Charles Munyeki

CHARLES MUNYEKI
KENYA

BIRTHDATE:
2 September 1985

PERSONAL BEST:
2:07:06 (Chicago, 2009)

WORLD MARATHON MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS:

11Oct09 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 4th 2:07:06

CAREER NOTES:

Charles Munyeki made his competitive marathon debut at the 2009 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Running with the boldness of a veteran, he passed halfway with the leaders in 1:02:01, near world-record pace and well ahead of the mid-race time needed to better the debut world best (2:05:50, Evans Rutto, Chicago, 2003). While he dropped to a 65-minute second half, Munyeki still placed a very respectable fourth.

Earlier this year he was a pacesetter at the Rotterdam Marathon where he went through 30km in 1:29:17 before dropping out.

Munyeki belongs to the club of sub-one hour half-marathoners, with a best of 59:44 at Rotterdam in 2008. He just missed breaking the barrier there again this past September, finishing in 1:00:18 after passing through 15km with the lead group in 41:59.

As a teenager Munyeki won the 2005 Standard Chartered Half-Marathon in Nairobi, Kenya. Last year he was the winner at the BAA Half-Marathon in Boston. Other top half-marathon finishes include a seventh at the 2009 Ras al Khaimah, fifth at 2007 San Jose Rock 'n' Roll and sixth at 2007 Philadelphia Distance Run.