{{short description|Kenyan long-distance runner}} {{MedalTableTop|Moses Masai cropped.jpg|220px}} {{MedalSport|Men's athletics}} {{MedalCountry | {{KEN}} }} {{MedalCompetition|World Championships}} {{MedalBronze|2009 Berlin|10000 m}} {{MedalBottom}}

'''Moses Ndiema Masai''' (born 1 June 1986 in Kapsogom, Mount Elgon District) is a Kenyan runner who specializes in the 10,000 metres.

Masai is from Bugaa village, four kilometres from Kapsokwony town.<ref name=triumph>{{cite news|work=The Standard|date=20 August 2009|url=http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/InsidePage.php?id=1144022112&cid=39&|title=Mt Elgon celebrates Masai's triumph|access-date=21 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716054218/http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/InsidePage.php?id=1144022112&cid=39&|archive-date=16 July 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Born to John Barasa Masai and Leonida Cherop, he is the first born out of ten children.<ref name=marvels>{{cite news|work=Daily Nation|date=20 August 2009|title=For track marvels, it runs in the family|url=http://www.nation.co.ke/sports/athletics/-/1100/643098/-/item/1/-/24fyboz/-/index.html|access-date=21 August 2009}}</ref> He started running while at Kapsogom Primary School. Later he joined Bishop Okiring Secondary School. At the 2005 Kenyan Sports Personality of the Year awards he won the most promising sportsman category.<ref>The Standard, 21 March 2008: Setting the pace for a successful sporting family. Retrieved 29 June 2008.</ref> He won a bronze medal at the 2007 IAAF World Athletics Final in the 5000&nbsp;m.

He ran in the 2008 Summer Olympics and managed to finish in fourth position in the 10,000 metres final, narrowly missing out on a medal.

His younger sister, Linet Masai, won the women's 10,000 metres gold at the 2009 World Championships, while he won bronze over the same distance. Other siblings Dennis,<ref>{{cite news|work=The Standard|date=23 March 2008|title=Wonder girl Masai heads to Edinburgh}}</ref> Ndiema <ref name=triumph/> and Magdaline are also runners.<ref name=marvels/> Their father John Barasa Masai is also a former runner,<ref name=marvels/> while Ben Jipcho, a legendary athlete, is their distant uncle.<ref name=triumph/>

Moses Masai won the 2009 New Year's Eve San Silvestre Vallecana race.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=IAAF|date=1 January 2010|access-date=29 April 2016|url= http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/fulfilling-favourite-roles-masai-and-cheruiyo|title=Fulfilling favourite roles, Masai and Cheruiyot prevail in Madrid}}</ref> He took the World's Best 10K title at the 2010 race in Puerto Rico, scoring a new course record of 27:19 and picking up a bonus for his fast time.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kuehls|first=Dave|date=1 March 2010|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/masai-and-cheruiyot-take-crowns-in-san-juan|title=Masai and Cheruiyot take crowns in San Juan|access-date=29 April 2016|publisher=IAAF}}</ref> He signed up for the Dam tot Damloop in September 2010 and was a close runner-up to John Mwangangi, finishing a second behind his compatriot.<ref>{{cite news|last=van Hemert |first=Wim |date=20 September 2010 |url=http://www.iaaf.org/WHM10/news/kind=100/newsid=58365.html |title=Fast ten mile runs for Kibet and Mwangangi in Zaandam |publisher=IAAF |access-date=20 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923174115/http://www.iaaf.org/WHM10/news/kind%3D100/newsid%3D58365.html |archive-date=23 September 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He made only three appearances in 2011, running at the FBK Games, Prefontaine Classic and the World's Best 10K, but finished outside the top five on each occasion.<ref>{{cite web|title=Moses Masai|publisher= Tilastopaja|url=http://www.tilastopaja.org/db/atm.php?ID=31978&Season=2011&Odd=0|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415230405/http://www.tilastopaja.org/db/atm.php?ID=31978&Season=2011&Odd=0|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 April 2013|access-date=2 June 2012}}</ref>

In spite of his low-profile in prior seasons, he gained a place on the Kenyan Olympic team by coming second at the 10,000&nbsp;m trials at 2012 Prefontaine Classic.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gains|first=Paul|date=2 June 2012|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/dibaba-302439-and-kiprop-270198-on-stunning-b|title=Dibaba 30:24.39 and Kiprop 27:01.98 on stunning but wet first night in Eugene – Samsung Diamond League|access-date=29 April 2016|publisher=IAAF}}</ref> Unfortunately, at the Olympics themselves, he could only manage a twelfth-placed finish.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ma/moses-masai-1.html |title=Moses Masai Bio, Stats, and Results |website=Olympics at Sports-Reference.com |access-date=2 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306081119/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ma/moses-masai-1.html |archive-date=6 March 2016 }}</ref>

Masai trains with PACE Sports Management.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pacesportsmanagement.com/athlete_profile.asp?id=205|title=Moses Masai|work=PACE Sports Management|access-date=5 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210010803/http://www.pacesportsmanagement.com/athlete_profile.asp?id=205|archive-date=10 February 2012}}</ref> He is married to Doris Changeywo and the couple has a daughter.

He is not to be confused with another Kenyan runner named Moses Masai, known for running marathons and road races in Central Europe.<ref>[http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/biographies/letter=0/athcode=237849/index.html IAAF profile for Moses Masai (marathon runner)] IAAF. Retrieved 29 June 2008.</ref>

==Achievements== '''Key:''' {{legend2|#A9F5A9|'''Course record'''|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}} {| {{AchievementTable|Event=yes}} |- !colspan="6"|Representing {{KEN}} |- |2004 |World Junior Championships |Grosseto, Italy |10th |10,000 m |29:32.48 |- |rowspan=2|2005 |rowspan=2|African Junior Championships |rowspan=2|Radès, Tunisia |bgcolor=gold|1st |5,000 m |13:45.15 |- |bgcolor=gold|1st |10,000 m |28:30.27 |- |2007 |World Athletics Final |Stuttgart, Germany |bgcolor=cc9966|3rd |5,000 m |13:39.96 |- |rowspan=2|2008 |rowspan=2|World Cross Country Championships |rowspan=2|Edinburgh, Scotland |5th |Senior race (12&nbsp;km) |35:02 |- |bgcolor=gold|1st |Team competition |39 pts |- |2009 |World Championships |Berlin, Germany |bgcolor=cc9966|3rd |10,000 m |26:57.39 |- |2010 |2010 World's Best 10K |San Juan, Puerto Rico |bgcolor=gold|1st |10,000 m |bgcolor=#A9F5A9|'''27:19.0 CR''' |- |2013 |[http://okpekperoadrace.com/ Okpekpe International Road Race] |Okpekpe, Nigeria |bgcolor=gold|1st |[http://okpekperoadrace.com/ 10 kilometres] |29:39 |}

===Personal bests=== *1,500 metres - 3:42.1 min (2005) *3,000 metres - 7:44.75 min (2009) *5,000 metres - 12:50.55 min (2008) *10,000 metres - 26:49.20 min (2007)

==References== *{{World Athletics}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120210010803/http://www.pacesportsmanagement.com/athlete_profile.asp?id=205 PACE Sports Management] {{Reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Masai, Moses}} Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:Kenyan men long-distance runners Category:Olympic athletes for Kenya Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2008 Summer Olympics Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2012 Summer Olympics Category:World Athletics Championships medalists Category:Kenyan men cross country runners Category:21st-century Kenyan sportsmen