Andrew Masai

Andrew Masai (born 13 December 1960) is a Kenyan former long-distance runner who competed in road running and cross country running events. He was one of Kenya's best cross country runners in the late 1980s, taking six team gold medals at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. His best individual finish at that competition was sixth in 1987.[1] He was key to the rise of Kenya in cross country, helping the nation to its first team title and scoring points which helped establish an unbeaten streak in the team race which lasted from 1986 to 2003.[2][3]

Andrew Masai
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Kenya
IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
1994 OsloTeam
IAAF World Cross Country Championships
1989 StavangerTeam
1987 WarsawTeam
1986 ColombierTeam
1985 LisbonTeam
African Cross Country Championships
1985 NairobiSenior race
1985 NairobiTeam

He was also a silver medallist at the African Cross Country Championships in 1985.[4] He was a one-time national champion, taking the long-course Kenyan title in 1991.[5]

A member of the Sabaot tribe, Masai grew up in Chepkoya – a village on Mount Elgon in Kenya's Bungoma County.[3] Over his career spanning twenty years, from 1984 to 2004, he ran mainly cross country until 1991 before switching to road running. He contested mainly races in France and Italy (under Gianni DeMadonna's management) before turning to the United States professional circuit in 2000. He was the national runner-up in cross country three times (1985, 1987, 1989). Among his road victories were the Giro al Sas (twice), Roma-Ostia Half Marathon (twice), Lyon Half Marathon (twice), the Paris Half Marathon and Indianapolis Half Marathon. He had one win over the marathon distance at the Südtirol Marathon in 1995.[6]

He ran twice at the New York City Marathon (1991 and 1993) and at the Boston Marathon in 1992, but did not place highly. His half marathon best of 60:42 was achieved at the Stramilano race in 1993, where he was runner-up, where his marathon best of 2:11:01 hours was achieved in third place at the 1994 Paris Marathon. His sixth-place finish at the 1994 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships brought him a team gold alongside compatriots Godfrey Kiprotich and Shem Kororia.[6] Towards the end of his career he took part in masters category races after being encouraged to do so by Shawn and Eddy Hellebuyck.[3]

Masai had three children with his wife and with his race winnings set up a transport company and a farming business near Eldoret.[3]

International competitions
Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
1984 World Cross Country Championships East Rutherford, United States 72nd Senior race 34:52
1985 World Cross Country Championships Lisbon, Portugal 14th Senior race 34:06
1st Team pts
African Cross Country Championships Nairobi, Kenya 2nd Senior race 36:02
1st Team 21 pts
1986 World Cross Country Championships Colombier, Switzerland 21st Senior race 36:23.9
1st Team 45 pts
1987 World Cross Country Championships Warsaw, Poland 6th Senior race 37:01
1st Team 53 pts
1989 World Cross Country Championships Stavanger, Norway 7th Senior race 40:32
1st Team 44 pts
1991 World Cross Country Championships Antwerp, Belgium 34th Senior race 35:06
1st Team 38 pts
1994 World Half Marathon Championships Oslo, Norway 6th Half marathon 1:01:19
1st Team 3:03:36

National titles

Circuit wins

Personal bests

Info from All-Athletics[7]

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References
  1. Andrew Masai. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-04-02.
  2. IAAF World Cross Country Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2016-04-02.
  3. Gains, Paul (2003-03-01). Masterful Masai. Running Times. Retrieved on 2016-04-02.
  4. African Cross Country Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2016-04-02.
  5. Kenyan Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2016-04-02.
  6. Andrew Masai. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved on 2016-04-02.
  7. Andrew Masai. All-Athletics. Retrieved on 2016-04-02.
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