Medal record | ||
---|---|---|
Women's athletics | ||
Representing Kenya | ||
World Half Marathon Championships | ||
2009 Birmingham | Half marathon |
Philes Moora Ongori (born 19 July 1986 in Chironge, Kiamokama, in Kisii District) is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in half marathon and marathon events.
Her early career was based in Japan and she won a number of All-Japan Corporate titles for the Hokuren team. She ran the 10,000 metres for Kenya at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics, but came to prominence in the half marathon in 2008 when she won the Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon in the fastest time of the year. At the 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships she won the silver medal. Ongori won on her marathon debut at the Rotterdam Marathon in 2011, setting a time of 2:24:20 hours.
Philes Ongori grew up in the same village as another great female long distance runner Margaret Okayo, who is a twice winner of the New York City Marathon. Ongori moved to Japan as a teenager and ran for Yamanashi Gakuin High School. She joined the Hokuren Women's Running Club in 2005 and won five All-Japan corporate titles on the track for the team, over distances from 1500 metres to 10,000 metres. She formed part of Kenya's team for the Chiba Ekiden in November 2005 and she ran the fastest opening leg and Kenya went on to win the race. She made her half marathon debut in March 2006 and won on her first attempt, taking the Matsue Ladies Half Marathon title. Ongori claimed third place at the Sapporo Half Marathon later that year. She set a personal best of 31:18.85 minutes for the 10,000 m in September in Oita.