Marathon News - Athlete Ngetich Perishes in Ongoing Kenyan Violence

Jan-21-2008

Athlete Ngetich Perishes in Ongoing Kenyan Violence
by David Monti
(c) Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved

The ongoing violence in Kenya has claimed the life of marathoner Wesley Ngetich, according to his manager Hussein Makke. The 34 year-old athlete
was shot in the chest with an arrow today during fighting in his hometown of Trans Mara, not far from Masai Mara.

"They spoke to his sister-in-law who said they took him to the hospital and he passed away," Makke explained in an e-mail message to Race Results Weekly. "I don't have any further information at the moment."

Makke got the news of Ngetich's death from his on-site manager in Kenya, Francis Kamau.

Ngetich had hoped to run the P.F. Chang's Rock 'N' Roll Marathon in Phoenix two Sunday's ago, but could not get out of Kenya due to the fighting. He set his personal best time of 2:12:10 when he finished second at the Chevron Houston Marathon in 2006. He was also a two-time champion of Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minn., winning in 2005 and 2007.

"We are extremely sad for this terrible news and send our deepest sympathies to his family for their loss," said Makke. "We hope and pray this fighting will come to an end very soon."