• The world half marathon champion was making her debut in the 50-year old race and says she did not expect to win.
• Jepchirchir timed 2:22:39 to add gloss to her glowing road race reputation.
Olympic marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir was over the moon after clinching the women’s title at the New York City Marathon on her maiden appearance.
The World Half Marathon champion said she did not believe it was possible to add the title to her burgeoning medal collection after a wonderful outing at the Tokyo Games in August.
“I feel wonderful to have won this marathon. The year has been so great. After winning the Olympic title, I did not expect to win this (New York Marathon). I was well prepared despite the fact that there was limited time before the race,” Jepchirchir said.
Jepchirchir timed 2:22:39 to add gloss to her glowing road race reputation during which she had to exhibit nerves of steel to surge ahead of a three-way battle with countrywoman Viola Cheptoo and Ethiopian Ababel Yeshaneh. Cheptoo — who was making her marathon debut at the age of 32 — finished second in 2:22:44 as Yeshaneh clocked 2:24:42 in third.
In the men’s marathon, Albert Korir clocked 2:08:22 to claim his first New York City title, ahead of Moroccan Mohamed Reda El Aaraby (2:09:06) and Italian Eyob Faniel (2:09:52). Korir, who finished second to Geoffrey Kamworor in 2019 in the 50-year old marathon, described his victory as unforgettable.
“I am so happy that I have won especially after I came second in 2019. It was a tough race but I, nonetheless, enjoyed it. Considering the lack of pacemakers, we had to push ourselves to the limit,” the 2017 Vienna Marathon champion said.
World half marathon record holder Kibiwott Kandie, who was also debuting in the race, finished ninth. Elsewhere, Kenyan pair of Sheila Jerotich and Jackline Chepngeno produced a race to remember in the Istanbul Marathon as the former beat the tape in 2:24:15.
Chepngeno, the 2018 Cape Town 12 km champion, was leading the women’s marathon until the last 500m when her compatriot — who had been trailing her by 30m — burst forward and overtook her to reach the finish line first.
Jerotich in the process improved on her previous personal best of 2:26:06 that she set on her way to victory at the 2019 Warsaw Marathon.
Chepngeno timed 2:24:21 in second as Ethiopian Ayantu Abdi came third in 2:24:45. In the men’s marathon, Robert Kipkemboi finished second in 2:10:23 behind Ugandan Victor Kiplangat (2:10:18) and ahead of Solomon Mutai (2:10:25) also of Uganda.
At the Lille Urban Trail race in France, 2017 Prefontaine Classic 3,000m steeplechase champion Celliphine Chespol led countrywomen Daisy Cherotich and Glorious Jepkurui in a 1-2-3 Kenyan finish in the women’s 10km.
Chespol clocked 30:21 ahead of Cherotich (30:33) and Jepkurui (30:50). The 2018 Rotterdam Marathon champion Kenneth Kiprop clocked 27:25 to finish second in the men’s 10km, sandwiched between the Ethiopian pair of Chimdesa Debele (27:16) and Mamo Adeladlew (27:27) in first and third.
In the women’s 5km race, this year’s Diamond League Trophy winner in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, Norah Jeruto, timed 14:43 to finish second as Ethiopian Dawit Seyaum set a new world record of 14:41 in the mixed race.
Another Ethiopian, Meskerem Mamo, came third in 14:55. It was heartbreak though for Kenyans in the men’s race as Emmanuel Kiprop was the best performing in fourth place in 13:37. Ethiopian duo of Berihu Aregawi (12:52) and Yassin Haji (13:29) came first and third as Ugandan Hosea Kiplangat (13:25) finished second.
It was the same script in the women’s race at the Barcelona Marathon as 19-year old Vane Nyaboke’s fifth-place finish in 2:25:32 was the best for Kenya.
Ethiopian Tadu Teshome led an Ethiopian sweep of the podium places in 2:23:53 as Meseret Gola (2:24:09) and Meseret Belete (2:24:26) finished second and third respectively. Samuel Kosgei salvaged pride for Kenya in the Catalan city, timing 2:06:03 to beat the tape ahead of Moroccans Othmane El Goumri (2:06:30) and Mohammed Ziani (2:06:33).