David Mungai

David Kimani Mungai (born December 7, 1968) is a Kenyan mid- and long-distance runner.[1][2]

Professional career

David Mungai traveled from Kenya to attend the University of Wyoming and to train with fellow Kenyas[3] who were coached by Olympian Joseph Nzau.[4] Mungai's coach was an Olympian, accomplished master's runner, and a former top runner at the University of Wyoming.[5] He would often compete along with Mungai and the other runners he coached, such as Kenyan Gideon Mutisya.[6][7]

In the 1992 Great Bristol Half Marathon, Mungai and his training partner, Mutisya, started what would be a continual back-and-forth racing pattern. As the race went on, the two Kenyans pulled away from their coach and the rest of the pack in a course-record pace. The two teammates, both in their mid-twenties, were shoulder-to-shoulder near the finish and crossed with the same official time: 1:04:08, a course record. Mutisya was declared winner.[8]

In July, the two nearly crossed again at the same time. At the competitive Wharf to Wharf 6-mile in Santa Cruz, California, the duo finished one second apart. In a course-record-breaking day, Mungai finished in 27:40 for fourth, edging out Mutisya. Lameck Aguta, who would later win the Boston Marathon, finished first.[9][10]

The fall of 1992 brought on two races in Minnesota. The first was in September: the City of Lakes 25K. Again, Mungai and Mutisya dueled for the lead. Mutisya won, with Mungai taking second in 1:19:02.

The teammates returned for the October Twin Cities Marathon, which was also serving as the USATF Master's Marathon Championship, bringing in talent such as Manuel Vera from Mexico and Pierre Levisse from France. The forecast was favorable: from the upper 40s to the mid 60s. Favorites included Mutisya, Olympian Ravil Kashapov, and Mexican Leonardo Reyes, top finisher at the Houston Marathon.[11] Few recognized the 24-year-old Mungai, even though his half-marathon split in the 25K had set an age-group record in Minnesota (that as of January 2021 still stands).[12][13]

Mungai, Mutisya, Nzua and major-marathon winner William Musyoki formed a front pack around the lakes of Minneapolis. As they crossed the Mississippi River onto Summit Avenue, toward mile-marker 22, Mungai surged ahead of the others. Mungai passed the St. Paul Cathedral and sprinted downhill to finish line near the Capitol building in front; it was clear Mungai would be the winner. He crossed the tape in 2:15:33.[4] The time was faster than the Chicago Marathon winner's time in 1992.[14] Nzau placed second.[15]

In 1993, Mungai ran a 10K personal best at the Crescent City Classic in New Orleans, Louisiana: finishing in 28:58. Later, at the Boston Marathon, which was hot and sunny, he finished in the top 20.[16] The race saw relatively slower times, and another Kenyan, Cosmas Ndeti won. Mungai ran a 2:17:12 for 17th place, a few seconds ahead of Toshihiro Shibutani.[17] Mungai's name was known by the close of 1993, when he ran the Cleveland Marathon. On a redesigned course along the shore of Lake Erie[18] Mungai duked it out with Don Janicki, Russian Nazipov Makhametna, and Canadian Peter Maher to finish fourth in 2:13:40. Janicki, running alone for some of the race, set a new course record (2:11:39) on the cool day.[19]

In the mid-1990s, Nzua was still coaching Mungai, Mutisya, Andrew Musuva and others, but now in Schenectady, New York. They called their themselves Team Stick.[20][21]

In 1994, Mungai raced the City of Lakes 25K and Twin Cities Marathon again. He scored another second-place win in the competitive 25K, 11 seconds behind John Mirth.[22] Now at the Twin Cities Marathon, Mungai was considered one of the top contenders, along with John Kagwe, St. Louis Marathon-winner Joe Leuchtmann, Rod DeHaven, and the 1984 Olympian John Tuttle.[23] Again Mungai paced the pack through the early miles. But at mile 10, he was vomiting and dropped back from the lead. While Pablo Sierra would win, Mungai finished 14th in 2:19:11.[24]

Later in the year, he had a top-10 finish at the Dallas Marathon[25]

In the late 1990s, Mungai was still a top competitor at large 5K, 10K, and half-marathon races,[26][27][28] taking third in the Duke City 5K in 15:10,[29] fifth at the California International Marathon,[30][31] third at the Phoenix 10K in 29:59, and fourth at the San Diego Marathon in 2:23:29.[32]

Personal life

Mungai has lived in Wyoming and Kenya and trained in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Schenectity, New York.[23][4] After meeting Mormon missionaries in New Mexico, he was baptized into their church.[33]

Achievements
YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
1992 Great Bristol Half Marathon Bristol, England 2nd Half Marathon 1:04:08
1992 City of Lakes Minneapolis, Minnesota 2nd 25K 1:19:02
1992 Twin Cities Marathon Twin Cities 1st Marathon 2:15:33
1993 Cleveland Marathon Cleveland, Ohio 4th Marathon 2:13:40
1994 Heritage Days Salem, Massachusetts 3rd 10K 30:01
1994 City of Lakes Minneapolis, Minnesota 2nd 25K 1:19:43
1994 Dallas Marathon Dallas, Texas 6th Marathon 2:24:58.5
1997 Duke City Race Albuquerque, New Mexico 3rd 5K 15:10
1997 California International Marathon Sacramento, California 5th Marathon 2:22:34
1997 Phoenix Run Phoenix, Arizona 3rd 10K 29:59
1997 Run for the Hills Albuquerque, New Mexico 3rd 10K 31:57
1998 San Diego Marathon Carlsbad, California 4th Marathon 2:23:39

citations[1][2][25]

References
  1. Ken Young; Andy Milroy, eds. (24 February 2021). "David Mungai". Mattole Valley, California: Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  2. "David Mungai". Monaco: World Athletics. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  3. "Kenyan Duo Paces Lakes 25K". Sports. Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. 14 September 1992. p. 3C.
  4. Zavoral, Nolan (5 October 1992). "Mungai Surprise Winner". Sports. Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 10C.
  5. "Wyoming's Top Cross Country Times Since 1990" (PDF). University of Wyoming. 2018.
  6. Ward, Bill (5 March 1993). "Elite Field Set to Race in Strawberry Classic". Sports. The Tampa Tribune. Tampa, Florida. p. 4.
  7. James Borta, ed. (7 March 1993). "Scoreboard — Strawberry Classic". Sports. The Tampa Tribune. Tampa, Florida. p. 2.
  8. Ken Young; Andy Milroy, eds. (24 February 2021). "Bristol". Mattole Valley, California: Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  9. Linneman, Bob (24 July 1992). "Kenyan Flavor to Race". Sports. Santa Cruz Sentinel. Tampa, Florida. p. D2.
  10. Linneman, Bob (27 July 1992). "Kenyans Destroy Field". Sports. Santa Cruz Sentinel. Tampa, Florida. p. 1B, 2B.
  11. Zavoral, Nolan (3 October 1992). "TCM director's heard it all - and then some". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota.
  12. "Kenyan duo paces Lakes 25K". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. 14 September 1992. p. 3C.
  13. Mike Setter, ed. (15 December 2019). "Minnesota All Time Age Records - Men - Half Marathon". Minneapolis, Minnesota: Minnesota Runners of the Year. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  14. "Dominic 'The Terminator' Ondoro Beats the Field and Phil Coppess' 31 Year Old Course Record". Down the Backstretch. Minneapolis, Minnesota. 9 October 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  15. Wojcik, Jerry (November 1992). "Nzau, Gilbert Win U.S. Marathon Titles". Van Nays, California: National Masters News. p. 1.
  16. Robb, Sharon (20 April 1993). "South Florida Weather Follow Local Runners - Top 50 Boston Finishers". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Deerfield Beach, Florida.
  17. Daley, Christopher B. (20 April 1993). "N'deti Adds to Kenyan Wins, Markova Repeats in Boston". Washington Post. Minneapolis, Minnesota.
  18. Queen, Roland (22 April 1993). "Cleveland Marathon Altering Its Course". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 7C.
  19. Holley, Micheal (17 May 1993). "Janicki Shatters Record at Revco - Marathon Results". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 7C.
  20. Lori, Riley (11 June 1994). "Kenyans Favored at Litchfield". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut.
  21. Kirsch, Fred (17 March 1994). "Team Stick: What has 40 legs, subsists on fruits and grains and travels 2,500 miles a week?". The Virginian-Pilot. Norfolk, Virginia. p. C1.
  22. "Mirth, Klecker City of Lakes 25K winners". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. 12 September 1994. p. 3C.
  23. Zavoral, Nolan (1 October 1994). "Where, not when you finish - Positioning to be essential in TCM". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota.
  24. Zavoral, Nolan (3 October 1994). "Beginner's luck? Sierra wins his very first marathon". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 16C.
  25. "Dallas Marathon - 1994 Results Book". Dallas, Texas: Dallas Marathon. 1994. p. 9.
  26. Woods, David (30 April 1998). "Kenyans find no limits at Indy race: Controversy brews over foreign runners at other U.S. events but not at Mini-Marathon". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. D1.
  27. Graham, Tim (5 February 1999). "Zoltan Holba is the favorite to win another marathon title". Las Vegas Sun. Las Vegas, Nevada.
  28. Norcross, Don (8 June 1998). "Seuss Race times for men well off last year's record in Kiptum repeat". The San Diego Union-Tribune. San Diego, California.
  29. Wright, Rick (26 September 1998). "DCM's 5Ks Look To Be Competitive". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. p. 10D.
  30. "The Ones to Watch". Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. 6 December 1997. p. E11.
  31. John, Schumacher (8 December 1997). "Rain, rain doesn't go away: Moroccan, Kenyan run to titles in CIM". Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. p. E1, E9.
  32. Rick, Hoff (19 January 1998). "Russians Run to Victories". Sports. North County Times. Oceanside, California. p. C1, C6.
  33. "Runner heeds advice: Keep God in your life". Deseret News. Salt Lake City, Utah. 1 August 1998. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
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