Former world champion Linet Masai tips younger sister for greatness
By Amos Abuga, January 16, 2020
Former world 10,000m champion Linet Masai is encouraging her younger sister Magdalene to continue flying the family’s flag.
The Masai family is laden with athletics talent as besides Linet, elder brother Moses has also won medals at World Championship and Cross-Country while Magdalene is the Toronto Marathon course record holder (2:22.16).
Younger brothers Dennis and Alex are currently running for Hofstra University in the United States.
But after competing against each other at last year’s Great North Run, won by world marathon record holder Brigid Kosgei, with Magdalene beating her to second place, Linet, who placed third, believes her younger sister has massive potential.
“Magdalene has big potential, something I keep encouraging her to keep going since she has the world at her feat,” said Linet, who, like her siblings, was born and raised at Kapsokwony in Mount Elgon Constituency, Bungoma county.
“I think she will be competing in the World Marathon Majors (WMM) soon. She has done Toronto, Amsterdam and Hamburg. For her, it can only get better,” added Linet.
While Olympics legend Benjamin Jipcho is also their uncle, Linet gives credit to Moses for encouraging them to take up athletics seriously.
“It is sad that Moses has been battling injuries for a long time. But without his encouragement and support, I don’t think we could have many of us venturing into the sport,” said Linet, who won bronze for Kenya during the 2008 Olympics Games in Beijing, China.