Jimmy Muindi

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Mwangangi ("Jimmy") Muindi (born August 14, 1973) is a long-distance runner from Kenya, who ran his personal best in the marathon (2:07:50) when he won the Rotterdam Marathon on Sunday April 10, 2005.

With some thirty marathons gracing his athletic resume, Muindi has embraced the marathon lifestyle since his debut in 1994. Two years following his 3000m Steeplechase victory at the 1992 IAAF World Junior Championships, Muindi debuted at the Honolulu Marathon to finish fourth. Muindi has raced every marathon in Honolulu since 1994.

Muindi placed third and second at the Honolulu event in 1995 and 1996 respectively. Also in 1996, he earned a personal record at the Route du Vin Half Marathon, placing sixth in 1:01:33. In 1997, he tested himself in the Boston marathon where he placed sixth before traveling to Belgrade the following year to earn the second place. The runner seemed addicted to the distance as he lined up for his sixth Honolulu challenge in 1999 where he finally earned his first marathon title. A return to the Route du Vin Half Marathon that same year earned a third-place finish in 1:01:46.

The returning champion tasted victory in 2000 with a fast race through the familiar Honolulu course. The following year he placed second in Belgrade and relinquished his reign in Honolulu with a third-place finish. Muindi took on a competitive field at his first Berlin Marathon challenge in 2002 with a fast, fifth-place finish in 2:08:24.

In 2003 and 2004, Muindi supplemented Hawaiian victories with strong performances at Chicago Marathon to place fifth (2:08:57) and fourth (2:08:27) respectively. After a full decade of racing, Muindi found a fresh pace at Rotterdam in 2005 as the five-time Honolulu champion completed the course in 2:07:50 to claim a new title and personal record. Muindi recently finished fourth in March, 2006 at the Seoul International Marathon (2:12:20).

Muindi has finished seventeen consecutive marathons since May 2000 in under 2:16:00 and his lifetime total of 24 sub-2:16 performances is eighth best all-time. In the 2006 Chicago Marathon, Muindi was in contention for the win going into the final miles. Though he lost contact with Robert Cheruiyot and Daniel Njenga, Muindi held on to finish third, just missing his personal record by one second.