Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir produced a trademark late surge to win the women’s marathon at the World Championships in Tokyo, defeating Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa in a dramatic final lap inside the Olympic Stadium.
The Olympic champion from Tokyo 2021 timed her sprint to perfection, overtaking Assefa in the last 100 metres to secure gold in 2:24:43.
Assefa, the second fastest female marathoner in history, crossed the line two seconds later in 2:24:45 after the pair had battled shoulder to shoulder for much of the 26-mile course.
Uruguay’s Julia Paternain completed the podium in 2:27:23, becoming the first athlete from her country to win a track and field medal at either a World Championships or an Olympics.
American Susanna Sullivan, who made an audacious breakaway and led for more than 10 miles, eventually faded to finish fourth after being reeled in by the chasing pack in the 18th mile.
For Jepchirchir, the victory marked another milestone in a glittering career. She is the only athlete to have won the Olympic marathon as well as the Boston and New York City marathons within a span of eight months between 2021 and 2022.
She also triumphed at the London Marathon in 2024, setting the women’s only world record before Assefa reclaimed it at this year’s edition in April.
The 31-year-old, who finished 14th at last summer’s Paris Olympic marathon, demonstrated once again her ability to rise to the biggest occasions, grinding down her rivals before producing a decisive kick.
Assefa, the reigning London champion and Paris Olympic silver medallist, had looked strong in the final stages but could not withstand Jepchirchir’s closing speed on the track.
