Kenya Sweeps Podium 1-2-3 Positions In Women's & Men's Half Marathon
On Sunday, October 1, Jepchirchir bagged her third world half-marathon title, clocking a time of 67:25.
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Kenya's Peres Jepchirchir has won the women's half marathon, leading the country to sweeping the top three positions at the inaugural World Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia.
On Sunday, October 1, Jepchirchir bagged her third world half-marathon title, clocking a time of 67:25 (1:07:25).
Her fellow countrywoman, Margaret Chelimo won silver in 67:26 (1:07:26), while Catherine Reline Amanang'ole bagged bronze in 67:34 (1:07:34).
Jepchirchir is only the fourth woman in history to win three half-marathon gold medals.
Kenya's Peres Jepchirchir competing in the 2023 London Marathon on April 23, 2023. /FACEBOOK
She now becomes the fourth woman to successfully win three tiles over the distance after Kenya’s Tegla Loroupe, Britain’s Paula Radcliffe, and the Netherlands’ Lornah Kiplagat.
Jepchirchir, who celebrated her 30th birthday last Wednesday, unleashed a super kick in the final 50 metres to seal a hat-trick in world half-marathons.
The top three Kenyan trio set up a thriller after they dropped Ethiopia's Tsigie Gebreselama in the last kilometre.
Gebreselama came fourth in 1:07:50, though ahead of another Kenyan Irene Kamais who finished fifth in 1:08:02.
The Kenyan 1-2-3 feat was also replicated in the men's half-marathon with long-distance running specialist Sebastian Sawe winning the race at a time of 59:10.
Daniel Ebenyo settled for silver in 59:14 while Samuel Mailu won bronze in 59:19.
Earlier, Kenya's Faith Kipyegon was beaten for the first time in 2023 after she finished third in the women's mile, upset by Ethiopia's Diribe Welteji who won the race in a sprint finish, setting a new world record of 4:23.06.
Welteji led an Ethiopian 1-2 finish, with Freweyni Hailu passing down Kipyegon close to the line for second. Kipyegon clocked 4:24.13, with Hailu coming second for silver in 4:24.13.
Beatrice Chebet from Kenya became the first woman in history to win the 5-kilometre at the inaugural World Running Championship after she clocked 14:35 minutes.
Lilian Rengeruk also from Kenya bagged silver while the third position went to Ejgayehu Taye from Ethiopia.
"Hearty congratulations to Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir for retaining her World half marathon title in Riga, Latvia during the World Road Running Championships.
"Fantastic performance by Sebastian Sawe for bagging Gold in men's half-marathon and thumbs up also to Beatrice Chebet for winning the 5km race. Heko to our team led by athletic queen Faith Kipyegon for outstanding performance," Former Machakos Senator who also served as UDA Chairman Johnson Muthama led politicians in congratulating the Kenyan athletes for their feat.
