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Peres JepchirchirKenyan professional runner
Date of Birth: 27.09.1993
Country:  Kenya |
Content:
- Biography of Peres Jepchirchir, Kenyan Marathon Champion
- Rise to Prominence
- Success in Distance Running
- World Half Marathon Champion
- Further World Records and Olympic Triumph
Biography of Peres Jepchirchir, Kenyan Marathon Champion
Early Life and Career BeginningsPeres Jepchirchir, a Kenyan long-distance runner, was born on September 27, 1993. Her passion for running emerged during her school years, and she began competing in races in 2013.
Rise to Prominence
Jepchirchir's talent caught the attention of Gianne Demiana's team, leading to invitations to high-level European competitions. In 2014, she emerged victorious in three consecutive races in France, including the Le Lion Half Marathon (setting a record of 69:12 minutes), the Marseille-Cassis Classique Internationale, and the BOclassic 5K, where she finished second behind Janet Kisa.
Success in Distance Running
In 2015, Jepchirchir made her debut in the London Marathon but could not complete the race. However, she began to excel in 10K and half marathon distances that year. Her 30:55-minute run in the Prague Grand Prix became the second-best time in the world for the season, and a week later, she set a course record of 67:17 minutes to win the Usti nad Labem Half Marathon, a time that ranked her seventh in the year-end top lists. She also defended her title in Marseille in October.
World Half Marathon Champion
Jepchirchir shattered her own record with a time of 66:39 minutes at the 2016 Ras al-Khaimah Half Marathon. Despite the swift time, which placed her 13th on the all-time list, the depth of the race left her fourth behind winner Cynthia Cherottich Limo, with six women running faster than 67 minutes (a first for the sport). This performance earned her a spot on the Kenyan team for the 2016 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships.
Jepchirchir led the Kenyan women's team at the start of the race, alongside Ethiopia's Netsanet Gudeta and Genzebe Dibaba. The race narrowed down to a Kenyan trio of Jepchirchir, Limo, and Mary Wacera Ngugi, eventually leading to a sprint finish between Limo and Jepchirchir. Despite being the least experienced and well-known member of the Kenyan team, Jepchirchir emerged victorious, finishing in 67:31 minutes and leading the Kenyan women to the team title and a podium sweep with Limo and Ngugi.
Further World Records and Olympic Triumph
Jepchirchir set another course record at the 2017 Yangzhou Jianzhen International Half Marathon, running 67:21 minutes. At the 2017 RAK Half Marathon, she broke two world records. She fell three seconds shy of Florence Kiplagat's half marathon world record with a time of 65:06 minutes and set a world record in the 20km distance at 61:40 minutes. However, her status as a world record holder was short-lived, as Joyciline Jepkosgei (third in the RAK race) broke both her world records the following month.
Jepchirchir has three victories in the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships: 2016 in Cardiff (individual and team), and 2020 in Gdynia (individual). At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, she secured the gold medal in the marathon with a time of 2:27:20.
