Emmanuel Kipchirchir Mutai
Mutai at the 2013 London Marathon
Personal information
Born (1984-10-12) 12 October 1984 (age 39)
Cheptigit in Kaptagat
Height1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Weight52 kg (115 lb)
Sport
Country Kenya
SportAthletics
EventMarathon
Medal record
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2009 Berlin Marathon
World Marathon Majors
Silver medal – second place 2014 Berlin Marathon
Silver medal – second place 2013 Chicago Marathon
Silver medal – second place 2013 London Marathon
Silver medal – second place 2011 New York City Marathon
Gold medal – first place 2011 London Marathon
Silver medal – second place 2010 New York City Marathon
Silver medal – second place 2010 London Marathon

Emmanuel Kipchirchir Mutai (born 12 October 1984) is a long distance runner from Kenya, who specialises in marathons. As of January 2024 his time of 2:03:13 is now the joint 13th fastest. When he ran that time it was the 2nd fastest time ever and is the 3rd fastest ever with a non carbon shoe.

Initially running in half marathons, he made his debut over the full distance in 2007 and won his first race later that year at the Amsterdam Marathon. He was fourth at both the 2008 and 2009 London Marathons, but managed to reach the podium at the 2009 World Championships, claiming the silver medal. His 2010 racing saw him finish as runner-up twice at the London and New York City Marathons. At the 2011 London Marathon he won on his fourth attempt with a course record and personal best time of 2:04:40.

En route to his second-place finish at the 2014 Berlin Marathon (2:03:13), Mutai set a world record at the 30K distance (1:27:37).[1]

Career

Early life

Mutai grew up in Cheptigit, a village near Kaptagat, Uasin Gishu County in the Rift Valley Province, and his extended family includes Richard Limo, the 2001 World Champion over 5000 metres.[2] Mutai began to make an impact domestically at the age of eighteen, taking third place over 10,000 metres at the Rift North Province Championships in 28:09.2 minutes.[3]

It was on the roads of Europe that he began to make a name for himself, beginning with a win at the Nice Half Marathon in April 2006[4] and then a 10K best of 27:51 minutes for second place at the 10 km du Conseil Général 13 behind Edwin Soi (one of the fastest runs that year).[5] He fared poorly on the track at the FBK Games the following month,[6] but improved his half marathon best to 1:00:49 hours at the highly competitive Rotterdam Half Marathon, where he came sixth.[7]

Marathon debut

Mutai was fifth at the Lisbon Half Marathon in March 2007,[8] a race which preceded his debut over the marathon distance the following month. At the Rotterdam Marathon he completed the course in a time of 2:13:06 hours, placing seventh in a race affected by high temperatures.[9] He defeated strong opposition in Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot and world champion Jaouad Gharib at the Portugal Half Marathon in September, winning the Lisbon race with a quick finish.[10] Mutai and Richard Limo did the front running at the Amsterdam Marathon the following month and the tactic paid off, as Mutai won his first marathon in a time of 2:06:29 hours – the second fastest mark that year after Haile Gebrselassie's world record run.[11][12]

He began 2008 with a third-place finish at the 20 van Alphen race in the Netherlands.[13] The London Marathon was his next destination and he improved his best time to 2:06:15 hours, although this was only enough for fourth in a fast race with three men under two hours and six minutes.[14] Mutai's next outing was also in the United Kingdom and he broke the course record for the Great Scottish Run in Glasgow.[15] His final run of 2008 was at the Chicago Marathon and he began strongly, pushing the race tempo to the point where he forced the pacemaker to prematurely drop out. However, he suffered in the latter stages of the race and ended up in sixth.[16][17]

World Championship medal

Mutai again used the Lisbon Half Marathon as preparation for a spring Marathon in 2009 and he proved to be in good form, setting a personal best of 1:00:45 hours.[18] At the 2009 London Marathon he posted his third sub-2:07 time, but again this left him in fourth place in the perennially fast race while Samuel Wanjiru broke the course record.[19] He gained his first international selection that year as he was chosen for the marathon at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics. He remained among the leading pack and the race came down to a duel between Mutai and Abel Kirui in the latter stages. It was Kirui who took the lead to claim the title, but Mutai took the silver medal in a time of 2:07:48 hours, which was the second fastest ever run at the event.[20] He set a half marathon best at the end of the year, running 1:00:39 for second place behind Silas Sang at the Portugal Half Marathon.[21]

He ran on home turf at the beginning of 2010, coming third at the Discovery Half Marathon in Eldoret.[22] He followed this with another personal best in Lisbon, approaching the hour mark with a time of 1:00:03 for third while Zersenay Tadese won in a world record time.[23] At the 2010 London Marathon, Mutai could not keep pace with eventual winner Tsegaye Kebede, but he persevered nevertheless and made the podium for the first time, finishing in 2:06:23 for second place – his best ever placing at the race.[24] The 2010 New York City Marathon was a closer affair, as Mutai and Gebre Gebremariam were neck-and-neck after 40 km, but Mutai was again relegated to second as his rival pulled away to win.[25]

Breakthrough at 2011 London Marathon

Mutai won his first World Marathon Major event in April 2011, taking the title at the 2011 London Marathon with a course record and new personal best time of 2:04:40. This made him the fourth fastest runner ever over the distance.[26][27] He was one of the favourites for the Great North Run, but it was half marathon specialist Martin Mathathi who took the honours and Mutai finished in third.[28] His next major race was the 2011 New York City Marathon and his time of 2:06:28 hours was faster than the course record, although he was second place to Geoffrey Mutai.[29] He attempted to defend his title at the 2012 London Marathon, but ended up in seventh some way off the winner Wilson Kipsang.[30] Following the injury of Moses Mosop, he was drafted into the Kenyan Olympic marathon team as a replacement.[31]

Achievements

Year Competition Venue Position Notes
Representing  Kenya
2006 Nice Half Marathon Nice, France 1st 1:01:24
Rotterdam Half Marathon Rotterdam, Netherlands 6th 1:00:49
2007 Lisbon Half Marathon Lisbon, Portugal 1st 1:01:54
Rotterdam Marathon Rotterdam, Netherlands 7th 2:13:06
Amsterdam Marathon Amsterdam, Netherlands 1st 2:06:29
2008 Great Scottish Run Glasgow, United Kingdom 1st 1:01:10 (course record)
Chicago Marathon Chicago, United States 6th 2:09:52
London Marathon London, United Kingdom 4th 2:06:15
2009 Lisbon Half Marathon Lisbon, Portugal 2nd 1:00:39
London Marathon London, United Kingdom 4th 2:06:53
World Championships Berlin, Germany 2nd 2:07:48
2010 Eldoret Half Marathon Eldoret, Kenya 3rd 1:02:13
Lisbon Half Marathon Lisbon, Portugal 3rd 1:00:03
London Marathon London, United Kingdom 2nd 2:06:23
New York Marathon New York City, United States 2nd 2:09:18
2011 London Marathon London, United Kingdom 1st 2:04:40
Great North Run South Shields, United Kingdom 3rd 59:52 (downhill course)
New York Marathon New York City, United States 2nd 2:06:28
2012 London Marathon London, United Kingdom 7th 2:08:01
Olympic Games London, United Kingdom 17th 2:14:49
2013 London Marathon London, United Kingdom 2nd 2:06:33
Chicago Marathon Chicago, United States 2nd 2:03:52
2014 London Marathon London, United Kingdom 7th 2:08:19
Berlin Marathon Berlin, Germany 2nd 2:03:13[32]
2015 London Marathon London, United Kingdom 11th 2:10:54
Berlin Marathon Berlin, Germany 4th 2:07:46
2016 Tokyo Marathon Tokyo, Japan 7th 2:10:23
Berlin Marathon Berlin, Germany 12th 2:10:29
2017 Venice Marathon Venice, Italy 12th 2:10:14
2018 Hamburg Marathon Hamburg, Germany 9th 2:11:57
Abu Dhabi Marathon Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 7th 2:12:38

References

  1. ^ Gambaccini, Peter (2 October 2014). "Shalane Flanagan Set U.S. 25K Record at Berlin Marathon; Split en route bettered old mark by 2 minutes". Runner's World. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  2. ^ Douglas, Scott (November 2010). Emmanuel Mutai Ready to Profit From Others' Mistakes. Runner's World. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  3. ^ Results June 2005. Africa Athle. Retrieved on 17 April 2011.
  4. ^ 23 APRIL 2006: SEMI-MARATHON INT'L DE NICE, FRANCE. AIMS. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  5. ^ World fastest 10km road times, 2006 (men). AIMS. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  6. ^ 2006 FBK Games – Men's 10,000 m. IAAF. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  7. ^ "Zersenay Tadesse wins third Fortis Half Marathon equalling course record of 59:16". IAAF. 11 September 2006. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  8. ^ Fernandes, António Manuel (18 March 2007). "Jeptoo and Kipchumba steal the half marathon show in Lisbon". IAAF. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  9. ^ van Hemert, Wim (15 April 2007). "Chelanga prevails in Rotterdam sun". IAAF. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  10. ^ Fernandes, António Manuel (16 September 2007). "Mutai's strong finish takes Lisbon victory". IAAF. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  11. ^ van Hemert, Wim (21 October 2007). 2007 October AIMS Results. AIMS. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  12. ^ van Hemert, Wim (21 October 2007). "2:06:29 breakthrough for Mutai – Amsterdam Marathon". IAAF. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  13. ^ Uitslagenlijst AD 20 van Alphen. Uitslagen (20 March 2008). Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  14. ^ Brown, Matthew (13 April 2008). "Lel takes third London Marathon win as three men go under 2:06!". IAAF. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  15. ^ Watt, Chris (8 September 2008). "High spirits and smiles as thousands join in Great Scottish Run". The Herald. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  16. ^ Ferstle, Jim (12 October 2008). "Cheruiyot, Grigoryeva beat the heat in Chicago – UPDATED". IAAF. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  17. ^ Mutai Emmanuel. Marathon Info. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  18. ^ Fernandes, António Manuel (22 March 2009). "Lel and Goucher win in Lisbon". IAAF. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  19. ^ Brown, Matthew (26 April 2009). "Wanjiru takes Lel's course record while Mikitenko wins again in London". IAAF. German Road Races. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  20. ^ Mulkeen, Jon (22 August 2009). "Event Report – Men's Marathon – Final". IAAF. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  21. ^ Fernandes, António Manuel (4 October 2009). "Sang defends, Kirop surprises at Portugal Half Marathon". IAAF. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  22. ^ Macharia, David (8 February 2010). "Cheruiyot signals comeback with half marathon win in Eldoret". IAAF. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  23. ^ Fernandes, António Manuel (22 March 2010). "Scorching 58:23 World Half Marathon record by Tadese in Lisbon! – UPDATED". IAAF. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  24. ^ Brown, Matthew (25 April 2010). "Commanding victories for Kebede and Shobukhova – London Marathon report". IAAF. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  25. ^ Dunaway, James (7 November 2010). "Gebremariam and Kiplagat cruise to New York victories". IAAF. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  26. ^ "Mutai and Keitany secure Kenyan London Marathon double". BBC Sport. 17 April 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  27. ^ Brown, Matthew (17 April 2011). "Mutai and Keitany dominate and dazzle in London". IAAF. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  28. ^ Butcher, Michael (18 September 2011). "Runaway wins for Mathathi and Wangui in South Shields". IAAF. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  29. ^ Morse, Parker (6 November 2011). "G. Mutai smashes course record, Dado the surprise women's winner in New York". IAAF. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  30. ^ Brown, Matthew (22 April 2012). "Kipsang and Keitany claim London titles for Kenya". IAAF. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  31. ^ Mutwiri, Mutuota (12 June 2012). "Mutai added to Kenyan Olympic Marathon squad, Rudisha to Relay". IAAF. Archived from the original on 15 June 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
  32. ^ 41 BMW Berlin Marathon

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Emmanuel Mutai.
Amsterdam Marathon – men's winners
London Marathon – men's winners
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