Reigning Olympic marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir, wrote her name in the history books as she became the fourth woman to win a third world half marathon title at the World Athletics Road Running Championships held on Sunday (1) in Riga, Latvia.
The 30 year-old joined her compatriot Tegla Loroupe, Paula Radcliffe and the Kenyan born- Dutch athlete Lornah Kiplagat.
Jepchichir who last year had injury setbacks had won this event in 2016 and 2020 and this year she had set her mind on winning the title, which she did very well as she waited patiently till the 20km mark to produced a characteristic late burst that Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi could not respond to, cutting the tape first in a course record time of 1:07.25.
“The moment I saw the finish tape, I became emotional and started to celebrate,” said Jepchirchir.
Jepchirchir who took bronze in this year’s London Marathon led a 1-2-3 Kenyan podium finish as she was followed by World 10,000m bronze medallist, Kipkemboi who crossed the finish line a second later with Catherine Reline Amanang’ole wrapping up the podium three finishes in 1:07.34.
World Cross Country silver medallist, Tgist Gebreselama of Ethiopia and Kenya’s National 10,000m champion Irene Jepchumba Kimais came home in fourth and fifth place in a time of 1:07.50 and 1:08.02 respectively.
LEADING TIME
21KM WOMEN
- Peres Jepchirchir (KEN) 1:07.25
- Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi (KEN) 1:07.26
- Catherine Reline Amanang’ole (KEN) 1:07.34
- Tgist Gebreselama (ETH) 1:07.50
- Irene Jepchumba Kimais (KEN) 1:08.02
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