Kenya's Judith Jeptum wins Paris marathon, sets new course record
Kenya's Judith Jeptum crosses the finish line to win the 46th edition of the Paris Marathon women's race on April 3, 2022.
What you need to know:
- The 26-year-old Kiptum took almost a minute of the previous course record set five years ago by compatriot Purity Rionoripo in the French capital
- Kenyan lost the men’s title when Ethiopia's Deso Gelmisa won the men's race timing 2:05:07, beating compatriot Seifu Tura by three seconds
- Chelimo won the Barcelona Half Marathon in the Spanish capital in 1:05:26 as Kenya's Elvis Cheboi came third in the men's race in 59:12
Kenya's Judith Jeptum and World 5,000m silver medallist Margaret Chelimo dominated to win their respective road races in Europe on Sunday.
Less than five months after winning the Adu Dhabi Marathon in the United Arab Emirates, Jeptum cruised to a course record time of 2 hours, 19 minutes and 48 seconds.
Chelimo won the Barcelona Half Marathon in the Spanish capital in 1:05:26 as Kenya's Elvis Cheboi came third in the men's race in 59:12.
The 26-year-old Kiptum took almost a minute of the previous course record set five years ago by compatriot Purity Rionoripo in the French capital. Rionoripo won the 2017 event in a course record time of 2:20:55.
The time also saw her improve on her personal best of 2:22:30 set when winning in Abu Dhabi on November 26, last year.
The victory by Jeptum, who was fresh from finishing fourth at Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, in UAE on February 19, this year, helped Kenya recapture the women’s title they had won last in 2018 by Betsy Saina.
"The conditions were tough but I'm happy with what I did today," Jeptum said after winning the race held in temperatures just above zero degree Celsius.
Jeptum was in a league of her own, surging ahead of her rivals before the 30km mark and never looked back.
Fanti Jimma of Ethiopia was second at 2:22:52, followed by her compatriot Besu Sado 20 seconds further adrift.
Kenyan lost the men’s title when Ethiopia's Deso Gelmisa won the men's race timing 2:05:07, beating compatriot Seifu Tura by three seconds.
Ethiopia's Deso Gelmisa crosses the finish line to win the 46th edition of the Paris Marathon, 42,195 km, on April 3, 2022.
The first Kenyan to finish was Hillary Kipsambu in sixth place in 2:06:53.
In Barcelona, Chelimo ran a lonely race, crossing the 15km mark in 46:22 and 20km in 1:02:08 to triumph, beating Ethiopians Gete Alemayehu and Asnakech Awoke to second and third places in 1:06:37 and 1:09:34 respectively.
Ethiopian Haftu Teklu claimed men’s victory in 59:04, beating compatriot Chala regasa to second place in 59:08 with Cheboi coming eight seconds off the pace.
