His speed while running got faster over the years and he was named to the Kenyan World Championship team in the half marathon in 1992.

[6] When he began winning U.S. road races, he was part of a cultural shift that saw top prizes going to foreign runners (often in Kenyan and Ethiopian).

[12] In November, he toed the line in the New York City Marathon on a morning with 40-degree weather and gusting wind, dueling with Tanui, Cosmas Ndeti, Turbo Tumo, Andres Espinosa, and other elites from around the world.

This time, Kamau didn't fade late, but led with Tumo and surprise contender Giacomo Leone, a police officer from small-town Italy.

As Leone dropped a 4:44 mile at marker 25, Tumo got a step on Kamau, who kept the pressure on to earn $25,000 in a third-place finish, just 15 seconds ahead of fellow Kenyan John Kagwe.

[13][14][15][5] At the 1997 Boston Marathon, Kamau had a better idea of the course's punishing Newton hills and didn't take the lead until the halfway point, which he crossed in 1:06:11.