James Kwalia C'Kurui (born James Kwalia Chepkurui on 12 June 1984) is an athlete who represents Qatar after switching from his homeland Kenya. Specializing in the 3000 and 5000 metres, his personal best times are 7:28.28 minutes and 12:54.58 minutes respectively. He was born in Trans Nzoia. He is the current holder of the Asian indoor record over 5000 m which he broke in Düsseldorf in February 2009.
Biography He had his first success while competing for Kenya when he won the bronze medal in the 3000 m at the 2001 World Youth Championships in Athletics. His first senior medal came at the 2004 IAAF World Athletics Final, where he took the 3000 m silver. He transferred to represent Qatar following this and was very successful in Asian competitions, winning at the 2005 Asian Athletics Championships and the 2006 Asian Games.
He represented Qatar at the Olympics for the first time with an appearance at the 2008 Beijing Games – he finished eighth in the 5000 m. He improved at the next major competition, taking the bronze medal at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics. A streak of wins at Asian championships followed: he set a new Games record in the 3000 m at the 2009 Asian Indoor Games, won the 5000 m title at the 2009 Asian Athletics Championships for a second time and won his first indoor title soon after at the 2010 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships. From the beginning of his career, he was coached by the Italian Renato Canova, under the management of Gianni Demadonna.
He is from Kaptama in Mount Elgon District. Prominent runner Edith Masai is from the same area.The Standard, October 14, 2008: Komon the mountain legion
International competitions 2001World Youth ChampionshipsDebrecen, Hungary 3rd3000 m7:57.712005World Cross Country Championships St Etienne, France15thShort raceWorld Championships Helsinki, Finland13th5000 m13:38.90Asian ChampionshipsIncheon, South Korea 1st5000 m14:08.562006World Cross Country ChampionshipsFukuoka, Japan43rdShort raceAsian GamesDoha, Qatar 1st5000 m13:38.902008Asian Indoor ChampionshipsDoha, Qatar 3rd3000 m7:50.76World Indoor ChampionshipsValencia, Spain9th3000 m8:00.44Olympic GamesBeijing, China8th5000 m13:23.482009Asian Indoor GamesHanoi, Vietnam 1st3000 m8:00.40GRAsian ChampionshipsGuangzhou, China 1st5000 m14:02.90World ChampionshipsBerlin, Germany 3rd5000 m13:17.782010Asian Indoor ChampionshipsTehran, Iran 1st3000 m7:57.73World Indoor ChampionshipsDoha, Qatar8th3000 m7:46.12Asian GamesGuangzhou, China2nd5000 m13:48.55
Circuit performances
2003World Athletics FinalMonte Carlo, Monaco5th3000 m2004World Athletics FinalMonte Carlo, Monaco 2nd3000 m2005World Athletics FinalMonte Carlo, Monaco6th5000 m2008World Athletics FinalStuttgart, Germany 5th3000 m
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