HOUSE MEMORIAL 80

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017

INTRODUCED BY

Nate Gentry

A MEMORIAL

DECLARING FEBRUARY 28, 2017 "CAROLINE ROTICH DAY" IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

     WHEREAS, Caroline Rotich, who was born May 13, 1984 in Nayahururu, Kenya, and is a resident of Santa Fe, New Mexico, has a long and distinguished career in long-distance running; and

     WHEREAS, Caroline began her running career after earning a sports scholarship at Sendai Ikuei Gakuen high school in Japan; and

     WHEREAS, Sendai Ikuei Gakuen high school has a long-distance running program and a history of producing successful long-distance runners; and

     WHEREAS, after graduating from high school, Caroline began competing professionally in Europe, winning the Diecimiglia del Garda in Italy in 2004 and the Marvejols-Mende in 2005; and

     WHEREAS, in one instance, Caroline won a cow after competing in a race in Kenya; and

     WHEREAS, in 2006, Caroline finished in eleventh place at the Nairobi marathon, her first professional marathon; and

     WHEREAS, in 2007, Caroline moved to the United States, and in 2009, she began training with Ryan Bolton of B.E.S.T. Bolton endurance sports, who is the founder of the Harambee project in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which is a group of elite distance runners; and

     WHEREAS, Caroline went on to place first in the 2009 Las Vegas marathon; the 2011 Boston athletic association half marathon in Boston, Massachusetts; the 2011 Bix 7 road race in Davenport, Iowa; the 2011 and 2013 New York City half marathons; and the 2012 Crim ten miler in Flint, Michigan; and she placed in the top ten in several other races, including fourth place in the 2011 Boston marathon; and

     WHEREAS, Caroline also placed first in the 2013 Prague marathon; and

     WHEREAS, on April 20, 2015, Caroline won the most prestigious and longest annual foot race in the world, the Boston marathon, with a time of two hours twenty-four minutes fifty-five seconds; and

     WHEREAS, throughout her successful career, Caroline has been active in her community, meeting and speaking at local schools and running events; and

     WHEREAS, Caroline is currently training for the 2017 Boston marathon and is proud to call New Mexico home;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that February 28, 2017 be declared "Caroline Rotich Day" in the house of representatives; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Caroline Rotich be recognized for her illustrious career as a long-distance runner; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to Caroline Rotich.

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