Veronica Nyaruai Wanjiru (born October 29, 1989 in

Nyahururu Nyahururu (formerly known as Thomson's Falls) is a town in Kenya, lying north east of Nakuru. The town derives its name from the Maasai word e-naiwurruwurr, meaning waterfall and/or windy or place of storms. It is located in Laikipia County. Desp ...

) is a Kenyan runner who specialises in

1500 metres The 1500 metres or 1,500-metre run (typically pronounced 'fifteen-hundred metres') is the foremost middle distance track event in athletics. The distance has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896 and the World Championships in Athle ...

. She now lives in

Kaptagat Kaptagat is a human settlement in Uasin Gishu County, in the southwestern part of Kenya. This part of the country, where the two counties of Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet County share a border, is used by the majority of Kenyan professional l ...

, where she attends PACE training camp. She took part at the 2007 world Championships, but was 12th overall and missed the 1500 m final. In 2008, she would have been eligible to defend her Junior World title, but she placed fourth at the Kenyan trial and was not selected. She is based at the

PACE Sports Management PACE Sports Management is a sports management and marketing company based in Monaco and London, directed by Ricky Simms. Background KIM McDonald International management was founded in the 80's by former middle distance runner Kim McDonald. Th ...

training camp in

. Nyaruai won the

Cross Internacional de Venta de Baños The Cross Internacional de Venta de Baños is a cross country running competition that takes place in Venta de Baños, Castile and León, Spain. The competition was first held in 1980 and since then it has been held every year in mid-December. Amo ...

in 2009, beating Steph Twell in the process.Valiente, Emeterio (2009-12-21)
Sánchez defeats European champion Bezabeh in Venta de Baños
IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-12-27.

Achievements

Personal bests

- 4:08.21 min (2006) * 3000 metres - 8:52.9 min (2005) * 5000 metres - 15:13.1 min (2005)

Awards

In the 2005 Kenyan Sports Personality of the Year awards, Wanjiru was selected the most promising sportswoman of the year. She finished third at the sportswoman of the year category, behind

Catherine Ndereba Catherine Nyambura Ndereba (born 21 July 1972) is a Kenyan marathon runner. She has twice won the marathon at the World Championships in Athletics and won silver medals at the Summer Olympic Games in 2004 and 2008. She is ...

and the boxer Conjestina Achieng.IAAF, March 2, 2006:
''Athletes dominate Kenyan Sports Awards''
/ref>

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Nyaruai, Veronica 1989 births Living people Kenyan female middle-distance runners Kenyan female long-distance runners Kenyan female steeplechase runners African Games silver medalists for Kenya African Games medalists in athletics (track and field) Kenyan female cross country runners Athletes (track and field) at the 2007 All-Africa Games Athletes (track and field) at the 2008 Summer Olympics Olympic athletes of Kenya