.jpg) Kamathi at theBerlin Marathon in 2008 | ||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men'sathletics | ||
Representing Kenya | ||
| World Championships | ||
 | 2001 Edmonton | 10,000 m |
| African Championships | ||
| 2004 Brazzaville | 10,000 m |
Charles Wawerū Kamathi (born 18 May 1978, nearNyeri, Kenya) is a Kenyanlong-distance runner. He is best known for winning the10,000 metres distance at the2001 World Championships in Edmonton.
Kamathi started running in 1995. He graduated from Njogu-Ini Secondary School in 1996. In 1997 he went to run for Toyota club inJapan, but had to leave back home only after days later due totendinitis and Toyota replaced him withSimon Maina. Kamathi joinedKenya Police in 1998. On 3 September 1999 he made his international breakthrough by winning a 10000 metres race at theMemorial Van Damme meeting inBrussels by running 26:51.49, then the fifth best time ever and the world's fastest time in 1999.[1]
Following this, he took to the Europeancross country running circuit and beat multiple world championPaul Tergat three times,[1] taking victories at theAlmond Blossom Cross Country,Cross Internacional de Itálica andCinque Mulini race.[2][3][4] Despite a poor finish at the Kenya World trials event, he was selected for the2000 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. He did not live up to his circuit form and was seventh place in the long race, behind four of his compatriots.[5] His 2000 season was hampered by ahamstring injury and he did not managed to make the Kenyan team for the2000 Summer Olympics.[1]
Fully recovered, he returned to the European cross country meets and won again at the Cinque Mulini and Itálica races.[3][4] He qualified for the2001 IAAF World Cross Country Championships and won his first major medal in the men's long race. Kamathi won thebronze medal (behindMohammed Mourhit andSerhiy Lebid) and led a Kenyan team which includedPaul Kosgei andPatrick Ivuti to the teamgold medal.[6] An even greater achievement awaited him at the2001 World Championships in Athletics. He took on defending world championHaile Gebrselassie in the 10,000 m and managed to beat both him and Olympic medallistAssefa Mezgebu to the line in the final lap, taking the worldgold medal in the event. The victory, in which Kamathi sprinted from fourth to first in the final 200 metres, broke Haile's undefeated streak of 37 races.[7]
In September he competed at the 10-mileDam tot Damloop in theNetherlands and managed to win the race in a time of 46:05 minutes.[8]
He made his marathon debut at the 2007Milan Marathon and finished fourth by running 2:11:25.[9] He finished third at his second marathon, the 2008Rotterdam Marathon and bettered his personal record to 2:07:33.[10] He ran at theMilan Marathon in April 2010, but suffered cramps at the 30 km point and finished in second place.[11] He entered theEindhoven Marathon in October and had a close battle withNicholas Chelimo andPaul Biwott at the finish. Kamathi just pipped Chelimo at the line to win the race, recording a time of 2:07:38 – the same as the runner-up.[12]
He is from theKikuyu tribe. His manager is Federico Rosa and his coach is Gabriele Rosa.[1]
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | World Cross Country Championships | Vilamoura,Portugal | 7th | Long race |
| 2001 | World Championships | Edmonton,Canada | 1st | 10,000 m |
| World Cross Country Championships | Ostend,Belgium | 3rd | Long race | |
| 2002 | IAAF World Half Marathon Championships | Brussels,Belgium | 9th | Half marathon |
| World Cross Country Championships | Dublin,Ireland | 5th | Long race | |
| 2003 | World Championships | Paris,France | 7th | 10,000 m |
| World Athletics Final | Monte Carlo,Monaco | 8th | 5000 m | |
| 2004 | Olympic Games | Athens,Greece | 13th | 10,000 m |
| World Cross Country Championships | Brussels,Belgium | 5th | Long race | |
| World Athletics Final | Monte Carlo,Monaco | 7th | 5000 m | |
| African Championships | Brazzaville,Congo | 1st | 10,000 m | |
| 2005 | World Championships | Helsinki,Finland | 12th | 10,000 m |
| World Cross Country Championships | Saint-Étienne- Saint-Galmier,France | 10th | Long race |
|
African Champions in men's10,000 metres | |
|---|---|
|
