| Intro | Athletics competitor |
| Is | Athlete |
| From | Kenya |
| Type | Sports |
| Gender | female |
| Birth |
27 March 1977 |
| Age | 43 years |
Esther Wanjiru Maina (born March 27, 1977) is a retired female long-distance runner from Kenya.
She is from Kahuhia, Murang’a District.
On January 15, 1999 she finished second at a half marathon race in Tokyo. The race was won by Elana Meyer, who set a world record, while Wanjiru scored did also beat the previous world record by timing 1:06:49
She won the Sendai Half Marathon in 1998 and 1999, and finished second in 2000.
She finished third at the 2000 Osaka Ladies Marathon, setting her personal best of 2:23:31 hours.
Wanjiru became the first Kenyan woman to win Commonwealth Games gold medal, although Jackline Maranga won 1500 metres later at the same games.
Achievements
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Representing Kenya | |||||
| 1998 | Commonwealth Games | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 1st | 10,000 metres | |
| 1999 | World Championships | Seville, Spain | 11th | Marathon | 2:29:36 |
| 2000 | Osaka Ladies Marathon | Osaka, Japan | 3rd | Marathon | 2:23:31 |
| Olympic Games | Sydney, Australia | 4th | Marathon | 2:26:17 | |
She also competed in the marathon at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. She pulled out of the race whilst leading.
Trivia
- Wanjiru made a cameo in the 2000 Japanese movie “Pinch Runner” as herself.