Joseph Nzau (born April 14, 1949) is a Kenyan former

long-distance runner Long-distance running, or endurance running, is a form of continuous running over distances of at least . Physiologically, it is largely Aerobic exercise, aerobic in nature and requires stamina as well as mental strength. Within endurance ru ...

who represented his country at the

1984 Summer Olympics The 1984 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXIII Olympiad and commonly known as Los Angeles 1984) were an international multi-sport event held from July 28 to August 12, 1984, in Los Angeles, California, United States. It marked the ...

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

. Nzau won the 1983 Chicago Marathon and the inaugural 1990 Belgrade Marathon.

Running career

Early life

Nzau was a late bloomer who did not take up running until the age of 25. He was subsequently recruited by the

University of Wyoming The University of Wyoming (UW) is a Public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in Laramie, Wyoming, United States. It was founded in March 1886, four years before the territory was admitted as the 44th state, ...

on an athletic scholarship when he was 28, along with a few other Kenyans.

Collegiate

Nzau attended the

under the tutelage of Coach Ron Jones in the late 1970s. At the 1979 NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships, he finished in fifth place. At Wyoming, Nzau earned six All-American honors, graduated with a degree in engineering and was inducted into the university's athletic Hall of Fame in 1997.

Post-collegiate

In 1983, Nzau was the first Kenyan to win in a world-class marathon when he won the 1983 Chicago Marathon. A year later, Nzau finished 7th overall in the men's marathon at the 1984 Summer Olympics. In addition to the marathon, Nzau finished 14th of 16 finishers in the men's 10,000 metres at the same competition. He twice won the Bix 7; Davenport, Iowa, in 1983, 7 miles in a time of 33:10, winning again in 1987 in 33:24. In 1990, Nzau won the inaugural Belgrade Marathon.

Personal

Nzau's grandson Elijah Mwangangi Saolo, is a competitive distance and marathon runner.

Notes

* Nzau's birth date is speculative, as he has reported different ages.

Achievements

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Nzau, Joseph 1952 births Living people Kenyan male long-distance runners Athletes (track and field) at the 1984 Summer Olympics Olympic athletes for Kenya Place of birth missing (living people) Wyoming Cowboys track and field athletes Chicago Marathon male winners Kenyan male marathon runners People from Marsabit County 20th-century Kenyan sportsmen