Mokono, 5-foot-11, 128 pounds,[5] faced stiff competition in his third marathon race in on the North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota. He took the lead from three-time Houston Marathon-winner David Cheruiyot the 12.5 mile marker in the 32nd Grandma's Marathon (in 2008) race in Duluth.[5][6] He finished the race just five seconds ahead of second-place finisher David Tuwei.[5] He was the eighth Kenyan to win the race, and he did so while wearing bib number 6, which was also worn by the 2007 winner Wesley Ngetich,[7] who had been shot with a poison arrow and killed after he returned to Kenya amidst political unrest.[8][9][10]
In 2008 Mokono ran ten races, including the Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon earlier in January, where he placed fifth behind winner Michael Aish. He ran several other races throughout the United States of America and Brazil that year.[11] One of them resulted in a quirky finish. Mokono tied for first place with fellow Kenyan Valentine Orare at the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon.[12] Both men finished the half-marathon at 1 hour, 2 minutes, 53 seconds. After deliberation that included checking finish photos, multiple video angles, and spectator photos, they were both awarded first place—and the $3,500 prize.[12]
Another good year for him was 2012. In Canada, runners from Kenya took the lead in the Montreal Marathon, and as the pack split up, Mokono battled for second place.[15]
^Youngblood, Kent (June 22, 2008). "Grandma's marathon: 32nd running: Fittingly, the winner wore No. 6; In a tribute of sorts, Lamech Mokono drew the number of his late friend and last year's winner". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota.
^Gilbert, John (21 June 2008). "Kenyan Breezes in Third Marathon". Sports. Pioneer Press. St. Paul, Minnesota.
^Kimutai, Vitalis (29 January 2008). "Athlete killed on peace mission". African Press International. Oslo, Norway. Archived from the original on 17 May 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
