Benson Masya (May 14, 1970 – September 24, 2003) was a Kenyan long-distance runner and marathon specialist, who competed in the late 1980s and 1990s. He participated at the inaugural IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in 1992 and finished in first place.
Masya was a Kamba by ethnicity.[1]
Initially he was a boxer attached to Kenyan postal service before concentrating on running.[2] He won the Great North Run a record four times; in 1991, 1992, 1994 and 1996. He also won the City-Pier-City Loop half marathon in the Hague twice in 1993 and 1994.[3]
His career as a top runner came to a premature end. The Portsmouth 10 Mile race in 1996 was among his last notable achievements. His reveller lifestyle may have contributed to deteriorating performances.[4]
Masya died in September 2003, aged 33, after a period of illness. At his death, he was accompanied by his friend Cosmas Ndeti. Masya was buried in Kitui.[5]
| Representing | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Honolulu, Hawaii | 1st | Marathon | 2:18:24 | ||
| 1992 | Newcastle, United Kingdom | 1st | Half marathon | 1:00:24 | ||
| Honolulu, Hawaii | 1st | Marathon | 2:14:19 | |||
| 1993 | The Hague, Netherlands | 1st | Half Marathon | 1:00:24 | ||
| 1994 | The Hague, Netherlands | 1st | Half Marathon | 1:02:00 | ||
| Honolulu, Hawaii | 1st | Marathon | 2:15:04 | |||
| 1997 | Stockholm, Sweden | 1st | Marathon | 2:17:22 | ||