TOKYO: Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir, the reigning Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion, has once again dominated the women’s marathon, securing Kenya’s second gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
In a dramatic finish at the Japan National Stadium, Jepchirchir outsprinted Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa over the final 50 meters.
Her powerful kick sealed the victory in a season-best time of 2:24:43. Assefa took the silver with a time of 2:24:45, while Uruguay’s Julia Paternain rounded out the podium with a bronze in 2:27:23.
The race saw a strong early performance from the United States’ Susanna Sullivan, who led for a significant portion of the event before finishing fourth in 2:28:17. Finland’s Alisa Vaino completed the top five, clocking in at 2:28:32.
Among the other Kenyan runners, Jackline Cherono finished in 18th place with a time of 2:33:17. Unfortunately, Magdalene Masai did not finish the race after briefly holding the third position.
“I am so happy to have won two medals in the same city,” Jepchirchir said in a post-race interview. “I won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, and here I am with another gold. I am thrilled.”
She admitted the weather conditions in Tokyo were challenging. “I don’t even know where the energy came from in the last 50 meters, but I just saw myself crossing the finish line and I am happy.”
This victory marks a significant comeback for the 32-year-old, who fell short of defending her Olympic title at the 2024 Paris Olympics. At those games, she finished 14th in a race won by the Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan (2:22:55).
