Esther Wanjiru Maina (born March 27, 1977) is a retired female

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 ...

from

Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...

. She is from Kahuhia, Murang'a District. On January 15, 1999 she finished second at a

half marathon A half marathon is a road running event of —half the distance of a marathon. It is common for a half marathon event to be held concurrently with a marathon or a 5K race, using almost the same course with a late start, an early finish, or shortcu ...

race in

Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

. The race was won by

Elana Meyer Elana Meyer, Order of Ikhamanga, OIS, (born 10 October 1966) is a South African long-distance runner who won the silver medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in the 10,000 metres event. Meyer set the 15 kilometres road running List of African reco ...

, who set a world record, while Wanjiru scored did also beat the previous world record by timing 1:06:49 She won the Sendai Half Marathon in 1998 and 1999, and finished second in 2000. She finished third at the 2000

Osaka Ladies Marathon The is an annual marathon road race for women over the classic distance of 42.195 kilometres which is held on the 4th or 5th Sunday of January in the city of Osaka, Japan, and hosted by Japan Association of Athletics Federations, Kansai Tel ...

, setting her personal best of 2:23:31 hours. Wanjiru became the first Kenyan woman to win Commonwealth Games gold medal, although

Jackline Maranga Jackline Maranga (born 16 December 1977, in Nyanturago, Kisii) is a retired Kenyan middle-distance runner. She won a silver medal at the World Junior Championships at the age of 15, and also won silver medals in the two following Championship ...

won 1500 metres later at the same games.August 3, 2002: Daily Nation, Lukewarm performance by team in Manchester

Achievements

She also competed in the marathon at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. She pulled out of the race whilst leading.

Trivia

* Wanjiru made a cameo in the 2000 Japanese movie
Pinch Runner
as herself.

References

*
trackfield.brinkster
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Wanjiru, Ester 1977 births Kenyan female long-distance runners Athletes (track and field) at the 1998 Commonwealth Games Athletes (track and field) at the 2002 Commonwealth Games Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics Olympic athletes for Kenya Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Kenya Commonwealth Games athletes for Kenya Living people Medallists at the 1998 Commonwealth Games Commonwealth Games gold medallists in athletics