Martin Mathathi

{{short description|Kenyan long-distance runner}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Martin Mathathi

| image =

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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|12|25|df=y}}

| birth_place = Nyahururu, Kenya

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| education = Sipili secondary school

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| country = Kenya

| sport = Long-distance running

| event = 5000 metres, 10000 metres, Half marathon, Marathon

| collegeteam =

| club = PACE Sports Management

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| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry | {{KEN}} }}

{{MedalSport|Men's athletics}}

{{MedalCompetition|World Championships}}

{{MedalBronze|2007 Osaka|10,000 m}}

}}

Martin Irungu Mathathi (born 25 December 1985 in Nyahururu) is a Kenyan long-distance runner, who competes in track, cross country and road running events. Mathathi won the bronze medal in the 10,000 metres at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka. He represented his country in the same event at the 2008 Summer Olympics. He holds the 10 miles world junior record of 44:51.

He trains with PACE Sports Management. He was schooled at Sipili secondary school.

Mathathi was the 2010 winner of the men's short race at the Chiba Cross Country in Japan.{{cite news|last=Nakamura|first=Ken|date=14 February 2010|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/karoki-mathathi-and-katsumata-prevail-at-chib|title=Karoki, Mathathi, and Katsumata prevail at Chiba Cross Country|publisher=IAAF|accessdate=30 April 2016}} He won the Sendai Half Marathon in a personal best time of 59:48 minutes, easily beating second placed Mekubo Mogusu.{{cite web|url=http://www.sendaihalf.com/eng/history/20-2010results-m/ |title=Results of Male Runners |publisher=Sendai Half Marathon |accessdate=30 August 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716040152/http://www.sendaihalf.com/eng/history/20-2010results-m/ |archivedate=16 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}

He gained selection for the 2011 World Championships in Athletics and came fifth for Kenya in the men's 10,000 m. That year, Mathathi set a course record for the Great North Run half marathon, finishing in a time of 58 minutes 56 seconds. Two weeks later he also won the Great Edinburgh Run 10K in course record time.{{cite news|last=Martin |first=David |date=2 October 2011 |accessdate=2 October 2011 |url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/newsid=62654.html |title=Mathathi clocks course record in Edinburgh 10Km |publisher=IAAF |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004140158/http://www.iaaf.org/news/newsid%3D62654.html |archivedate=4 October 2011 |url-status=dead }} At the start of 2012 he finished second at the Chiba Cross Country meet.{{cite news|last=Nakamura|first=Ken|date=12 February 2012|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/kenyan-high-schoolers-dominate-at-chiba-cross|title=Kenyan high schoolers dominate at Chiba Cross Country|publisher=IAAF|accessdate=30 April 2016}} He won the 10,000 m at the Hyogo Relays with a world-leading time of 27:35.16 minutes, but said that he intended to miss the Olympics and focus on a marathon debut at the Fukuoka Marathon instead.{{cite news|last=Larner|first =Brett|date=22 April 2012|url=http://japanrunningnews.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/mathathi-runs-world-leader-at-hyogo.html|title=Mathathi and Niiya Run 10000 m World Leaders at Hyogo Relay Carnival|agency=Japan Running News|accessdate=28 April 2012}} He won the Gifu Half Marathon for a second time in May and won the{{cite news|last=Larner|first=Brett|date=20 May 2012|url=http://japanrunningnews.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/mathathi-wins-second-straight-gifu.html|title=Mathathi Wins Second-Straight Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon, Kalmer Sets Women's Course Record|agency=Japan Running News|accessdate=20 May 2013}} Sapporo Half Marathon in July.{{cite news|last=Nakamura|first=Ken|date=1 July 2012|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/mathathi-and-ito-win-sapporo-half|title=Mathathi and Ito win Sapporo Half|publisher=IAAF|accessdate=30 April 2016}}

Mathathi attempted to run the fastest marathon debut at the Fukuoka Marathon but he dropped out of the race after 38 km.{{cite news|last=Nakamura|first=Ken|date=2 December 2012|accessdate=14 February 2013|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/20658-win-for-gitau-in-fukuoka|title=2:06:58 win for Gitau in Fukuoka|publisher=IAAF}} He attempted to extend his undefeated streak at the Gifu Half Marathon and although he finished in 1:00:54 hours he was runner-up to world champion Zersenay Tadese.{{cite news|last=Nakamura|first=Ken|date=19 May 2013|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/course-records-for-tadese-and-tufa-at-gifu-se|title=Course records for Tadese and Tufa at Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon|publisher=IAAF|accessdate=20 May 2013}}