Wesley Korir facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hon. Wesley Kipchumba Korir
Korir at a press conference after winning the 2009 Los Angeles Marathon
Born	(1982-11-15) 15 November 1982 (age 42) Kitale, Trans-Nzoia District, Kenya
Nationality	Kenyan, Canadian
Alma mater	University of Louisville
Member of Parliament for Cherangany Constituency
In office 28 March 2013 – 31 August 2017
Preceded by	Joshua Serem Kutuny
Succeeded by	Joshua Serem Kutuny
Wesley Korir Sport Country Kenya Sport Road running Event(s) 1500 m, 5000 m, 10000 m, Marathon College team Murray State University, University of Louisville Achievements and titles Personal best(s) Half marathon: 1:01:19 Chicago Marathon: 2:06:13

Wesley Kipchumba Korir (born November 15, 1982) is a famous Kenyan athlete and politician. He is known for his amazing long distance running skills. He also served as an elected member of Parliament for the Cherangany Constituency in Kenya.

In 2012, Wesley won the tough Boston Marathon. He also won the Los Angeles Marathon two times in a row, in 2009 and 2010. This made him the first person to do that in eight years! He also achieved his fastest marathon time, 2 hours 6 minutes and 13 seconds, at the Chicago Marathon. In 2013, he was elected to the National Assembly in Kenya.

Becoming a Champion Runner

Korir running in the 2012 Boston Marathon, which he won.

Wesley Korir was born in Kitale, Trans-Nzoia District, Kenya, on November 15, 1982. When he was a kid, he would run about 5 miles (8 km) to school every day. He often ran back home for lunch or to help his mom with chores. But he didn't start running in races until after he finished high school.

A fellow Kenyan runner, Paul Ereng, helped Wesley. Paul was an Olympic gold medalist and from the same hometown. He helped Wesley find a place at Murray State University in Kentucky, USA. Wesley remembered thinking he would never go back to Kenya. He thought he was leaving poverty for a richer land.

College Running Career

At Murray State, Wesley won races in the 5000 m and 10000 m events in 2004. But then, the university stopped its men's track and cross country programs. So, Wesley had to find a new school. Paul Ereng connected him with the track coach at the University of Louisville, Ron Mann. Wesley transferred there.

At the University of Louisville, Wesley set new school records. He became an "All-American" multiple times, which means he was one of the best college athletes in the country. He finished third in the 5000-meter race at the 2007 NCAA National Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Starting Marathon Running

Wesley started running marathons after he finished college. In 2008, he entered the Chicago Marathon. He didn't have any marathon experience, so he started in the "open race" behind the professional runners. Even so, he won the open division and had the fourth fastest time overall!

He then won his next marathon, the Los Angeles Marathon, in May 2009. His time of 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 24 seconds was the fastest marathon ever run in California at that time. He won the Los Angeles Marathon again in 2010. He also kept getting great results in the Chicago Marathon from 2009 to 2012. In 2011, he finished second, and in 2012, he got his personal best time of 2 hours, 6 minutes, and 13 seconds.

His biggest win was the 2012 Boston Marathon. He ran a smart race in very hot weather. Many top runners struggled in the heat, but Wesley won!

Life as a Politician

In 2013, Wesley Korir was elected as a member of Kenya's Parliament. He ran as an independent candidate for the Cherangany Constituency. Later, in 2016, he joined the Jubilee Party. However, he lost his bid to be re-elected in 2017.

As a Member of Parliament, Wesley worked to help his community. He focused on improving things for dairy farmers in Cherangany. He also worked with a company called Semex on dairy genetics to help cows produce more milk. In 2014, a documentary called Transcend was made about his journey from a top runner to a politician.

Working for Clean Water

One of Wesley's main goals as an MP was to bring clean water to his area and all of Kenya. He believes that "Water is medicine." He said that if people have clean water, it can prevent 80 percent of diseases. He worked to get money from the government for water projects. He also partnered with people and organizations to help.

In 2013, he visited Louisville, USA, to learn how to fix water pumps. He explained that many water pumps installed in his region in the 1990s had broken down. They had not been working for over 15 years. He wanted to fix them and bring fresh water back to the villages.

Personal Life

Wesley Korir's father is Nehemiah Kipkorir Koros. Wesley studied at Murray State University before going to the University of Louisville. He graduated in 2008 with a degree in biology. He is a Kenyan citizen and also a permanent resident of the United States.

Wesley is married to Tarah McKay, a Canadian runner. She was his teammate on the track and field team at Louisville. They got married in March 2010 and have three children.

Wesley and Tarah started the Kenyan Kids Foundation. This foundation helps improve education and healthcare in Kenya. They are also helping to build a new hospital in Wesley's hometown of Kitale. While Wesley was an MP, his family lived full-time in Kenya.

Wesley has a unique pre-race habit: he buys two Subway tuna sandwiches. He eats one before the race and plans to eat the other afterward. But often, he gives the second sandwich to a homeless person instead.

His younger brother, John, won the 2025 Boston Marathon. This made Wesley and John the first brothers to both win the famous Boston Marathon.

Running Achievements

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
Representing  Kenya
2008	Chicago Marathon	Chicago, IL	4th	Marathon	2:13:53
2009	Los Angeles Marathon	Los Angeles, CA	1st	Marathon	2:08:24
	Chicago Marathon	Chicago, IL	6th	Marathon	2:10:38
2010	Los Angeles Marathon	Los Angeles, CA	1st	Marathon	2:09:19
	2010 Chicago Marathon	Chicago, IL	4th	Marathon	2:08:44
2011	Los Angeles Marathon	Los Angeles, CA	4th	Marathon	2:13:23
	2011 Chicago Marathon	Chicago, IL	2nd	Marathon	2:06:15
2012	2012 Boston Marathon	Boston, MA	1st	Marathon	2:12:40
	2012 Chicago Marathon	Chicago, IL	5th	Marathon	2:06:13
2013	2013 Boston Marathon	Boston, MA	5th	Marathon	2:12:30
2015	2015 Boston Marathon	Boston, MA	5th	Marathon	2:10:49
2016	2016 Boston Marathon	Boston, MA	4th	Marathon	2:14:05
2017	2017 Boston Marathon	Boston, MA	15th	Marathon	2:18:14