The University of Louisville Alumni Magazine: for alumni, faculty, staff, students and anyone that is a UofL Cardinal fan.
Issue link: https://louisville.epubxp.com/i/73647
Alumni Spotlight Wesley K. Korir, 08A Korir Conquers Boston Wesley K. Korir, 08A, a native of Kenya, credits his UofL biology degree for helping him to the greatest win of his distance-running career in the 116th Boston Marathon on April 16. "I knew it was going to be hot," Korir said. "Two weeks prior I started preparing for this day. Every day I con- centrated on hydration and drinking a lot of water and when I got to Boston to get ready, all I did was drink and drink and drink. "I paid very close attention to my water bottle. I was paying more atten- tion to the hydration stations than to the other runners." The 29-year-old Louisville resident kept his pace steady and sang religious hymns and choruses to himself as he ran. "And one by one I picked them off," Korir said. Korir returned to Louisville to meet with UofL track and fi eld coach Ron Mann and offer support to other run- ners he has worked with in the past. "Louisville, I tell everyone, is the perfect place to start a running career," Korir said. "You have great coaches, good races, the media will cover you when you win. It has been a wonder- ful place for me… to me, the Boston Marathon is the Olympics of marathon running, to win here is a great honor and a blessing." The win also represents another kind of opportunity for Korir, who, with his wife, Canadian runner Tarah McKay, 10CEHD, founded the Kenyan Kids Foundation in his hometown of Kitale. They're building a hospital in honor of a brother who was killed by a black mamba snake at the age of 10, and they also have been sending a number of kids in his hometown to school. Korir donates much of his prize winnings to his foundation. The two-time Los Angeles Marathon champion will receive $150,000 for his win in Boston. 42|LOUISVILLE.EDU