Thomas Osano

Thomas Osano (born 4 June 1970) is a Kenyan former long-distance runner who competed across track, road, and cross country running disciplines. His greatest individual honour was a 10,000 metres gold medal at the 1991 All-Africa Games. He also shared in a team gold medal with Kenya at the 1993 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships.

His best global placing was fourth at the 1991 World Championships in Athletics. Osano ran extensively in professional road races and among his victories were the Route du Vin Half Marathon, CPC Loop Den Haag, Bay to Breakers and Bolder Boulder.

Career

Early career Osano competed for Kenya at an early age and as a junior athlete he shared in a team silver at the 1987 IAAF World Cross Country Championships (led by winner Wilfred Kirochi) before returning in 1989 to finish fourth and help Kenya to the team title alongside individual medallists Kipyego Kororia and Stephenson Nyamau. He won an individual medal at the 1988 World Junior Championships in Athletics, entering the 20K run, where he was runner-up to Ethiopia's Zeleke Metaferia.

He began running in the Japanese corporate athletic system in 1990 and had much success in the country. He took a distance double at the Japan Championships in Athletics and won a second 10,000 m title in 1991.

African champion and missed Olympics Osano competed extensively around the world in the 1991 season. In May he had wins at the Great West Run in England, as well as at the Bay to Breakers and Bolder Boulder in the United States. He was selected to represent Kenya on the track at the 1991 World Championships in Athletics. His compatriots Moses Tanui and Richard Chelimo took the top two spots in the 10,000 m. Osano's plan was to disrupt the running of the (highly favoured) Moroccan Khalid Skah and though the tactic was successful for his teammates, Osano finished behind Skah in fourth. Two weeks later he ran the same distance at the Memorial Van Damme, taking second behind his more experienced Kenyan rival John Ngugi. He finally topped the podium in the event at the All-Africa Games later that month, beating fellow Kenyan William Koech by a narrow margin.

Osano was dominant in Japan in the first half of 1992, going unbeaten with wins including the Chiba International Cross Country and Shizuoka International. He also had repeat wins at the Bolder Boulder and Bay to Breakers in the United States. His Olympic debut thwarted, Osano did not compete again in 1992. He returned to action in May 1993 and headed to the American road circuit, taking wins at the Peachtree Road Race, Boilermaker Road Race and Bix 7 Road Race. Given his form, he was chosen for the Kenyan team at the 1993 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships. 5000 m: 1990 10,000 m: 1990, 1991

Circuit wins Fukuoka International Cross Country: 1994 Chiba International Cross Country: 1992 Route du Vin Half Marathon: 1996 CPC Loop Den Haag: 1996 Breda Singelloop: 1995, 1996 Beppu-Oita Half Marathon: 1991, 1992 All Japan Corporate Team Half Marathon Championships: 1991, 1992 Great West Run: 1991 Tilburg Ten Miles: 1996, 1997 Crim 10-Miler: 1995 Kosa 10-miler: 1990 Nobeoka 10-miler: 1990 Parelloop: 1996 Bix 7 Road Race: 1993 Peachtree Road Race: 1993 Boilermaker Road Race: 1993 Bay to Breakers: 1991, 1992 Bolder Boulder: 1991, 1992

Personal bests 5000 metres – 13:30.40 min (1993) 10,000 metres – 27:28.87 min (1991) 10K run – 28:02 min (1996) Half marathon – 60:36 min (1995)