Peres Jepchirchir smashes women-only world marathon record in London
By Michael Kirwa |
There is no doubt that after this victory, Jepchirchir has her sights set on defending her title at the Olympic Games in Paris later in the year.
Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir added to her marathon accolades on Sunday, smashing the women-only marathon record by winning the London Marathon in an official time of 2:16:16.
Jepchirchir, who finished third in last year's London Marathon, sprinted to the finish line to slice 45 seconds off Mary Keitany's record of 2:17:01, which was set seven years ago.
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It was a statement victory by the 30-year-old, as she, even with her status as the reigning Olympics champion, made a strong case for her inclusion in the final Team Kenya women's marathon team for the 2024 Olympics games.
With the top four finishers running under Keitany's record in the race, this year's women's London Marathon set itself up for a dramatic finish.
After breaking away at the 28-kilometre mark from a leading pack of seven athletes, Jepchirchir ran side by side with world record holder Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia, last year's runner-up Megertu Alemu (also of Ethiopia), and Jepchirchir's compatriot and 2021 London Marathon winner, Joyciline Jepkosgei.
With less than 600 metres to go, the pace became too hot for Megertu to handle as Jepchirchir, Tigst, and Jepkosgei engaged in a brutal fight to assert dominance with a sprint to the finish line.
Jepchirchir, reputed for her strong finishing kick, pulled away majestically and created daylight between herself and the trailing duo of Tigst and Jepkosgei, who were left to engage in a fierce battle for second place.
Jepchirchir raised her hands in jubilation as she crossed the finish line to register a victory in a World Marathon Majors race for the third time after previous wins in New York (2021) and Boston (2022).
Tigst, who broke the women's world marathon record in Berlin last year with a time of 2:11:53, finished second in 2:16:23.
Jepkosgei finished in third place, just one second behind Tigst. Megertu crossed the finish line in fourth place with a time of 2:16:34. Two-time London Marathon winner Brigid Kosgei was fifth, finishing in 2:19:2.
There is no doubt that after this victory, Jepchirchir has her sights set on defending her title at the Olympic Games in Paris later in the year.
Kenya's provisional team for the women's marathon at the Olympic Games features a stellar cast of athletes that includes Kosgei, who won silver in the event at the last Olympics games; and Hellen Obiri, who defended her Boston Marathon title last Monday.
Others are Sharon Lokedi, who finished second at the Boston Marathon last Monday; Rosemary Wanjiru, who won the last Tokyo Marathon; and Ruth Chepng'etich, who is a two-time winner of the Chicago Marathon.
With Athletics Kenya yet to announce the final list of the three athletes who will represent the country in the women's marathon at the 2024 Olympic Games, it is expected that more results like this will be witnessed.
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