Ruth Wanjiru

{{short description|Kenyan long-distance runner}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Ruth Wanjiru | image = Ruth Wanjiru.jpg | image_size =  | alt = Ruth Wanjiru, right, in yellow vest as number 2 | caption = Wanjiru seen right, as number 2 in a yellow vest | headercolor = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name = | fullname = | nickname = | nationality = Kenyan | ethnicity = | citizenship = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|09|11|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Nyeri]], Kenya | death_date = | death_place = | resting_place = | monuments = | residence = | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = | years_active = | employer = | agent = | height =  | weight =  | spouse = | life_partner = | other_interests = | website =  | country = | sport = | disability = | disability_class = | rank = | event = | collegeteam = | universityteam = | league = | league_type = | club = | team = | turnedpro = | partner = | former_partner = | coach = | retired = | coaching = | worlds = | regionals = | nationals = | olympics = | paralympics = | highestranking = | pb = | medaltemplates = | show-medals = | updated = 26 October 2013 }} '''Ruth Wanjiru Kuria''' (born 11 September 1981) is a Kenyan professional [[long-distance runner]] who competes in [[marathon]] and [[half marathon]] races. She has a personal best of 2:27:38 hours for the longer distance (set in 2009) and was the 2013 winner of the [[Eindhoven Marathon]].

Wanjiru spent her early career in Japan, running for [[Hitachi]], then [[Second Wind AC]] and regularly competed on the road circuit there. She represented her country at the 2009 [[Yokohama International Women's Ekiden]].

==Career== Wanjiru gained an [[athletic scholarship]] in [[Japan]] at [[Sendai Ikue High School]] (renowned for sports) as a teenager and moved there to study and improve her running.<ref name=SWHM/> She was a contemporary of [[Samuel Wanjiru]], the 2008 Olympic champion, at the school.<ref>Nakamura, Ken (2005-02-20). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/niiya-yamanaka-sato-and-wanjiru-excel-in-chib Niiya, Yamanaka, Sato and Wanjiru excel in Chiba Cross Country]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.</ref> Initially she focused on [[middle-distance running|middle-]] and long-distance [[track running]]; in her first year in Japan she won the high school title over [[3000 metres]]. Following her graduation she moved in the [[Athletics in Japan|corporate running system]] and began competing for [[Hitachi]]. At that year's [[Japan Corporate Track and Field Championships]] she set track bests of 15:43.05 minutes for the [[5000 metres]] and 32:34.71 minutes for the [[10,000 metres]]. Her fifth place finish at the [[Sapporo Half Marathon]] in 70:15 minutes was another best for the Kenyan.<ref name=Tilas>[http://www.tilastopaja.org/db/atw.php?ID=17587&Season=2000&Odd=0 Ruth Wanjiru]. Tilastopaja. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.</ref> She improved her track bests further to 15:31.49 and 31:56.21 minutes in 2003.<ref>[http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/kenya/ruth-wanjiru-178214#progression Ruth Wanjiru]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.</ref>

She claimed her first big win at the [[Sanyo Women's Half Marathon]] in 2004.<ref name=SWHM>Nakamura, Ken (2004-12-25). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/ruth-wanjiru-wins-sanyo-half-marathon Ruth Wanjiru wins Sanyo Half Marathon]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.</ref> She improved her best in the [[half marathon]] event two years later to 70:04 minutes at the [[Miyazaki Women's Half Marathon]], placing third.<ref>Nakamura, Ken (2006-01-07). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/okunaga-wins-miyazaki-womens-half-marathon Okunaga wins Miyazaki Women's Half Marathon]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.</ref> She had two road wins in 2006 at the [[Kasumigaura 10 Miles]] and the [[Shibetsu Half Marathon]].<ref>[https://www.arrs.run/HP_KasumMa.htm Kasumigaura 10 mile]. [[Association of Road Racing Statisticians]]. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.</ref><ref>[https://www.arrs.run/HP_ShibetsuHM.htm Shibetsu Half Marathon]. [[Association of Road Racing Statisticians]]. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.</ref> She was eighth at the high-profile Miyazaki Half at the start of 2007.<ref>Nakamura, Ken (2007-01-06). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/noguchi-wins-miyazaki-half-marathon Noguchi wins Miyazaki Half-Marathon]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.</ref> In November 2007 she won the [[Hakusan, Ishikawa|Hakusan]] half marathon before making her debut over the full [[marathon]] distance at the [[Shanghai Marathon]] (marking the start of her competing outside Japan). At that race she successfully transitioned and finished fourth in a time of 2:43:16 hours.<ref>[http://www.aimsworldrunning.org/results/2007_11.htm November 2007]. AIMS. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.</ref> She was a little slower at the [[Nagano Marathon]] the next year, finishing tenth.<ref>[http://aimsworldrunning.com/results/2008_04.htm April 2008]. AIMS. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.</ref> In both 2008 and 2009, she placed third at the Sanyo Women's Half Marathon.<ref name=Tilas/>

Wanjiru began running for [[Second Wind AC]] and in 2009 she competed in her first European races. She began that year with a significant personal best at the [[Osaka Ladies Marathon]], running 2:27:38 hours for seventh place in a competitive field<ref>Nakamura, Ken (2009-01-25). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/shibui-breaks-her-four-year-victory-drought-w Shibui breaks her four year victory drought with 2:23 win at Osaka Ladies Marathon]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.</ref> At the final edition of the [[Yokohama International Women's Ekiden]] she helped the Kenyan women to second place behind the Japanese.<ref>Nakamura, Ken (2009-02-22). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/japan-wins-final-edition-of-yokohama-internat Japan wins final edition of Yokohama International Women's Ekiden]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.</ref> She was runner-up at the [[Hannover Marathon]] and [[Hamburg Half Marathon]] that year.<ref>Wenig, Jörg (2009-05-03). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/langat-and-hahn-prevail-in-dusseldorf Langat and Hahn prevail in Dusseldorf]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.</ref>

After a two-year break from the sport in 2010 and 2011 she returned with a third place finish at the 2012 [[Ottawa Marathon]] and a runner-up placing at the [[Ljubljana Marathon]].<ref>Gains, Paul (2012-05-27). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/moiben-defends-ottawa-title Moiben defends Ottawa Title]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.</ref><ref>[http://www.aimsworldrunning.com/results/2012_10.htm October 2012]. AIMS. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.</ref> In her two outings of 2013 she was only fifth at the Ottawa race, but had her first major European win at the [[Eindhoven Marathon]].<ref>Minshull, Phil (2013-10-13). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/rain-dampens-time-but-tsegay-adhane-wins-thri Tsegay ends Kenya's 14-year winning streak at Marathon Eindhoven]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.</ref>

Wanjiru served a 16-month competition ban from January 2018 to May 2019 issued by the [[Athletics Integrity Unit]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.athleticsintegrity.org/downloads/pdfs/disciplinary-process/en/Latest-Santions-December-2018.pdf |title=LATEST SANCTIONS FOR DOPING AND NON-DOPING VIOLATIONS - DECEMBER 2018 |date=December 2018 |publisher=Athletics Integrity Unit}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{World Athletics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wanjiru, Ruth}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1981 births]] [[Category:Kenyan women long-distance runners]] [[Category:Kenyan women marathon runners]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Nyeri County]]