Legendary Kenyan Marathon runner, Ibrahim Kipkemboi Hussein, has been idolised in the United States of America Capital City.
New York City has revered Kipkemboi into its 2021 Hall of Fame. This is to appreciate his achievement in the New York City Marathon.
Through a statement released on Friday, October 29, The New York Road Runners (NYRR), the organiser of NYC Marathon, noted that Kipkemboi is among five athletes inducted into this year's Hall of Fame Class.
Kipkemboi, 63, has now become the first African to be included in the list. Other athletics icons named by the organiser included Gary Muhrcke, Liz McColgan, Kurt Fearnley and Shalane Flanagan.
Kipkemboi paved way for Eliud Kipchoge and other athletes after being named the first Kenyan winner of the New York City Marathon in 1987 after clocking in at 2:11:01.
According to the organiser, the five achievers in athletics will represent each decade of the NYC Marathon’s history.
“During his career, he finished in the top 10 in all four of his New York City Marathon appearances and won the Boston Marathon three times (1988, 1991, 1992).”
“He represented Kenya in the marathon at the Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992 Olympics. Since his win in New York, 17 other Kenyan athletes have gone on to win the New York City Marathon,” the NYRR statement said.
The NYRR Hall of Fame was established in 2011, to honour figures in road running.
During the race which is slated for November 7, Kipchoge is set to be conferred with the Abebe Bikila Award.
The two-time Olympic champion and Marathon world record was named the winner of the award courtesy of the foundation he established in 2020.
