Salina Jebet Kosgei (born 16 November 1976 in Simotwo, Keiyo District) is a long distance runner from Kenya. She is a Commonwealth Games gold medalist, has competed at the Olympics and has won various marathons, including the 2009 Boston Marathon.

Salina Kosgei
Salina Kosgei on the way to winning the 2009 Boston Marathon near half way point in Wellesley.
Personal information
NationalityKenyan
Born (1976-11-16) 16 November 1976 (age 47)
OccupationLong-distance runner

Career edit

She began her athletics career while at Simotwo Primary School. She moved to Kapkenda Girls High School and won several national high school titles in heptathlon, 800 metres and 200 metres. She graduated in 1993 and was subsequently recruited by the Kenya Prisons Service.[1]

She competed at the 1994 Commonwealth Games, finishing fifth over 800 metres. After giving birth to her first child in 1996, she decided to try longer distances.[1]

Kosgei won women's 10,000 metres race at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Her time, 31:27.83, was a new Commonwealth Games Record.

She competed at the 2003 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Vilamoura, Spain, but did not finish better than 41st. Kosgei competed for Kenya at the 2008 Summer Olympics in marathon, finishing tenth.

On 20 April she won the 2009 Boston Marathon timing 2:32:16, a second ahead of Dire Tune of Ethiopia.[2] She attempted to defend her title the following year's race but the honours went to Teyba Erkesso while Kosgei finished in third place.[3] She had two other marathon races in 2009, coming third at the Grottazzolina Marathon and 15th at the 2010 New York City Marathon. She also won the Florence Half Marathon.[4]

In 2011, she was in the top ten at the Lisbon Half Marathon, Portugal Half Marathon and Yokohama Women's Marathon. Her best result that year was a run of 2:32:06 hours for fifth at the San Diego Marathon. She did not compete in 2012 and made only two appearances in 2013, coming fourth at the Stockholm Marathon and winning the Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes.[5]

Personal life edit

She is married to hurdler Barnabas Kinyor. They have a son and a daughter, Billy and Ruth, born in 1996 and 2001, respectively.[6]

Achievements edit

Major international competitions edit

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing   Kenya
1992 World Junior Championships Seoul, South Korea 8th 800 m 2:13.48
1994 World Junior Championships Lisbon, Portugal 33rd (h) 800m 2:13.24
Commonwealth Games Vancouver, Canada 5th 800 m [7] 2:03,78
2002 Commonwealth Games Manchester, United Kingdom 1st 10,000 m 31:27.83
2003 World Championships Paris, France 19th 10,000 m 32:09.15
2008 Olympic Games Beijing, China 10th Marathon 2:29:28

Road races edit

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
2004 Paris Marathon Paris, France 1st Marathon 2:24:32
2005 Prague International Marathon Prague, Czech Republic 1st Marathon 2:28:42
Virginia Beach Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon Virginia Beach, VA, United States 2nd Half marathon [8]
2006 Lisbon Half Marathon Lisbon, Portugal 1st Half marathon 1:07:52
Singapore Marathon Singapore 1st Marathon 2:31:55
2007 Tokyo Marathon Tokyo, Japan 2nd Marathon 2:23:31
London Marathon London, United Kingdom 4th Marathon 2:24:13
2008 Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon Ras Al Khaimah, UAE 1st Half marathon 1:12:29
Lisbon Half Marathon Lisbon, Portugal 1st Half marathon 1:09:57
2009 Boston Marathon Boston, United States 1st Marathon 2:32:16

References edit

  1. ^ a b IAAF, August 23, 2003: 'Focus on Africans' - women's 10,000m, Kosgei and Kidane
  2. ^ Golen, Jimmy (April 20, 2009). "Deriba Merga, Salina Kosgei win at Boston Marathon". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on April 22, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
  3. ^ Morse, Parker (2010-04-19). Cheruiyot smashes Boston record with 2:05:52 sizzler - Boston Marathon report Archived 2010-04-22 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 2010-04-25.
  4. ^ Salina Kosgei. Tilastopaja. Retrieved on 2013-11-28.
  5. ^ Abdissa and Kosgei win at the Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes. IAAF (2013-11-10). Retrieved on 2013-11-28.
  6. ^ World Majors Marathon profile Archived 2009-05-06 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ 1994 Commonwealth Games Womens Results
  8. ^ IAAF website, September 5, 2005: Kidane makes successful debut, while Mwangi sets course record - Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon

External links edit