James Kwalia
 | ||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing  Qatar
| ||
| Men's athletics | ||
| World Championships | ||
 |
2009 Berlin | 5000 m |
| Asian Games | ||
 |
2006 Doha | 5000 m |
James Kwalia C'Kurui (born James Kwalia Chepkurui on 12 June 1984) is an athlete who represents Qatar after switching from his homeland Kenya. Specializing in the 3000 and 5000 metres, his personal best times are 7:28.28 minutes and 12:54.58 minutes respectively. He was born in Trans Nzoia. He is the current holder of the Asian indoor record over 5000 m which he broke in Düsseldorf in February 2009.
Biography
[edit]He had his first success while competing for Kenya when he won the bronze medal in the 3000 m at the 2001 World Youth Championships in Athletics. His first senior medal came at the 2004 IAAF World Athletics Final, where he took the 3000 m silver. He transferred to represent Qatar following this and was very successful in Asian competitions, winning at the 2005 Asian Athletics Championships and the 2006 Asian Games.
He represented Qatar at the Olympics for the first time with an appearance at the 2008 Beijing Games – he finished eighth in the 5000 m. He improved at the next major competition, taking the bronze medal at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics. A streak of wins at Asian championships followed: he set a new Games record in the 3000 m at the 2009 Asian Indoor Games, won the 5000 m title at the 2009 Asian Athletics Championships for a second time and won his first indoor title soon after at the 2010 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships. From the beginning of his career, he was coached by the Italian Renato Canova, under the management of Gianni Demadonna.
He is from Kaptama in Mount Elgon District. Prominent runner Edith Masai is from the same area.[1]
International competitions
[edit]
Circuit performances
[edit]| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | World Athletics Final | Monte Carlo, Monaco | 5th | 3000 m | |
| 2004 | World Athletics Final | Monte Carlo, Monaco | 2nd | 3000 m | |
| 2005 | World Athletics Final | Monte Carlo, Monaco | 6th | 5000 m | |
| 2008 | World Athletics Final | Stuttgart, Germany | 5th | 3000 m |
References
[edit]- ^ The Standard, October 14, 2008: Komon the mountain legion
External links
[edit]
- 1984 births
- Living people
- People from Mount Elgon District
- Qatari male middle-distance runners
- Qatari male long-distance runners
- Kenyan male middle-distance runners
- Kenyan male long-distance runners
- Qatari male cross country runners
- Kenyan male cross country runners
- Olympic athletes for Qatar
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2008 Summer Olympics
- Asian Games gold medalists for Qatar
- Asian Games silver medalists for Qatar
- Asian Games medalists in athletics (track and field)
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2006 Asian Games
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2010 Asian Games
- Medalists at the 2006 Asian Games
- Medalists at the 2010 Asian Games
- World Athletics Championships athletes for Qatar
- World Athletics Championships medalists
- Asian Athletics Championships winners
- Asian Indoor Athletics Championships winners
- Qatari people of Kenyan descent
- Naturalized citizens of Qatar
- Naturalised athletes
- Arab Athletics Championships winners