Mary Keitany

MARY KEITANY
KENYA

BIRTHDATE:
18 January 1982

PERSONAL BEST:
2:18:37 (London 2012)

WORLD MARATHON MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS:

05Aug12 Olympic Games Marathon 4th 2:23:56
22Apr12 Virgin London Marathon 1st 2:18:37
06Nov11 ING New York City Marathon 3rd 2:23:38
17Apr11 Virgin London Marathon 1st 2:19:19
07Nov10 ING New York City Marathon 3rd 2:29:01

CAREER NOTES:

Mary Keitany won the 2012 Virgin London Marathon in 2:18:37, the fourth fastest time in history and a Kenyan record. Her second half of 1:07:44 was just 21 seconds slower than Paula Radcliffe in 2003 when she was paced by men.

In 2011 Keitany had become became the fourth fastest woman marathoner in history with her 2:19:19 victory at the London Marathon. She ran a quick second half split there, under 69 minutes to win by nearly a minute ahead of defending champion, Liliya Shobukhova.

In February 2011 at Ras Al Khaimah, Keitnay set a new world record for the half-marathon at 1:05:50 and en route she passed 20km in another WR of 1:02:36. She has run four of the 9 fastest half-marathons ever on record quality courses.

Keitany brought unprecedented speed to her marathon debut at the 2010 ING New York City Marathon. In May she obliterated the previous world's fastest time over 25 kilometers with a 1:19:53 at Berlin. She also had one of the fastest half-marathoners ever by virtue of her 1:06:36 gold-medal winning performance at the 2009 IAAF World Championships.

She returned to New York in 2011 and ran the fastest first half in marathon history, 1:07:56. Although running the second half almost nine minutes slower, Keitany hung on for another third place.

PERSONAL NOTES:

Keitany is married to 1:01 half-marathoner Charles Koech and they have a son born in 2008. They live in Iten, Kenya.

HIGHLIGHTS:

07Nov10 ING New York City Marathon 3rd 2:29:01