# Ruth Wanjiru

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Kenyan long-distance runner

Ruth Wanjiru Wanjiru seen right, as number 2 in a yellow vest Personal information Nationality Kenyan Born (1981-09-11) 11 September 1981 (age 44) Nyeri, Kenya Updated on 26 October 2013

**Ruth Wanjiru Kuria** (born 11 September 1981) is a Kenyan professional [long-distance runner](/source/Long-distance_runner) who competes in [marathon](/source/Marathon) and [half marathon](/source/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](/source/Eindhoven_Marathon).

Wanjiru spent her early career in Japan, running for [Hitachi](/source/Hitachi), then [Second Wind AC](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Second_Wind_AC&action=edit&redlink=1) and regularly competed on the road circuit there. She represented her country at the 2009 [Yokohama International Women's Ekiden](/source/Yokohama_International_Women's_Ekiden).

## Career

Wanjiru gained an [athletic scholarship](/source/Athletic_scholarship) in [Japan](/source/Japan) at [Sendai Ikue High School](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sendai_Ikue_High_School&action=edit&redlink=1) (renowned for sports) as a teenager and moved there to study and improve her running.[1] She was a contemporary of [Samuel Wanjiru](/source/Samuel_Wanjiru), the 2008 Olympic champion, at the school.[2] Initially she focused on [middle-](/source/Middle-distance_running) and long-distance [track running](/source/Track_running); in her first year in Japan she won the high school title over [3000 metres](/source/3000_metres). Following her graduation she moved in the [corporate running system](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Athletics_in_Japan&action=edit&redlink=1) and began competing for [Hitachi](/source/Hitachi). At that year's [Japan Corporate Track and Field Championships](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan_Corporate_Track_and_Field_Championships&action=edit&redlink=1) she set track bests of 15:43.05 minutes for the [5000 metres](/source/5000_metres) and 32:34.71 minutes for the [10,000 metres](/source/10%2C000_metres). Her fifth place finish at the [Sapporo Half Marathon](/source/Sapporo_Half_Marathon) in 70:15 minutes was another best for the Kenyan.[3] She improved her track bests further to 15:31.49 and 31:56.21 minutes in 2003.[4]

She claimed her first big win at the [Sanyo Women's Half Marathon](/source/Sanyo_Women's_Half_Marathon) in 2004.[1] She improved her best in the [half marathon](/source/Half_marathon) event two years later to 70:04 minutes at the [Miyazaki Women's Half Marathon](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Miyazaki_Women%27s_Half_Marathon&action=edit&redlink=1), placing third.[5] She had two road wins in 2006 at the [Kasumigaura 10 Miles](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kasumigaura_10_Miles&action=edit&redlink=1) and the [Shibetsu Half Marathon](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shibetsu_Half_Marathon&action=edit&redlink=1).[6][7] She was eighth at the high-profile Miyazaki Half at the start of 2007.[8] In November 2007 she won the [Hakusan](/source/Hakusan%2C_Ishikawa) half marathon before making her debut over the full [marathon](/source/Marathon) distance at the [Shanghai Marathon](/source/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.[9] She was a little slower at the [Nagano Marathon](/source/Nagano_Marathon) the next year, finishing tenth.[10] In both 2008 and 2009, she placed third at the Sanyo Women's Half Marathon.[3]

Wanjiru began running for [Second Wind AC](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Second_Wind_AC&action=edit&redlink=1) and in 2009 she competed in her first European races. She began that year with a significant personal best at the [Osaka Ladies Marathon](/source/Osaka_Ladies_Marathon), running 2:27:38 hours for seventh place in a competitive field[11] At the final edition of the [Yokohama International Women's Ekiden](/source/Yokohama_International_Women's_Ekiden) she helped the Kenyan women to second place behind the Japanese.[12] She was runner-up at the [Hannover Marathon](/source/Hannover_Marathon) and [Hamburg Half Marathon](/source/Hamburg_Half_Marathon) that year.[13]

After a two-year break from the sport in 2010 and 2011 she returned with a third place finish at the 2012 [Ottawa Marathon](/source/Ottawa_Marathon) and a runner-up placing at the [Ljubljana Marathon](/source/Ljubljana_Marathon).[14][15] 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](/source/Eindhoven_Marathon).[16]

Wanjiru served a 16-month competition ban from January 2018 to May 2019 issued by the [Athletics Integrity Unit](/source/Athletics_Integrity_Unit).[17]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-SWHM_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-SWHM_1-1) Nakamura, Ken (2004-12-25). [Ruth Wanjiru wins Sanyo Half Marathon](http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/ruth-wanjiru-wins-sanyo-half-marathon). IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Nakamura, Ken (2005-02-20). [Niiya, Yamanaka, Sato and Wanjiru excel in Chiba Cross Country](http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/niiya-yamanaka-sato-and-wanjiru-excel-in-chib). IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Tilas_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Tilas_3-1) [Ruth Wanjiru](http://www.tilastopaja.org/db/atw.php?ID=17587&Season=2000&Odd=0). Tilastopaja. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Ruth Wanjiru](http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/kenya/ruth-wanjiru-178214#progression). IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Nakamura, Ken (2006-01-07). [Okunaga wins Miyazaki Women's Half Marathon](http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/okunaga-wins-miyazaki-womens-half-marathon). IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Kasumigaura 10 mile](https://www.arrs.run/HP_KasumMa.htm). [Association of Road Racing Statisticians](/source/Association_of_Road_Racing_Statisticians). Retrieved on 2013-10-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [Shibetsu Half Marathon](https://www.arrs.run/HP_ShibetsuHM.htm). [Association of Road Racing Statisticians](/source/Association_of_Road_Racing_Statisticians). Retrieved on 2013-10-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Nakamura, Ken (2007-01-06). [Noguchi wins Miyazaki Half-Marathon](http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/noguchi-wins-miyazaki-half-marathon). IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [November 2007](http://www.aimsworldrunning.org/results/2007_11.htm). AIMS. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [April 2008](http://aimsworldrunning.com/results/2008_04.htm). AIMS. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Nakamura, Ken (2009-01-25). [Shibui breaks her four year victory drought with 2:23 win at Osaka Ladies Marathon](http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/shibui-breaks-her-four-year-victory-drought-w). IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Nakamura, Ken (2009-02-22). [Japan wins final edition of Yokohama International Women's Ekiden](http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/japan-wins-final-edition-of-yokohama-internat). IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Wenig, Jörg (2009-05-03). [Langat and Hahn prevail in Dusseldorf](http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/langat-and-hahn-prevail-in-dusseldorf). IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Gains, Paul (2012-05-27). [Moiben defends Ottawa Title](http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/moiben-defends-ottawa-title). IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** [October 2012](http://www.aimsworldrunning.com/results/2012_10.htm). AIMS. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Minshull, Phil (2013-10-13). [Tsegay ends Kenya's 14-year winning streak at Marathon Eindhoven](http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/rain-dampens-time-but-tsegay-adhane-wins-thri). IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-10-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["LATEST SANCTIONS FOR DOPING AND NON-DOPING VIOLATIONS - DECEMBER 2018"](https://www.athleticsintegrity.org/downloads/pdfs/disciplinary-process/en/Latest-Santions-December-2018.pdf) (PDF). Athletics Integrity Unit. December 2018.

## External links

- [Ruth Wanjiru](https://worldathletics.org/athletes/-/14289527) at [World Athletics](/source/World_Athletics)

v t e Eindhoven Marathon – women's winners 1982: Ann Rindt (NED) 1984: Annelies van Dijk (NED) 1986: Heather MacDuff (ENG) 1988: Heather MacDuff (ENG) 1990: Mieke Hombergen (NED) 1991: Mieke Hombergen (NED) 1992: Adriana Andrescu (ROM) 1993: Liesbeth van Ast (NED) 1994: Jeanne Jansen (NED) 1995: Carla Beurskens (NED) 1996: Simona Staicu (ROM) 1997: Mieke Hombergen (NED) 1998: Simona Staicu (ROM) 1999: Nadezhda Wijenberg (NED) 2000: Wilma van Onna (NED) 2001: Valentina Poltavskaya (UKR) 2002: Marleen van Reusel (BEL) 2003: Vivian Ruijters (NED) 2004: Annelieke van der Sluijs (NED) 2005: Tatjana Perepelkina (RUS) 2006: Agnes Hijman (NED) 2007: Lydia Kurgat (KEN) 2008: Lydia Kurgat (KEN) 2009: Beata Naigambo (NAM) 2010: Atsede Habtamu (ETH) 2011: Georgina Rono (KEN) 2012: Aberume Mekuria (ETH) 2013: Ruth Wanjiru (KEN) 2014: Iwona Lewandowska (POL) 2015: Els Rens (BEL) 2016: Truphena Chepchirchir (KEN) 2017: Eunice Jeptoo (KEN) 2018: Nina Lauwaert (BEL) 2019: Betty Chepleting (KEN) 2020: cancelled 2021: Bregje Smits (NED) 2022: Paskalia Chepkogei (KEN) 2023: Chloé Herbiet (BEL) 2024: Vivian Jerotich (KEN) 2025: Flomena Chepkiach (KEN)

Authority control databases: People World Athletics

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ruth Wanjiru](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Wanjiru) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Wanjiru?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.