Mike Boit

Medal record
Visiting: New Haven, CT USA - Autumn 2006
Competitor for  Kenya
Men’s Athletics
Olympic Games
Bronze	1972 Munich	800 metres
Commonwealth Games
Gold	1978 Edmonton	800 metres
Silver	1974 Christchurch	800 metres
Bronze	1982 Brisbane	1500 metres
African Championships
Gold	1979 Dakar	1500 metres
IAAF World Cup
Silver	1977 Düsseldorf	800 metres

Mike Boit (Michael Kipsubut Boit; (born 1 June 1949) is a Kenyan former middle distance athlete whose career spanned fifteen years. He is presently a professor at Kenyatta University in the Department of Exercise and Sports Science.

Education

Boit graduated from St. Patrick's High School in Iten in 1969, a school well known for having produced such world class distance runners as Matthew Birir, Wilson Kipketer, Japheth Kimutai and many others. Boit received a Diploma from Kenyatta College (now Kenyatta University) in 1972, a Bachelors Degree from Eastern New Mexico University in 1976, two Masters Degrees from Stanford University in 1977 and 1978, and a Doctoral of Education Degree from the University of Oregon in 1986.

Professional career

Boit joined the Kenyatta University as a full time faculty member in 1987. From 1990 to 1997, Boit took leave of his position at the University to work as the Kenya Commissioner of Sports; Boit returned to Kenyatta University in 1998.

During the 1990s, Boit also stayed active in the athletic community as member of the IAAF Athletes Commission from 1989 to 1999 and the Special Olympics from 1992-1995.

Athletics career

Representing St. Patrick's - Iten, Boit won the Kenya national high school title in the 800 metres in 1969. He later went on to win the 800 metres bronze medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics, in a race better known for the last-to-first comeback kick by US Olympian Dave Wottle. Boit also earned a fourth place finish in the 1500 metres behind fellow legendary Kenyan runner Kipchoge Keino.

A Kenya boycott of the 1976 Montreal Olympics and 1980 Moscow Olympics denied Boit a second chance for Olympic glory. Boit however remained one of the world’s top middle distance runners throughout 1970s winning the 800 metres silver medal at the 1974 Commonwealth Games and a silver medal at the 1977 World Cup of Athletics in a much anticipated face-off against the 1976 Olympic gold medalist Alberto Juantorena of Cuba. He finished 2nd at the 1977 IAAF World Cup 800 metres race.^[1]

Boit went on to win the gold at the 1978 Commonwealth Games and a bronze in the 1500 metres at the 1982 Commonwealth Games. He won the 1500 metres at the 1st African Championships in 1979. In Sebastian Coe's record breaking Summer of 81 Boit could often be seen lurking at Coe's shoulder in 1500 metre and mile races, pushing him all the way to the line as the records tumbled. Boit ended his athletic career in 1990 breaking the Masters Division Indoor World Record for the mile in Meadowlands, New Jersey.

Achievements

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
Representing  Kenya
1979	African Championships	Dakar, Senegal	1st	1500 m	3:39.9

Personal bests

• 800 m – 1:43.57 (1976)
• 1000 m – 2:15.30 (1977)
• 1500 m – 3:33.67 (1981)
• mile - 3:49.45 (1981)

Personal life

He is an uncle to Philip Boit, who became first Kenyan to compete in the Winter Olympics.

References

• IAAF profile for Mike Boit
• Mike Boit at Sports-Reference.com

1. ^ gbrathletics.com: IAAF WORLD CUP IN ATHLETICS

Persondata
Name	Boit, Mike
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1 June 1949
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death