Mike Boit
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| Olympic medal record | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Men’s Athletics | |||
| Bronze | 1972 Munich | 800 m | |
Michael ("Mike") K. Boit (born 1 June 1949) is a Kenyan former middle distance athlete whose career spanned fifteen years. He is presently a professor at Kenyatta University in the Department of Exercise and Sports Science.
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[edit] Education
Boit graduated from St. Patrick’s High School in Iten in 1969, a school well known for having produced such world class distance runners as Matthew Birir, Wilson Kipketer, Japheth Kimutai and many others. Boit received a Diploma from Kenyatta College (now Kenyatta University) in 1972, a Bachelors Degree from Eastern New Mexico University in 1976, two Masters Degrees from Stanford University in 1977 and 1978, and a Doctoral of Education Degree from the University of Oregon in 1986.
[edit] Athletics career
Representing St. Patrick's - Iten, Boit won the national high school title in the 800 m in 1969. He later went on to win the 800 m bronze medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics and a fourth place in the 1500 m behind legendary fellow Kenyan runner Kipchoge Keino.
A Kenya boycott of the 1976 Montreal Olympics and 1980 Moscow Olympics denied Boit a second chance for Olympic glory. Boit however remained one of the world’s top middle distance runners throughout 1970s winning the 800 m silver medal at the 1974 Commonwealth Games and a silver medal at the 1977 World Cup of Athletics in a much anticipated face-off against the 1976 Olympic gold medalist Alberto Juantorena of Cuba.
Boit went on to win the gold at the 1978 Commonwealth Games and a bronze in the 1500 m at the 1982 Commonwealth Games. Boit ended his athletic career in 1990 breaking the Masters Division Indoor World Record for the One Mile in Meadowlands, New Jersey.
[edit] Personal bests
- 800 m – 1:43:57 (1976)
- 1000 m – 2:15:30 (1977)
- 1500 m – 3:33:67 (1981)
- mile - 3:49:45 (1981)
[edit] Professional career
Boit joined the Kenyatta University as a full time faculty member in 1987. From 1990 to 1997, Boit took leave of his position at the University to work as the Kenya Commissioner of Sports; Boit returned to Kenyatta University in 1998.
During the 1990s, Boit also stayed active in the athletic community as member of the IAAF Athletes Commission from 1989 to 1999 and the Special Olympics from 1992-1995.
He is an uncle to Philip Boit, who became first Kenyan to compete in Winter Olympics.
