Jepchirchir named SJAK Sports Personality of November

Olympic marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir has been named the LG Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) Sports Personality of November.

This comes two days after she was named in a star-studded lineup for Boston Marathon which is a World Athletics Elite Platinum Gold Label Road Race that will be held on April 18.

Jepchirchir won the award after her sizzling performance in November, where she beat a seasoned deep field to win the New York City Marathon in 2 hours, 22 minutes, 39 seconds ahead of compatriot Viola Lagat. 

This was after winning a gold medal during the 2020 Olympic marathon medal in Sapporo, Japan where Kenya bagged victory in both categories. 

The monthly award saw Jepchirchir receive a state-of-the-art LG Artificial Intelligence washing machine worth Ksh92,000 and a gleaming trophy engraved with her name.

Jepchirchir, who was awarded by the LG Electronics Corporate Communications Manager, Marketing Department Maureen Kemunto on Thursday morning at her home in Kapsabet floored stars like the men’s New York marathon winner, Albert Korir, Tennis sensational Angela Okutoyi, who won the 2021 Africa U-18 Championship and Rally champion Baldev Chager.

Other nominees were Kenya Sevens player Herman Humwa, Lucy Cheruiyot who won Mexico City Marathon and Perister Bosire who won gold in the over 78 kg division at the Dakar African Judo Open.

Speaking after receiving the award at her home in Kapsabet, Nandi County, Jepchirchir said the award came as a surprise to her and she didn’t expect to have emerged the best in the month of November.

She said that the award has motivated her to work hard this season with her focus on the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA where she will be eyeing for a slot in Team Kenya.

“I am so happy to be recognized by LG and this has come as a surprise to me and I feel honored. This is a big inspiration to me ahead of the busy season and I’m looking forward to work harder this year. Thanks LG and SJAK for the support which I know will inspire many to do better this year.

“This year we have the World Championships and if I will be given a chance to represent Kenya, I will be happy because I’m loyal to country and always ready when called upon,” Jepchirchir said.

Kemunto on her part said the company is glad to see a good number of upcoming and talented young sportsmen and women across diverse disciplines, which is encouraging as it is a sign of the country's diverse sporting heritage.

“We congratulate Jepchirchir and wish her well in future races as she starts another season which is fully packed with athletics action and we are confident that she will again impress this year.

“The award celebrates talented Kenyan sportsmen and women for their accomplishments and we are happy that it’s an initiative of LG in East Africa in partnership with SJAK which has gone a long way since we started partnering by meeting various sports men and women across the country,” said Kemunto.

Her outstanding performance saw her honoured with the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) during last year's Jamhuri Day celebrations by President Uhuru Kenyatta. 

In addition, she bagged the World Half Marathon Championships title in Valencia, Spain after running 1:05:16 in October 2020.

She later clocked her personal best time of 2:17:16 in winning the 2021 Valencia Marathon in Spain.