in the streets of Athens, Greece. World record holder Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain started as favourite for the race, and led from the start. However, she was overtaken by Mizuki Noguchi, from Japan and...New York City Marathon New York City MarathonThe New York City Marathon is a major annual marathon that courses through the five boroughs of New York City. It is one of the largest marathons in the world, with 45,103 finishers in 2010...New York, United States 4th 2:26:31 2005 London Marathon London MarathonThe London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...London, United Kingdom 4th 2:25:22 2006 London Marathon London MarathonThe London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...London, United Kingdom 9th 2:29:16