James Kipsang Kwambai is a runner from Kenya, who specialises in marathons.
Education
He finished second at the 2008 Berlin Marathon, where Haile Gebrselassie set a new marathon world record. At the 2009 Rotterdam Marathon Kwambai again finished second (behind Duncan Kibet) in a time of 2:04:27, the third fastest ever marathon at the time.
Career
He is a former Kenyan record holder in the event, with his personal best of 2:04:27 hours in 2009. At the time this made him the second fastest runner ever, behind Haile Gebrselassie. Kwambai went to the Kondabilet Primary School in Marakwet East District, but dropped out at standard seven.
Kwambai"s time was 2:05:36, that made him the seventh fastest ever marathon runner at the time.
At the 2010 New York City Marathon he completed the race in 2:11:31, which brought him fifth place. His first race of 2011 was the cost per click Loop Den Haag, but he was off the winning pace and came sixth in a time of one hour and one second.
He was among the leaders at the 2011 London Marathon by the 30 km mark, but dropped out of the race. In August he came second at the Rio de Janeiro Half Marathon, but was eighth at the Udine Half Marathon the following month, finishing well off his best in 1:02:06 hours.
His season peaked in November when he took the title at the JoongAng Seoul Marathon in a time of 2:08:50 hours, despite rainy conditions.
He took on the city"s other major race, the Seoul International Marathon, in March 2012 and ran his best race in three years, finishing in 2:06:03 hours to take second behind Wilson Loyanae. He ran at the city"s other major race, the Seoul International Marathon, in March 2014 but his time of 2:07:38 was only enough for sixth place in a quick race. Kwambai prefers road running over track and cross-country.
Kwambai has been coached by Gabriele Rosa and Claudio Berardelli.
Views
He returned to defend his title at the Saint Silvester race in São Paulo Paulo but ended up in third place behind Marílson dos Santos and Barnabas Kosgei.