Analysis of the Kenyan Distance Running Phenomenon.

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dc.contributor.authorTucker, R.
dc.contributor.authorOnywera, V.O.
dc.contributor.authorSantos-Concejero, J.
dc.date.accessioned2014-11-14T11:34:29Z
dc.date.available2014-11-14T11:34:29Z
dc.date.issued2014
dc.description.abstractPURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the ethnicity of Kenya's most successful international runners, tracking their evolution over the period of their international emergence and current dominance. METHODS: We analysed male track distance events from 800m upwards from all the major global athletics championships from 1964 to 2013, and the annual Top-25 world marathon performances since 1990. RESULTS: We found that the percentage of Top-25 marathon performances and medals won by Kenyan and Kalenjin runners have increased over time with Nandi sub-tribe outperforming the rest of the world outside Africa (r>0.70; large effect). However, Europe, North America, Oceania, Asia and South America decreased over time in Top marathon performances and track medals won by (r>0.70; large effect). The tribe and sub-tribe distribution was different in the marathon than in the track: Maasais were more likely to feature in medals won in shorter track events than in the Top-25 of the world marathon rankings (RR=9.67; very large effect). This was also the case for Marakwets (RR=6.44; very large effect) and Pokots (RR=4.83; large effect). On the other hand, Keiyos, Kikuyus, Kipsigis, Sabaots and Tugens were more likely to succeed in the marathon than in shorter track events (RR>2.0, moderate effect). CONCLUSION: These data emphasise that the previously documented emergence of African distance runners is primarily a Kenyan phenomenon, driven by the Kalenjin tribe and in particular the Nandi sub-tribe. This supports the complex interaction between genotype, phenotype and socio-economic factors driving the remarkable dominance of Kenyan distance runners.en_US
dc.identifier.citationInternational Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance [2014]en_US
dc.identifier.issn1555-0265
dc.identifier.other1555-0273
dc.identifier.urihttp://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/11658
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherHuman Kineticsen_US
dc.titleAnalysis of the Kenyan Distance Running Phenomenon.en_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
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