Benson Masya

Benson Masya (May 14, 1970 – September 24, 2003) was a Kenyan long-distance runner and marathon specialist, who competed in the late 1980s and 1990s. He participated at the inaugural IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in 1992 and finished in first place.

Overview

Masya was a Kamba by ethnicity.IAAF, December 12, 2008: [http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=100/newsid=48684.html Inseparable! Jimmy Muindi and the Honolulu Marathon]

Initially he was a boxer attached to Kenyan postal service before concentrating on running.icNewcastle: October 9, 2003: [http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/0200sport/0600athletics/content_objectid=13496817_method=full_siteid=50081_headline=-Void-left-as-GNR-legend-Masya-dies-at-just-33-name_page.html Void left as GNR legend Masya dies at just 33] He won the Great North Run a record four times; in 1991, 1992, 1994 and 1996. He also won the City-Pier-City Loop half marathon in the Hague twice in 1993 and 1994.{{Cite web|url=https://www.arrs.run/HP_CPCHM.htm|title=City-Pier-City|website=www.arrs.run|access-date=2018-05-02}}

His career as a top runner came to a premature end. The Portsmouth 10 Mile race in 1996 was among his last notable achievements. His reveller lifestyle may have contributed to deteriorating performances.Honolulu Star, December 4, 2006: [http://archives.starbulletin.com/2006/12/04/news/story02.html Lifestyle and illness felled Honolulu Marathon winner]

Death

Masya died in September 2003, aged 33, after a period of illness. At his death, he was accompanied by his friend Cosmas Ndeti. Masya was buried in Kitui.Honolulu advertiser, September 30, 2003: [http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2003/Sep/30/sp/sp14a.html 3-time marathon champion dead at 33]

Achievements

{{AchievementTable\|Event=yes}}
colspan="6"\|Representing {{KEN}}
1991 \|Honolulu Marathon \|Honolulu, Hawaii \|bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Marathon \|2:18:24
rowspan=2\|1992 \|World Half Marathon Championships \|Newcastle, United Kingdom \|bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Half marathon \|1:00:24
Honolulu Marathon \|Honolulu, Hawaii \|bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Marathon \|2:14:19
1993 \|City-Pier-City Loop \|The Hague, Netherlands \|bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Half Marathon \|1:00:24
rowspan=2\|1994 \|City-Pier-City Loop \|The Hague, Netherlands \|bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Half Marathon \|1:02:00
Honolulu Marathon \|Honolulu, Hawaii \|bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Marathon \|2:15:04
1997 \|Stockholm Marathon \|Stockholm, Sweden \|bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Marathon \|2:17:22

colspan="6"|Representing {{KEN}}

1991

|Honolulu Marathon

|Honolulu, Hawaii

|bgcolor="gold" | 1st

|Marathon

|2:18:24

rowspan=2|1992

|World Half Marathon Championships

|Newcastle, United Kingdom

|bgcolor="gold" | 1st

|Half marathon