Erick Kimaiyo Kimase (born 8 July 1969) is a Kenyan former marathon runner who came second at the 1997 Berlin Marathon, and won the Honolulu and Baltimore Marathons on multiple occasions. Kimaiyo now works as a marathon coach, and trains current women's world record holder Brigid Kosgei.
Personal life
Kimaiyo is the cousin of fellow Kenyan former runner Raymond Kipkoech.[1] He has four children.[2]
Running career
In 1996, Kimaiyo finished 18th at the Boston Marathon, in a time of 2:14:37.[3] Later in the year, he won the Honolulu Marathon in a time of 2:13:23.[4][5] It was the second fastest marathon time that year.[5] Kimaiyo and Jimmy Muindi had broken away around 19 miles (31 km) into the race, and Kimaiyo was awarded $20,000 for winning the race.[6]
Kimaiyo came second at the 1997 Berlin Marathon, losing in a sprint finish to fellow Kenyan Elijah Lagat by two seconds.[7][8] The Kenyan team at the event won the team world record.[9] Later in the year, Kimaiyo competed at the 1997 New York City Marathon.[10] In the same year, Kimaiyo won the Honolulu Marathon again, in a time of 2:12:17,[4] a course record time.[a][2] Kimaiyo broke away from Muindi and Thabiso Moqhali after 25 miles (40 km) of the race, on the ascent of Diamond Head.[2] In 1998, Kimaiyo came eighth at a half marathon event in Ngong, Kenya.[11]
In 1999, Kimaiyo came second at the Honolulu Marathon behind Muindi. Muindi, Kimaiyo and Mbarak Hussein were all involved in the sprint finish.[12] Kimaiyo ran in the 2000 Berlin Marathon, but dropped away from the lead group 10–20 kilometres (6.2–12.4 mi) into the race.[8] In 2002, Kimaiyo came eighth at the Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon.[13] In the same year, he won the Baltimore Marathon in a time of 2:17.44. He won the race by over two minutes.[14] In 2003, he retained his Baltimore Marathon title after beating Christopher Kipkosgei in a sprint finish.[15]
Coaching career
Kimaiyo now works as a marathon coach, and runs a training camp in Kapsait, Kenya at an altitude of 9,600 feet (2,900 m).[16] In 2015, Kimaiyo invited Brigid Kosgei to join his training camp in Kapsait, Kenya.[17] Since 2019, Kosgei is the current women's world record holder.[18] Kimaiyo has also trained Edward Zakayo, who won the 5000 metres event at an under-20 World Championships,[17] Christopher Kipkosgei, who finished second to Kimaiyo at the 2003 Baltimore Marathon after training with him for half a year,[15] and Judith Korir, who won the 2022 Paris Marathon.[19]
