Daniel Njenga
KENYA
BIRTHDATE:
May 7, 1976
PERSONAL BEST:
2:06:16 (Chicago, 2002
WORLD MARATHON MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS:
07Oct07 The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon 3rd 2:12:45
22Oct06 The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon 2nd 2:07:40
09Oct05 The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon 3rd 2:07:14
17Apr05 Flora London Marathon 15th 2:15:25
10Oct04 The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon 2nd 2:07:44
12Oct03 The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon 3rd 2:07:41
13Oct02 The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon 2nd 2:06:16
ADDITIONAL CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
17Feb08 Tokyo International Marathon 13th 2:14:11
18Feb07 Tokyo International Marathon 1st 2:09:45
08Feb04 Tokyo International Marathon 1st 2:08:43
03Feb02 Beppu-Oita Marathon 2nd 2:12:44
05Dec99 Fukuoka Marathon 10th 2:11:49
04Jul99 Mombasa Marathon 4th 2:13:17
CAREER NOTES:
Following in the brilliant paths blazed in Japan by his Kenyan countrymen Douglas Wakihuri and two-time Olympic medalist Eric Wainaina, Japan-based Daniel Njenga has emerged as an athlete of comparable ability. On June 12, 1994, he set a then World Junior Record in the 3000m steeple with a time of 8:19.21. Continuing to compete in Japan, he posted a 2:11:49 for 10th at the 1999 Fukuoka Marathon.
At The 2002 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, Njenga was virtually unnoticed in the lead pack but stayed with them, holding back only when Japan’s Toshinari Takaoka made what looked to be a decisive move. Instead, running alongside with Paul Tergat, Njenga found himself in a fierce three-man battle for second place at the home stretch. Outlasting a pair of notable kickers, Tergat and Takaoka, he finished second in 2:06:16.
At The 2003 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, Njenga came away with yet another great performance and finished third in a time of 2:07:41. He returned to Chicago in 2004 and earned a second-place finish with a time of 2:07:44, and battled a strong field again in 2005, placing third in 2:07:14.
Njenga charged up for The 2006 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon by securing two wins in the 2006 Sendai Half Marathon (1:03:28) and the 10,000m event at the Kushiro Distance Meeting (28:13.79), both held in Japan.
Njenga was again close to a victory at The 2006 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, where Robert K. Cheruiyot defeated him in a sprint finish. Njenga finished second with a time of 2:07:40.
In February 2007 at the new Tokyo International Marathon, Njenga finally returned to the winner's circle with a 2:09:45 despite bone-chilling rain.
Njenga then continued his eerie pattern of finishes at The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in October. He wound up third in the heat-afflicted race giving him a sequence of 2nd-3rd-2nd-3rd-2nd-3rd in the six years he has run there. Among active runners only Martin Lel (with eight) and Khalid Khannouchi (seven) have more top three finishes in World Marathon Majors competition.
