Mbarak Hussein
Encyclopedia
Mbarak Kipkorir Hussein is a Kenya
n athlete who specialises in long distance running, including the marathon
. Having been a resident of Albuquerque since 1987, he obtained United States citizenship in 2004 and began representing the US internationally in 2007.
, near Eldoret
, Kenya, he was a late comer to competitive running but he was inspired by the feats of his older brother, Ibrahim Hussein, who is a three-time Boston Marathon
winner. Mbarak began his career as a middle distance runner, winning junior titles in track and cross country running
, and also winning titles in the 800
and 1500 meters while at Lubbock Christian University
. However, Hussein's greatest achievements came after the age of 30, when he began to focus on road running
.
Following in the footsteps of his brother, he won the Honolulu Marathon
, winning the 1998 race with a time of 2:14:53. He returned the following year but managed only third position, although a second place finish at the Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon saw him improve his best time by over four minutes. A sole third place in Honolulu was the highlight of 2000, but the following year he competed in the Boston Marathon for the first time, finishing fifth. In 2001, he won the Stride for Pride 5K, the Duke City 5K, the Long Beach Half-Marathon, and he closed the year with a second win at the Honolulu Marathon. Multiple victories also highlighted 2002: he finished in first place at America’s Finest City Half-Marathon, took the inaugural marathon title at the JoongAng Seoul Marathon
, and won in Honolulu for a third time.
He finished fourth at the Seoul International Marathon
and second in Honolulu in 2003, but he rebounded in 2004 by setting a personal best of 2:08:10 for third at the Dong-A Marathon and again taking third in South Korea
with a fast time at the JoongAng Marathon. Following his successful application for US citizenship, he competed in his first American national marathon championships, held at the Twin Cities Marathon
, and he won two years running in 2005 and 2006. He became eligible to compete internationally for his adopted country the year after and he took part in the 2007 World Championships in Athletics
. In the world championship marathon final, he finished in 21st place with 2:23:04; his time was hampered by difficult weather conditions in Osaka
but he was the United States' strongest performer in the race and headed the American team to fourth place in the Marathon World Cup.
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 athlete who specialises in long distance running, 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...
. Having been a resident of Albuquerque since 1987, he obtained United States citizenship in 2004 and began representing the US internationally in 2007.
Career
A native of KapsabetKapsabet
Kapsabet is a town in the Rift Valley Province, Kenya. It is the capital of Nandi Central District. Kapsabet hosts a municipal council and divisional headquarters of Kapsabet administrative division...
, near Eldoret
Eldoret
Eldoret is a town in western Kenya and the administrative centre of Uasin Gishu District of Rift Valley Province. Lying south of the Cherangani Hills, the local elevation varies from about 2100 metres above sea level at the airport to more than 2700 metres in nearby areas...
, Kenya, he was a late comer to competitive running but he was inspired by the feats of his older brother, Ibrahim Hussein, who is a three-time Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
winner. Mbarak began his career as a middle distance runner, winning junior titles in track and cross country running
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
, and also winning titles in the 800
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
and 1500 meters while at Lubbock Christian University
Lubbock Christian University
Lubbock Christian University is a private Christian university associated with the Churches of Christ located in Lubbock, Texas, in the United States. It was established in 1957. A fall 2011 count showed 2,038 students enrolled at Lubbock Christian University, of which 422 are graduate students...
. However, Hussein's greatest achievements came after the age of 30, when he began to focus on 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...
.
Following in the footsteps of his brother, he won the Honolulu Marathon
Honolulu Marathon
The Honolulu Marathon is one of the world's largest marathons. It takes place annually in Honolulu, Hawaii on the second Sunday in December. - History :...
, winning the 1998 race with a time of 2:14:53. He returned the following year but managed only third position, although a second place finish at the Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon saw him improve his best time by over four minutes. A sole third place in Honolulu was the highlight of 2000, but the following year he competed in the Boston Marathon for the first time, finishing fifth. In 2001, he won the Stride for Pride 5K, the Duke City 5K, the Long Beach Half-Marathon, and he closed the year with a second win at the Honolulu Marathon. Multiple victories also highlighted 2002: he finished in first place at America’s Finest City Half-Marathon, took the inaugural marathon title at the JoongAng Seoul Marathon
JoongAng Seoul Marathon
The JoongAng Seoul Marathon is an annual footrace that takes place in Seoul, South Korea, usually in early November. First held in 1999, the race was established as a commemoration of Olympic marathon race which was held as part of the 1988 Seoul Olympics. It features a men's marathon elite race,...
, and won in Honolulu for a third time.
He finished fourth at the Seoul International Marathon
Seoul International Marathon
The Seoul International Marathon, also known as the Dong-A Ilbo Seoul Marathon, is an annual marathon race that takes place in Seoul, South Korea. It is one of two annual races over the 42.195 km classic distance in the city, alongside the JoongAng Seoul Marathon which is held in November. It...
and second in Honolulu in 2003, but he rebounded in 2004 by setting a personal best of 2:08:10 for third at the Dong-A Marathon and again taking third in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
with a fast time at the JoongAng Marathon. Following his successful application for US citizenship, he competed in his first American national marathon championships, held at the Twin Cities Marathon
Twin Cities Marathon
The Twin Cities Marathon is an annual marathon in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area. The race is often dubbed "The Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America." The TCM was first run in 1982, and typically takes place during the first weekend in October. In 2006 the Marathon agreed to its first...
, and he won two years running in 2005 and 2006. He became eligible to compete internationally for his adopted country the year after and he took part in the 2007 World Championships in Athletics
2007 World Championships in Athletics
The 11th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan from 24 August to 2 September 2007...
. In the world championship marathon final, he finished in 21st place with 2:23:04; his time was hampered by difficult weather conditions in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
but he was the United States' strongest performer in the race and headed the American team to fourth place in the Marathon World Cup.
Achievements
| Representing | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | World Championships 1997 World Championships in Athletics The 6th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held at the Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece between August 1 and August 10, 1997. In this event participated 1882 athletes from 198 participant nations... |
Athens, Greece | — | Marathon | DNF |
| 1998 | Honolulu Marathon Honolulu Marathon The Honolulu Marathon is one of the world's largest marathons. It takes place annually in Honolulu, Hawaii on the second Sunday in December. - History :... |
Honolulu, Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and... |
1st | Marathon | 2:14:53 |
| 2001 | Honolulu Marathon Honolulu Marathon The Honolulu Marathon is one of the world's largest marathons. It takes place annually in Honolulu, Hawaii on the second Sunday in December. - History :... |
Honolulu, Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and... |
1st | Marathon | 2:15:09 |
| 2002 | Boston Marathon Boston Marathon The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest... |
Boston Boston Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
4th | Marathon | 2:09:45 |
| Honolulu Marathon Honolulu Marathon The Honolulu Marathon is one of the world's largest marathons. It takes place annually in Honolulu, Hawaii on the second Sunday in December. - History :... |
Honolulu, Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and... |
1st | Marathon | 2:12:29 | |
| 2005 | Twin Cities Marathon Twin Cities Marathon The Twin Cities Marathon is an annual marathon in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area. The race is often dubbed "The Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America." The TCM was first run in 1982, and typically takes place during the first weekend in October. In 2006 the Marathon agreed to its first... |
Minneapolis, United States | 1st | Marathon | 2:18:28 |
| 2006 | Twin Cities Marathon Twin Cities Marathon The Twin Cities Marathon is an annual marathon in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area. The race is often dubbed "The Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America." The TCM was first run in 1982, and typically takes place during the first weekend in October. In 2006 the Marathon agreed to its first... |
Minneapolis, United States | 1st | Marathon | 2:13:51 |
| 2007 | World Championships 2007 World Championships in Athletics The 11th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan from 24 August to 2 September 2007... |
Osaka, Japan | 21st | Marathon | 2:23:04 |
Personal bests
| Event | Time (h Hour The hour is a unit of measurement of time. In modern usage, an hour comprises 60 minutes, or 3,600 seconds... :m Minute A minute is a unit of measurement of time or of angle. The minute is a unit of time equal to 1/60th of an hour or 60 seconds. In the UTC time scale, a minute on rare occasions has 59 or 61 seconds; see leap second. The minute is not an SI unit; however, it is accepted for use with SI units... :s Second The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock.... ) |
Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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... |
1:01:27 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Pennsylvania The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to... , United States |
September 17, 2000 |
| 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... |
2:08:10 | Seoul Seoul Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world... , South Korea |
March 14, 2004 |
- All information taken from IAAF profile.
External links
- USATF profile for Mbarak Hussein
- The Long Road from Kapsabet: Mbarak Hussein at 45, article from Running Times