President William Ruto has congratulated Peres Jepchirchir after she delivered a dramatic victory in the women’s marathon at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Sunday.
In a message shared on social media platform X, Ruto lauded the Olympic champion’s resilience and spirit after she edged out Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa in a gripping duel.
“Well done to Peres Jepchirchir for winning the women’s marathon at the Tokyo World Athletics Championships,” the President wrote. “Your resilience embodies the Kenyan spirit and proves once again that Kenya rules the marathons. Another gold for our nation, another proud moment as you raise our flag high.”
Jepchirchir and Assefa ran shoulder to shoulder for much of the contest before entering the Japan National Stadium together.
Assefa, a former world record holder, briefly surged ahead in the closing stages, but Jepchirchir responded with a devastating sprint over the final 100 metres to claim victory in 2:24:43. Assefa finished two seconds behind, with Uruguay’s Julia Paternain taking bronze.
“I am so happy with what I have done in Tokyo,” Jepchirchir said afterwards. “It was so hot, so difficult, but I managed it. When I entered the stadium, I got a lot of energy from the fans. I did not expect to win, but in the last 100 metres I found some hidden energy and just started to kick.”
The triumph adds to Jepchirchir’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold and her victories in major city marathons. It also restores the world title to Kenya for the first time since Ruth Chepng’etich won in 2019.
The weekend brought further success for Kenya when Beatrice Chebet claimed the women’s 10,000 metres crown on Saturday, clocking 30:37.61 for the first track gold of the championships.
Chebet, who holds world records in both the 5,000m and 10,000m, suggested she would not chase a rare distance double, citing the toll of a long season.
Ruto said Jepchirchir’s performance reinforced Kenya’s global dominance in distance running and stood as a symbol of endurance and national pride.
