Tag Archives: Sharon Lokedi

Uncategorized

Sharon Lokedi faces an uphill task at Boston Marathon

The reigning New York Marathon champion, Sharon Lokedi will lead a stellar team at the 127th edition of the Boston Marathon that will be held on Monday, April 17, 2023 on Patriots’ Day in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Lokedi who will also be making her debut here, stunned many as she ran away with the New York Marathon title with a personal best of 2:23.23. The 28 year-old will face off with the third fastest woman in the world Amane Beriso from Ethiopia, who improved her marathon personal best by nearly six minutes at the 2022 Valencia Marathon, placing third on the world all-time list with a time of 2:14.58. The Kenyan will also have to get past the World Marathon bronze medallist, Lonah Salpeter from Israel, who comes to this race with a life time best of 2:17.45 that she got in 2020 at the Tokyo Marathon where she took the honors.

The 2014 World Half silver medallist, Mary Ngugi from Kenya and Ethiopia’s Ababel Yeshaneh who finished in second and third last fall at the Boston marathon will be present and gearing for the top podium finish. Ngugi holds a personal best of 2:20.22 that she got last year at the London Marathon where she finished in seventh while Yeshaneh holds a personal best of 2:20.51 that she got in 2019 at the Chicago Marathon, where she took the silver.

The 2018 World Half Marathon Championships Silver medallist, Joyciline Jepkosgei, will also be on the start line as she fights to dethrone the four. The 30 year-old is a past winner of the New York City and London Marathons. Jepkosgei comes to this race with the second fastest time on paper of 2:17.43 that she got at the 2021 London Marathon, where she took the honors.

Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui who will be making her Boston Marathon debut, comes to this race with a life time best of 2:17:29 that she got last year when finishing third in Valencia.

The 2012 World U20 3000m silver medallist, Hiwot Gebremaryam from Ethiopia will also fight for the top honors. Gebremaryam who also holds the Generali Milano Marathon All-comers’ record holder, was also the runner-up in Berlin in 2021 and third at the B.A.A. Half Marathon in 2022.

Among the American contingent are Sara Hall, Aliphine Tuliamuk, Emma Bates, Nell Rojas, Dakotah Lindwurm, Laura Thweatt, Annie Frisbie, Sara Vaughn and Erika Kemp. Rojas has finished as the top American at Boston two years in a row (fifth in 2:27:12 in October 2021 and tenth, 2:25:57 in April 2022), while Hall and Bates finished fifth and seventh, respectively, at the 2022 World Athletics Championships Marathon in Eugene.

“All of us at the Boston Athletic Association are eager to welcome every member of the 127th Boston Marathon women’s professional field to Boston,” said Jack Fleming, President and Chief Executive Officer of the B.A.A.

Athletics

Sharon Lokedi ‘was NOT tested before her shock victory’

Running officials failed to test New York City Marathon winner Sharon Lokedi for doping prior to the event Sunday.

Lokedi won the women’s professional race on her marathon debut in 2 hours, 23 minutes and 23 seconds.

However, it has now been revealed that the Kenyan was not tested for doping before the race.

On Tuesday, Brett Clothier, head of the Athletics Integrity Unit, the independent organization that oversees drug testing for international track and field, confirmed that the 28-year-old had not been tested as part of the organization’s special testing program it runs for the world’s top marathons, according to the New York Times.

There is nothing to suggest that Lokedi violated anti-doping rules and she has not tested positive for an illegal substance.

The organization had reduced the pool of athletes in the Registered Testing Program for the world’s top six marathons throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Clothier said in a statement.

This year it tested only the top 80 athletes – 40 men and 40 women – competing according to their World Athletics rankings.

Lokedi was just outside the group, ranked 47th, and therefore was not tested as part of the program.

A spokeswoman for the AIU revealed Lokedi had not been tested by the organization since June 2021 and was not forced to undergo to further testing prior to the race in New York.

However, the marathon’s organizers, the New York Road Runners, had submitted her name to the AIU in June as part of the professional athlete field and Lokedi had continued to appear on any subsequent list. It was then down to the AIU to carry out any testing.

This year she finished fourth in the New York City Half Marathon, completing the 13.1-mile race in 1:08:14 and in June finished second in the New York Mini 10K, posting a time of 30:52.

The New York Road Runners confirmed Lokedi had been subject to testing immediately after winning the race.

However, it has long been claimed that in-competition testing is not as an effective tool as athletes can flush out illicit substances from the systems prior to races as they know they will be tested for certain.

Whereas the Registered Testing Program is more rigorous with athletes having to provide a location where they will be for one hour every day for random out-of-competition testing.

Clothier said the testing pool would be expanded to 150 men and 150 women in 2023.

Foreign athletes also do not have to tell the United States Anti-Doping Agency their daily whereabouts for random testing, despite training and competing in the country.

Instead, the country they compete for is responsible for monitoring anti-doping amid their athletes, which would be Kenya for Lokedi.

Kenya has historically had a poor record of testing its athletes and the AIU said last month that 10 Kenyans have tested positive for triamcinolone, an banned anti-inflammatory medication, since the start of 2021, with only two cases in track and field from the entire rest of the world during the same period.

Those athletes included Diana Kipyokei, who was disqualified after winning the 2021 Boston Marathon for a positive test.

The 28-year-old is pictured with her coach and agent, Stephen Haas (right), after the race

Lokedi’s coach and agent, Stephen Haas, had said Sunday that she had trained in Kenya prior to running in the New York Marathon and it is unclear if she underwent testing while there, according to the New York Times.

The USADA has tested Lokedi twice this year but in comparison Keira D’Amato, who broke the American women’s record in the marathon in January, has been tested 11 times and American Emily Sisson 10 times.

Athletics

Sharon Lokedi wins New York City Marathon

Newcomer Sharon Lokedi from Kenya was the surprise winner at the 50th edition of the TCS New York City Marathon, a World Athletics Platinum Race and a World Marathon Major competition held on Sunday (06) in New York.

Lokedi who is a fiance to the17-time NCAA champion collegiate distance runner for the University of Oregon, Edward Cheserek, became the 8th person in New York City marathon history, man or woman, to win in her marathon debut in a personal best of 2:23.23.

The 28 year-old was followed by the World bronze medallist, Kenyan-born Israeli Lonah Chemtai Salpeter who crossed the line in second in 2:23.30 with the reigning World marathon champion Gotytom Gebrselase from Ethiopia coming home in third place in 2:23.39.

When Lokedi was 14, her family fled their home village of Burnt Forest that became an area of violence after a Kenyan presidential election. For a month, the family lived with no shelter or a steady source of food before returning after the conflict ended.

Two times World Marathon champion Edna Ngeringwony Kiplagat came home in fourth with Viola Cheptoo who finished behind Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir on her marathon debut in the American city last year crossing the line in fifth in 2:25.34.

Double World 5000m champion Hellen Obiri who was also making her marathon debut finished in sixth place with a personal best of  2:25.49 with former Kenyan now trading for United States Aliphine Tuliamuk finishing in seventh place in 2:26.18.

Athletics

Hellen Obiri to battle Gotytom Gebrselase and Ednah Kiplagat in New York

Doubel world 5000m champion Hellen Obiri, will battle World marathon champion Gotytom Gebrselase at the 50th edition of the TCS New York City Marathon, a World Athletics Platinum Race and a World Marathon Major competition that will be held on Sunday (06) in New York.

Gebrselase comes to this race with second fastest time on paper of 2:18.11 that she got at 2022 World Athletics Championships where she broke the championship record. Gebrselase also took the honors at 2021 Berlin Marathon in a time of 2:20.09 and was also third at the Tokyo Marathon where she ran her second fastest time of 2:18.18.

“Winning the World Championships was like a dream. I am honored to run my next marathon in New York. Its home to the biggest marathon in the world, and many athletes have run there. I understand it’s a challenging course, and I am looking forward to seeing further success there,” said Gebrselase.

The 27 year-old will face off with Obiri who will be making her marathon debut in New York. The Kenyan won two Olympic silver medals in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo 2021, and the world Cross Country title in Ahrus in 2019. The 32 year-old also won the world silver medal in 10000m in Eugene last July. On the road, Obiri finished second when setting personal best of 1:04.22 at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon and won two half marathon races in Istanbul in 1:04.48 and at the Great North Run in Newcastle in 1:07.05. Over shorter road distances, she won the 10 km Great Manchester Run. Obiri moved from Ngong to Boulder to start training with three-time Olympian Dathan Ritzenheim and the two-time world marathon champion Edna Kiplagat, who live in Boulder,Colorado.

“Everyone has been welcoming, and the training environment is perfect. Training is very similar in Kenya. The biggest challenge has been being away from my family, as I miss them a lot. I have often watched the New York race on TV and seen my Kenyan colleagues compete there. I know that New York is a tough course, but I hope my experience on the track, cross country and the roads will help me navigate the ups and downs,” said Obiri.

Another title contender is Kiplagat who holds three World Marathon races in New York in 2010, London in 2014, and Boston in 2017. The 42-year-old finished fourth at the 2022 Boston Marathon with a time of 2:21.40 smashing her own personal best of 2:19.50 that she got at the 2012 London marathon.

The 2020 Tokyo Marathon winner, Kenyan-born Israeli Lonah Chemtai Salpeter comes to this race with the fastest time on paper of 2:17.45. Salpeter won the bronze medal in Eugen with a time of 2:20.18. On the track, Salpeter won the gold medal in the 10000m at the2018  European Championships in Berlin and the European bronze medal over the same distance in Munich 2022. Salpeter hopes that the world bronze medal in Eugene will be a springboard for a top-three finish in her debut at the New York Marathon.

“It has been my dream to compete at the New York Marathon for a long time. I am just looking to try and achieve another podium,” said Salpeter.

The 2015 world 5000m silver medallist, Senbere Teferi will be looking to become the first Ethiopian to win the New York Half Marathon, the New York Mini 10 km, and the TCS New York Marathon in the same year.

Another top athlete to watch is Viola Cheptoo, who finished second in New York last year in a time of 2:22.44. The 33 year-old is the younger sister to former 1500m and 5000m world champion Bernard Lagat, also finished sixth at the Boston Marathon in 2:23.47 and won the Naples Half Marathon in 1:06:47 in 2020.

Newcomer Sharon Lokedi from Kenya will return to New York, where she set her personal best in half marathon of 1:08.14 last March.

United States Marathon National record holder Keira D’Amato, will carry the hopes of her country as she comes to this race with a personal best of 2:19.12 that she got in January in Houston.

The line-up also features Emma Bates who was second in Chicago in 2021 with a time of 2:24.20 and seventh at the World Championships in Eugene where she got her personal best of 2:23.18.

The 2019 Rotterdam bronze medallist United States Aliphine Tuliamuk will also be on start line up as she comes to this race with a personal best of 2:26.50.

LEADING TIME

42KM WOMEN

ATHLETE AGE COUNTRY MARATHON PR
LONAH CHEMTAI SALPETER  33 ISR 2:17:45
GOTYTOM GEBRESLASE  27 ETH 2:18:11
KEIRA D’AMATO  38 USA 2:19:12
EDNA KIPLAGAT  42 KEN 2:19:50
DES LINDEN  39 USA 2:22:28
MAO UESUGI  26 JPN 2:22:29
VIOLA CHEPTOO  33 KEN 2:22:44
EMMA BATES  30 USA 2:23:18
CAROLINE ROTICH  38 KEN 2:23:22
SENBERE TEFERI  27 ETH 2:24:11
LINDSAY FLANAGAN  31 USA 2:24:35
DAKOTAH LINDWURM  27 USA 2:25:01
ELOISE WELLINGS  39 AUS 2:25:10
JESSICA STENSON  35 AUS 2:25:15
GERDA STEYN  32 RSA 2:25:28
NELL ROJAS  34 USA 2:25:57
ANNIE FRISBIE  25 USA 2:26:18
ALIPHINE TULIAMUK  33 USA 2:26:50
STEPHANIE BRUCE  38 USA 2:27:47
ROBERTA GRONER  44 USA 2:29:09
MOLLY GRABILL  29 USA 2:29:17
RUTH VAN DER MEIJDEN  37 NED 2:29:30
MAEGAN KRIFCHIN  34 USA 2:30:17
MOLLY (CULVER) ROBERTS  31 USA 2:30:20
GRACE KAHURA  29 KEN 2:30:32
SARAH PAGANO  31 USA 2:33:11
KAYLA LAMPE  29 USA 2:38:25
EMILY DURGIN  28 USA DEBUT
SHARON LOKEDI  28 KEN DEBUT
HELLEN OBIRI  32 KEN DEBUT

 

Athletics

Senbere Teferi wins New York Mini 10K

The 2015 World 5000m silver medallist, Senbere Teferi took the top honors at women-only road race at the Mastercard New York Mini 10K, held on Saturday (11) in New York.

Seneberi who won the United Airlines NYC Half in March, battled for the honors with one of the finest deep elite women field that included Olympic, New York City and Boston Marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir from Kenya and  Kenyan-born American long-distance runner Alphine Tuliamuk. The field also included the 10-time All-American and twelve time Big 12 champion, Sharon Lokedi and American marathon record-holder Keira D’Amato.

The 27 year-old held off the four to cross the line with the second fastest time in event history of 30:43 behind the course record time of 30:28.6 that was set in 2002 by Asmae Leghzaoui from Morocco.

Senbere Teferi wins New York Mini 10K. Photo: Race Organisers

Lokedi came home in second in a new personal best of 30:52 with D’amato closing the podium three finishes in an American women’s-only record for the 10K on the road of 31:03.

Tuliamuk and Jepchichir crossed the finish line fourth and fifth place in a time of 31:08 (pb) and 31:19 respectively.

The Mini 10K, which began in 1972 as the first women-only road race known as the Crazylegs Mini Marathon, has gone on to garner more than 200,000 total finishers to date. Former NYRR President Fred Lebow named the race after the miniskirt, which back then was in vogue.

LEADING RESULTS
10KM WOMEN

  1. Senebere Teferi       (ETH) 30:43
  2. Sharon Lokedi         (KEN) 30.52
  3. Keira D’amato          (USA) 31:03
  4. Alphine Tuliamuk    (KEN) 31:08
  5. Peres Jepchichir       (KEN) 31:19
Athletics

Hellen Obiri smashes the Manchester Run 10k record

Double World 5,000m Champion Hellen Obiri smashed the  Great Manchester Run 10k record on Sunday (22) in Manchester.

The 31 year-old beat the two-time European medalist Eilish McColgan and the World marathon champion Ruth Chepngetich.

The reigning Commonwealth Games 5000m champion and the world cross-country gold medallist, smashed the old course record of 30:49 that had been set by Tirunesh Dibaba from Ethiopia in 2013 with a new course record of 30.15

Obiri was followed by Eilish McColgan who was on another world as she broke the 19 years record held by Paula Radcliffe of 30:17 with a new European Record, British National Record and a new personal best of 30:15.

The Kenya National Champion in 10,000m race, Chepngetich was forced to settle in third place in a time of 30:29.

The 10-time All-American and 12-time Big 12 champion, Sharon Lokedi from Kenya finished in fourth place in a time of 31:05.

LEADING RESULTS

10KM WOMEN

  1. Hellen Obiri             (KEN) 30:15
  2. Eilish McColgan      (BRT) 30:15
  3. Ruth Chepngetich   (KEN) 30:19
  4. Sharon Lokedi          (KEN) 31:05
Athletics

Senbere Teferi wins New York City half marathon

Ethiopia’s Senbere Teferi won the 21km women race at the New York City half marathon that was held on Sunday (20) in New York.

Teferi took charge of the race withe 1km remaining but Irene Cheptei gave her a hard time as she remained on her sholuder till the 50metre that the ethiopian made a final kick to forge ahead and cut the tape in a time of 1:0735 with Cheptai forced to settle in second place when she crossed the line two seconds later.

the 2016 European 10000m bronze medallist, Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal from Norway closed the podium finishes in a time of 1:08.07.

Another kenyan Sharon Lokedi from Kenya   and the 2016 Pan American Games silver medallist Lindsay Flanagan came home in fourth and fifth place in a time of 1:08.14 and 1:09.50 respectively.

The two times World marathon Champion, Edna Kiplagat who now resides in the United States finished in tenth position in a time of 1:10.22.

  1. Senbere Teferi        (ETH) 1:07.35
  2. Irene Cheptai         (KEN) 1:07.37
  3. Karoline Grovdal   (NOR) 1:08.07
  4. Sharon Lokedi        (KEN) 1:08.14
  5. Lindsay Flanagan  (USA) 1:09.50