Tag Archives: Juliet Chekwel

Athletics

Vibian Chepkirui to defend her title at Vienna City Marathon

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Kenya’s Vibian Chepkirui will return to defend her title at the 38thh edition of the Vienna City Marathon that will be held on April, 24, 2022 in Vienna, Austria.

The 27 year-old had to cope with a major obstacle on her way to Vienna last year. She was in that group that also included Vienna’s men’s marathon winner Leonard Langat who were flying via Doha from Nairobi and missed their connecting flight. The plane from Kenya had been delayed. They were stuck in Doha and the airline did not care. So they had to sleep on the floor.

Despite all this Chepkirui ran a brilliant marathon debut and dominated the strong field. At 30K mark she was well in the lead and her split time of 1:40.37 pointed towards a 2:21.30 finish, well inside the course record of 2:22.12. “I was surprised to win the race, but I started to believe by the half way mark. Of course this was her biggest win in her career,” Chepkirui said, whose husband Wesley Kangogo was her pacemaker. “The heat was a problem though. In cooler conditions I could have run at least two minutes faster. Additionally I got problems with a calf muscle with around four kilometres to go.”

The race organisers have put together a strong women’s elite field with six athletes on the start list who have sub 2:25.00.

Chepkirui will not have an easy ride as she will face three runners who have better times on paper than her, Juliet Chekwel of Uganda and Ethiopia’s Bontu Bekele took first and second in the Sevilla Marathon in 2020 with lifetime best of 2:23.13 and 2:23.39 respectively. Another title contender is Ruth Chebitok from Kenya who comes to this race with a personal best of 2:23.29 that she got at the 2018 Toronto Marathon.

Kenya’s Sheila Jerotich, who had not raced for more than two and half years but came back with a bang coming from behind and producing a stunning finish in a time of 2:24.15 at the Istanbul Marathon last year.

The organisers have put together these strong elite women to try and attack Nancy Kiprop course record time of 2:22.12 that she set in 2019.

The Vienna City Marathon is a huge motivator for sports and activity in Austria and we recognize great anticipation to our race among the runners,” said Race Director Wolfgang Konrad.

With regard to the women’s elite runners he said: “The quality of the women’s elite field looks very promising and the course record may well be challenged by a group of runners.”

Athletics

Doreen Chesang switches to full marathon

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Commonwealth Half Marathon bronze medallist, Doreen Chesang says she will be ready for a full marathon debut in November.

Chesang, who started as a middle distance runner, participating in the 1500 metres, soon graduated to 3000 metres before quickly switching to 5000 metres since 2008.

Finishing in third place at the inaugural Commonwealth Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff on Sunday, behind country mate, Juliet Chekwel, who won gold in a time of 1:09:45, Chesang’s 1:11:10 was a personal best.

Uganda won the team gold for both ladies and men while Fred Musobo and Timothy Toroitch were second and third respectively behind Australian Jack Rayner, who won the men’s race to cap what Uganda Athletics Federation president Domenic Otucet said was the best race in half marathon history for the country.

As the triumphant team was welcomed yesterday at a luncheon by the National Council of Sports (NCS) in Lugogo, Chesang told Daily Monitor that she believes venturing into full marathon is an achievable target.

“Track needs a lot of speed and I have attained this. What I need to work on now is endurance,” she says.
Athletics coach, Nalis Bigingo supported her ambitions.

“Although it’s (full marathon) twice as long as a half marathon, the strategy is not too different—you’ll want to give yourself enough time to prepare and choose an appropriate training plan. She has all it takes,” Bigingo says. The mother of two says that marathon training takes more time but she is sure her husband will allow her to achieve her dreams.

Chesang will also switch from Arua to Prisons Athletics club starting next season. She hopes that a monthly salary will enable her train effectively.
She wants to finish strong at the upcoming MTN Kampala Marathon on November 18 which will be her first time running the full marathon, a distance of 42.195 kilometres.

Chesang is also expected to join the monthly presidential rewards system to excelling athletes. Her name will be submitted for consideration in the next quarter alongside; Sarah Chelangat, Esther Chekwemoi, Betty Chebet, Dan Chebet and Matthew Chepkuru.

Athletics contributes most beneficiaries to the rewards scheme with football in second place. Netball is expected to be considered in the next quarter.