Peres Jepchirchir at the Tokyo World Championships/ FILEFresh from her commanding victory in the women’s marathon at the Tokyo World Championships, Peres Jepchirchir has set her sights on more glory at the Valencia Marathon, slated for December 7 in Spain.
Jepchirchir, 32, etched her name in global athletics history last month after clinching gold in Tokyo, cutting the tape in 2:24:43.
The 2020 Olympic champion outkicked Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa, who settled for silver in 2:24:45, while Uruguay’s Julia Paternain bagged bronze in 2:27:23.
The Valencia course marks familiar hunting ground for the Kenyan. Jepchirchir conquered the same course in 2020, clocking 2:17:16 to triumph over compatriot Joyciline Jepkosgei (2:18:40) and Namibia’s Helalia Johannes (2:19:52).
Buoyed by her world title, Jepchirchir believes she is primed for more glory.
“I thank God for the world title. I am the former women ’s-only marathon record holder but that was broken by Assefa. I am aiming to bring back home my women’s-only record,” Jepchirchir said.
Jepchirchir held the previous women’s-only record after clocking 2:16:16 during her triumph at the 2024 London Marathon.
Her record was, however, obliterated by Assefa, who stormed to a 2:15:50 on the same London course in April. A proven winner, Jepchirchir’s trophy cabinet gleams with top-tier accolades.
In addition to her record-breaking London triumph last year, she holds the 2021 New York Marathon title (2:22:39), where she edged Viola Cheptoo (2:22:44) and Ethiopia’s Ababel Yeshaneh (2:22:52).
She won the Boston Marathon in 2022, clocking 2:21:01 ahead of Yeshaneh (2:21:05) and Mary Ngugi-Cooper (2:21:32). Her crowning moment, however, remains her Olympic gold from Tokyo 2020, achieved in 2:27:20.
Heading into Valencia, Jepchirchir will start as the undisputed favourite but she faces a daunting task from a strongly assembled female lineup.
Standing in her way is Amane Beriso, the 2023 world marathon champion, who knows the Valencia course well, having triumphed there in 2022, clocking 2:14:58.
In that race, she led Letesenbet Gidey (2:16:49) and Sheila Chepkirui (2:17:29). The Ethiopian, however, has endured a shaky start to her season, finishing a distant fifth (2:21:58) at the Boston Marathon in April.
Adding further intrigue is Jepkosgei, the 2021 London Marathon winner, who will be keen to end her season on a high.
Jepkosgei has enjoyed a strong year, winning the Barcelona Half Marathon (1:04:14), finishing second in London (2:18:44), and placing fourth in the Copenhagen Half Marathon (1:06:22).
In the men’s field, organisers have promised a star-studded and fiercely competitive lineup.
“Valencia is once again the destination for the most promising newcomers. It is clear that the victories by Kelvin Kiptum and Sebastian Sawe in previous years have helped to build this idea that our marathon is a great place to make your debut,” said Marc Roig, coach of the international elite runners at the Valencia Marathon.
The late Kiptum recorded the fastest ever marathon debut at the 2022 Valencia edition, clocking 2:01:53, whereas Sawe clocked the second fastest in the same course last year, finishing in 2:02:05.
This year, the Kenyan charge will be led by Hillary Kipkoech, runner-up at the Boilermaker 15K, alongside Enock Onchari, Edward Cheserek, Benard Biwott, and debutants Vincent Nyageo and Patrick Mosin.
They will, however, face stiff opposition from Ethiopia’s formidable contingent, spearheaded by Sisay Lemma, the 2023 champion, and Hailemaryam Kiros, the reigning Sydney Marathon champion.
