Margaret Okayo
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Margaret_Okayo_London_2005.jpg/220px-Margaret_Okayo_London_2005.jpg)
Margaret Okayo (born May 30, 1976 in , Kisii District) is a professional marathon runner from Kenya. She has won a number of major marathons, including the New York City Marathon (two times), the Boston Marathon, and the London Marathon. She has also won the San Diego Marathon on two occasions.
Okayo started running while at primary school. She graduated from the Itierio Secondary School, located near Kisii town, in 1993. She was recruited by , home to the country's top women's marathon runners, in 1995 where she nurtured her running career.[1]
At the 1998 Commonwealth Games she finished fifth in 10,000 metres. She finished thirteenth at the 1999 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships.
Amongst her most successful races are the wins at the New York Marathon in 2001 and 2003, the Boston Marathon in 2002 and the London Marathon in 2004. She still holds the course records at the New York Marathon and the Boston Marathon.
Other marathons won by Okayo include Milan in 2003, San Diego in 2000 and 2001. She represented her native Kenya in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, but did not finish the marathon. She spends three months of every year training in Italy.
She won the 2003 Udine Half Marathon and finished third at the 2008 Rome-Ostia Half Marathon.[2][3]
Okayo is of the Gusii tribe. She is managed by and coached by . She is just 152 cm tall and weighs 43 kilograms.
Achievements[]
- All results regarding marathon, unless stated otherwise
Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Representing ![]() | ||||
1999 | Chicago Marathon | Chicago, United States | 2nd | 2:26:00 |
2000 | Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon | San Diego, United States | 1st | 2:27:05 |
New York City Marathon | New York, United States | 3rd | 2:26:36 | |
2001 | Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon | San Diego, United States | 1st | 2:25:05 |
New York City Marathon | New York, United States | 1st | 2:24:21 | |
2002 | Boston Marathon | Boston, United States | 1st | 2:20:43 |
Milan Marathon | Milan, Italy | 1st | 2:24:59 | |
2003 | Boston Marathon | Boston, United States | 4th | 2:27:39 |
New York City Marathon | New York, United States | 1st | 2:22:31 | |
2004 | London Marathon | London, United Kingdom | 1st | 2:22:35 |
Olympic Games | Athens, Greece | — | DNF | |
New York City Marathon | New York, United States | 4th | 2:26:31 | |
2005 | London Marathon | London, United Kingdom | 4th | 2:25:22 |
2006 | London Marathon | London, United Kingdom | 9th | 2:29:16 |
References[]
- ^ "Kenya: Athletics - Prisons Staff Line Up for National Meet". Daily Nation. AllAfrica. 31 May 2007. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
- ^ "Italian road race season off to flying start with Bekele and Okayo". IAAF. 30 September 2008. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
- ^ "Women's course record goes at Rome-Ostia Half Marathon with 1:09 run". IAAF. 28 February 2008. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
External links[]
- 1976 births
- Living people
- Kenyan female long-distance runners
- Kenyan female marathon runners
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Olympic athletes of Kenya
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1998 Commonwealth Games
- London Marathon female winners
- Boston Marathon female winners
- New York City Marathon female winners
- Commonwealth Games competitors for Kenya