Jepchirchir wins marathon gold at World Athletics Championships

September 14, 2025 / 6:13 PM

Sharjah 24 – AFP: Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir clinched gold in the women’s marathon at the 20th World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Sunday, narrowly defeating Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa by just two seconds after a dramatic sprint finish.

Neck-and-neck battle
After 41 kilometers of intense racing through Tokyo’s streets, Jepchirchir and Assefa entered the National Stadium side by side. Despite Assefa’s burst of speed with 200 meters remaining, the 31-year-old Olympic champion from Kenya surged ahead in the final stretch to secure victory.

Overcoming harsh conditions
Jepchirchir finished with a time of 2:24.43. Speaking after the race, she said, “I’m very happy with what I achieved in Tokyo. It was hot and the weather conditions were very difficult, but I made it. It wasn’t easy.”

A race between champions
Tigist Assefa, the two-time Berlin Marathon winner and former world record holder, settled for silver. Earlier this year, Assefa had set a stunning world record of 2:15.50 at the London Marathon, but was edged out by Jepchirchir’s determination and late-race grit in Tokyo.