James Kipsang Kwambai (born February 28, 1983) is a runner from

Kenya ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

, who specialises in marathons. He is a former Kenyan record holder in the event, with his personal best of 2:04:27 hours in 2009. At the time this made him the second fastest runner ever, behind

Haile Gebrselassie Haile Gebrselassie ( am, ኀይሌ ገብረ ሥላሴ, ''haylē gebre silassē''; born 18 April 1973) is an Ethiopian retired long-distance track, road running athlete, and businessman. He won two Olympic gold medals and four World Champions ...

Biography

Kwambai went to the Kondabilet Primary School in Marakwet East District, but dropped out at standard seven. He won the Marseille-Cassis Classique Internationale in 2002, breaking the course record by over a minute.Historique Il était une fois …
. Marseille-Cassis. Retrieved on 24 April 2016. In 2006 Kwambai won the Brescia Marathon and Beijing Marathon, which were his first two marathons. He also won the 2008 and the 2009

Saint Silvester Road Race The Saint Silvester Road Race ( pt, Corrida Internacional de São Silvestre) is a long-distance running event, the oldest and most prestigious street race in Brazil. Regarded as the main international event in Latin American athletics, the Brazi ...

. He finished second at the 2008

Berlin Marathon The Berlin Marathon (german: Berlin-Marathon, ) is a marathon event held annually on the streets of Berlin, Germany on the last weekend of September. Held annually since 1974, the event includes multiple races over the marathon distance of , inclu ...

, where

set a new marathon world record. Kwambai's time was 2:05:36, that made him the seventh fastest ever marathon runner at the time. At the 2009 Rotterdam Marathon Kwambai again finished second (behind

Duncan Kibet Duncan Kibet (born 25 April 1978) is a runner from Kenya. He became the second fastest marathoner ever with a time of 2:04:27 hours, when he won the 2009 Rotterdam Marathon. Career Kibet dropped out of school in 1997 due to financial problems. H ...

) in a time of 2:04:27, the third fastest ever marathon at the time. At the

2010 New York City Marathon The 2010 New York City Marathon was the 41st running of the annual marathon race in New York City, United States, which took place on Sunday, November 7. Sponsored by ING Group, the competition was the fifth World Marathon Major of 2010 and an IAA ...

he completed the race in 2:11:31, which brought him fifth place. He returned to defend his title at the Saint Silvester race in São Paulo but ended up in third place behind Marílson dos Santos and Barnabas Kosgei. His first race of 2011 was the

CPC Loop Den Haag The CPC Loop Den Haag (abbreviated for ''City-Pier-City Loop'') is an annual half marathon competition held in the Hague, Netherlands, every mid-March. The inaugural edition was held in 1975 and featured a 14.5 km course. This was extended to ...

, but he was off the winning pace and came sixth in a time of one hour and one second. He was among the leaders at the

2011 London Marathon The 2011 London Marathon was the 31st running of the annual marathon race in London, England, which took place on Sunday, 17 April. The elite men's race was won by Kenya's Emmanuel Kipchirchir Mutai in a course record time of 2:04:40 hours and ...

by the 30 km mark, but dropped out of the race. In August he came second at the

Rio de Janeiro Half Marathon Rio or Río is the Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and Maltese word for "river". When spoken on its own, the word often means Rio de Janeiro, a major city in Brazil. Rio or Río may also refer to: Geography Brazil * Rio de Janeiro * Rio do Sul, a ...

, but was eighth at the Udine Half Marathon the following month, finishing well off his best in 1:02:06 hours. His season peaked in November when he took the title at the

JoongAng Seoul Marathon The JoongAng Seoul Marathon is an annual footrace that takes place in Seoul, South Korea, usually in early November. First held in 1999, the race was established as a commemoration of Olympic marathon race which was held as part of the 1988 Seoul ...

in a time of 2:08:50 hours, despite rainy conditions. He took on the city's other major race, the

Seoul International Marathon The Seoul International Marathon, also known as the ''Dong-A Ilbo Seoul Marathon or Seoul Marathon'' is an annual marathon race that takes place in Seoul, South Korea. It is one of two annual races over the 42.195 km classic distance in the ...

, in March 2012 and ran his best race in three years, finishing in 2:06:03 hours to take second behind

Wilson Loyanae Wilson Loyanae Erupe, also known as Wilson Loyanai Ekupe, (born 20 November 1988 in Lodwar) is a Kenyan born Korean long-distance runner who competes in marathons. He has a personal best of 2:05:13 hours for the event and has won races in Momb ...

. In November he competed at the 2012 JoongAng Seoul Marathon, won it convincingly and broke the course record by 2:23 minutes, with a time of 2:05:50 hours. He was among the fastest entrants at the

2013 Tokyo Marathon The 2013 Tokyo Marathon ( ja, 東京マラソン 2013) was the seventh edition of the annual marathon race in Tokyo, Japan and was held on Sunday, 24 February. An IAAF Gold Label Road Race, it was the first World Marathon Majors event to be hel ...

, but came fifth a minute and a half behind winner

Dennis Kimetto Dennis Kipruto Kimetto (born 22 January 1984) is a Kenyan long distance runner who competes in road running events. He was the world record holder in the men's marathon with a time of 2 hours 2 minutes 57 seconds, a record which he held until Eli ...

. He was back in form in Seoul in November as he won in 2:06:25 hours for third straight victory at the race (the first person ever to do so). He ran at the city's other major race, the

, in March 2014 but his time of 2:07:38 was only enough for sixth place in a quick race. Kwambai prefers

road running Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road. This differs from track and field on a regular track and cross country running over natural terrain. These events are usually classified as long-distance ac ...

over track and cross-country. His training partners include

Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Robert "Mwafrika" Kipkoech Cheruiyot (born 26 September 1978 in Kapsabet, Kenya), sometimes known as Omar Ahmed, is a Kenyan marathon runner and is the former record holder and four-time winner of the Boston Marathon. Early career Cheruiy ...

Martin Lel Martin Kiptolo Lel (born 29 October 1978) is a Kenyan professional long distance and marathon runner. He won the London Marathon in 2005, 2007, and 2008, the New York City Marathon in 2003 and 2007 and the Great North Run in 2007 and 2009. His p ...

Sammy Korir Sammy Korir (born December 12, 1971) is a long distance runner from Kenya. Biography Korir was born in Kiboswa village, Nandi county of Rift Valley province, Kenya. In 2003 he finished second in Berlin Marathon with a time of 2:04:56, just one se ...

and

Fred Kiprop Fred Kiprop Kiptum (born June 3, 1974) is a male long-distance runner from Kenya, who won the Amsterdam Marathon The Amsterdam Marathon (branded Tata Consultancy Services, TCS Amsterdam Marathon for sponsorship reasons) is an annual marathon (42. ...

Eldoret Eldoret is a principal town in the Rift Valley region of Kenya and serves as the capital of Uasin Gishu County. The town was referred to by white settlers as Farm 64, 64 and colloquially by locals as 'Sisibo'. As per the 2019 Kenya Population ...

and

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

. Kwambai has been coached by

Gabriele Rosa Gabriele is both a given name and a surname. Notable people with the name include: Given name Surname * Al Gabriele, American comic book artist *Angel Gabriele (1956–2016), American comic book artist * Corrado Gabriele (born 1966), Italian poli ...

and

Claudio Berardelli Claudio is an Italian and Spanish first name. In Portuguese it is accented Cláudio. In Catalan and Occitan it is Claudi, while in Romanian it is Claudiu. Origin and history Claudius was the name of an eminent Roman gens, the most important me ...

Achievements

*All results regarding marathon and half marathon

References

External links

*
Marathoninfo profileWorld Marathon Majors profileRosa & Associati
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kwambai, James 1983 births Living people People from Elgeyo-Marakwet County Kenyan male long-distance runners Kenyan male marathon runners