Anne Kosgei
Encyclopedia
Anne Jepkemboi Kosgei is a Kenya
n long-distance runner who specialises in road running
, including the marathon
. She has won her first marathon races in San Sebastián
and Trieste
, and went on to win both the Belgrade Marathon
and Venice Marathon
in 2009. She set her personal best of 2:27:46 at the latter competition.
, Italy. Her first victory over the classic distance came at the 2001 San Sebastian Marathon, where her time of 2:31:19 was the third fastest ever at the competition. She improved upon this time at the 2002 Venice Marathon
with a run of 2:30:09 to take second place behind Anastasia Ndereba. She also set a personal best over the half marathon
that year when she again finished behind Ndereba at the Turin Half Marathon with a time of 1:13:00. The following year she took third at the Rome City Marathon
, fifth at the Vienna City Marathon and ran her fastest of the year (2:33:43) to take second place at the Maratona d'Italia in Carpi behind Jennifer Chesinon.
She did not race over the marathon distance in 2004, but she took her first win over shorter distances at the Gavà-Castelldefels Half Marathon and the Granollers Half Marathon. After a year out of competition, she returned in 2006 with a win at the Route du Vin Half Marathon in September, followed by a third place finish at the Milan Marathon
. In April 2007 she improved her half marathon best to 1:10:17 with a win in Vigo, Spain. and she took her second major win of the season at the Trieste Marathon with a time of 2:33:14. Kosgei was runner-up for a second time at the 2007 Venice Marathon behind Lenah Cheruiyot, but she broke two and a half hours for the first time, completing the distance in a time of 2:28:27.
In 2008 she finished in three marathons: she was fourth at the Hong Kong Marathon
, twelfth at the Hamburg Marathon
and runner-up for a second year running at the Venice Marathon, where she ran her year's best time of 2:32:21. She also ran at the Rock 'n' Roll San Jose Half Marathon in October, taking third place on the podium behind Yuri Kano
and Azalech Masresha.
Kosgei reached a career peak in 2009 by winning two prominent marathon races in the season. First came the Belgrade Marathon
where she beat World Military champion Rasa Drazdauskaite
to the finish to take victory in a time of 2:34:51. In October she returned to the Venice Marathon and topped the podium for the first time. Seeing off a challenge from Jelena Yal Koren, Kosgei set a strong pace to lead the competition and went on win in a career best time of 2:27:46 for the marathon.
She entered the 2010 San Diego Marathon and finished in seventh place with a time of 2:33:36. Her next outing over the distance came at the Eindhoven Marathon
and although Atsede Habtamu
won the race five minutes ahead of her, Kosgei's time of 2:31:05 gained her third place some two minutes clear of the rest of the field.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n long-distance runner who specialises in road running
Road running
Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road . These events would be classified as long distance according to athletics terminology, with distances typically ranging from 5 kilometers to 42.2 kilometers in the marathon. They may involve large numbers of runners...
, including the marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
. She has won her first marathon races in San Sebastián
San Sebastián
Donostia-San Sebastián is a city and municipality located in the north of Spain, in the coast of the Bay of Biscay and 20 km away from the French border. The city is the capital of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. The municipality’s population is 186,122 , and its...
and Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
, and went on to win both the Belgrade Marathon
Belgrade Marathon
The Belgrade Marathon is a marathon race held annually in Belgrade since 1988. It is typically held in mid-April and also features half marathon and fun run for the public.-Background:...
and Venice Marathon
Venice Marathon
The Venice Marathon is a marathon road race that has been held each year in Venice since 1986, usually in October. The race is currently sponsored by Casino di Venezia , and thus it is known as the Casino di Venezia Venice Marathon. Ponte della Libertà and Parco San Giuliano are among the landmarks...
in 2009. She set her personal best of 2:27:46 at the latter competition.
Career
Kosgei began racing professionally around 2000 and won her first major race in Europe that year with a course record at the Giro dei tre Monti in ImolaImola
thumb|250px|The Cathedral of Imola.Imola is a town and comune in the province of Bologna, located on the Santerno river, in the Emilia-Romagna region of north-central Italy...
, Italy. Her first victory over the classic distance came at the 2001 San Sebastian Marathon, where her time of 2:31:19 was the third fastest ever at the competition. She improved upon this time at the 2002 Venice Marathon
Venice Marathon
The Venice Marathon is a marathon road race that has been held each year in Venice since 1986, usually in October. The race is currently sponsored by Casino di Venezia , and thus it is known as the Casino di Venezia Venice Marathon. Ponte della Libertà and Parco San Giuliano are among the landmarks...
with a run of 2:30:09 to take second place behind Anastasia Ndereba. She also set a personal best over the half marathon
Half marathon
A half marathon is a road running event of . It is half the distance of a marathon and usually run on roads. Participation in half marathons has grown steadily recently. One of the main reasons for this is that it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a...
that year when she again finished behind Ndereba at the Turin Half Marathon with a time of 1:13:00. The following year she took third at the Rome City Marathon
Rome City Marathon
The Rome Marathon is an annual marathon competition hosted by the city of Rome, Italy on a Sunday of March.The competition has also doubled as the Italian Marathon championships on two occasions; in 1983 and 1986. The race date was shifted from the traditional March schedule to 1 January in 2000...
, fifth at the Vienna City Marathon and ran her fastest of the year (2:33:43) to take second place at the Maratona d'Italia in Carpi behind Jennifer Chesinon.
She did not race over the marathon distance in 2004, but she took her first win over shorter distances at the Gavà-Castelldefels Half Marathon and the Granollers Half Marathon. After a year out of competition, she returned in 2006 with a win at the Route du Vin Half Marathon in September, followed by a third place finish at the Milan Marathon
Milan Marathon
The Milano City Marathon is a marathon race held every April in Milan, Italy. It was first organised in 2000 by the Milano City Marathon Club and the first nine editions were held in November....
. In April 2007 she improved her half marathon best to 1:10:17 with a win in Vigo, Spain. and she took her second major win of the season at the Trieste Marathon with a time of 2:33:14. Kosgei was runner-up for a second time at the 2007 Venice Marathon behind Lenah Cheruiyot, but she broke two and a half hours for the first time, completing the distance in a time of 2:28:27.
In 2008 she finished in three marathons: she was fourth at the Hong Kong Marathon
Hong Kong Marathon
The Hong Kong Marathon, sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank, is an annual marathon race held in February or March in Hong Kong. In addition to the full marathon, a 10 km run and a half marathon are also held.-1997:...
, twelfth at the Hamburg Marathon
Hamburg Marathon
The Hamburg Marathon is an annual marathon race over the classic distance of held in Hamburg, Germany. In 2009, 13,938 participants were counted.- History :The first edition took place in 1986 with about 8,000 participants...
and runner-up for a second year running at the Venice Marathon, where she ran her year's best time of 2:32:21. She also ran at the Rock 'n' Roll San Jose Half Marathon in October, taking third place on the podium behind Yuri Kano
Yuri Kanō
is a Japanese athlete who specialises in long distance running, including the marathon.Her first major medal came at the Summer Universiade, where she won the silver in the 10,000 metres race...
and Azalech Masresha.
Kosgei reached a career peak in 2009 by winning two prominent marathon races in the season. First came the Belgrade Marathon
Belgrade Marathon
The Belgrade Marathon is a marathon race held annually in Belgrade since 1988. It is typically held in mid-April and also features half marathon and fun run for the public.-Background:...
where she beat World Military champion Rasa Drazdauskaite
Rasa Drazdauskaitė
Rasa Drazdauskaitė is a Lithuanian long-distance runner. She represented her country at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, finishing 37th in the marathon....
to the finish to take victory in a time of 2:34:51. In October she returned to the Venice Marathon and topped the podium for the first time. Seeing off a challenge from Jelena Yal Koren, Kosgei set a strong pace to lead the competition and went on win in a career best time of 2:27:46 for the marathon.
She entered the 2010 San Diego Marathon and finished in seventh place with a time of 2:33:36. Her next outing over the distance came at the Eindhoven Marathon
Eindhoven Marathon
The Eindhoven Marathon is an annual marathon race over the classic distance of 42.195km which is held in the city of Eindhoven, The Netherlands in October...
and although Atsede Habtamu
Atsede Habtamu
Atsede Habtamu Besuye is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who specialises in road running and the marathon distance.She came to prominence at the IAAF World Road Running Championships in 2007 where, at the age of nineteen, she ran a time of 1:08:29 for the half marathon – a record for a teenage...
won the race five minutes ahead of her, Kosgei's time of 2:31:05 gained her third place some two minutes clear of the rest of the field.