Tokyo World Championships: Peres Jepchirchir outsprints Tigist Assefa to win women’s marathon

It all came down to the track. Setting off at a fierce pace from Tokyo’s National Stadium in sweltering heat and suffocating humidity, the marathoners knew they would have to manage their effort before dreaming of the podium, early on Sunday morning back home in France. As so often, the race was decided on the tartan in the final meters. And as so often, Peres Jepchirchir was the sharpest of them all. The Kenyan, Olympic champion in 2021, outkicked the day’s overwhelming favorite, Tigist Assefa, to win in 2:24:43, just two seconds clear of her rival (2:24:45). Another blistering finish from a runner who has mastered the art of the final kilometer, while her opponent suffered yet another major disappointment in a sprint finish. The Ethiopian has now lost a major title for the second time, after finishing runner-up to Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan at the Paris Olympics. Tough break.

“I’m so happy with what I did in Tokyo,” Jepchirchir said moments later. “It was so hot, so difficult. But I did it. It wasn’t easy. When I entered the stadium, I got so much energy from the fans. I really didn’t expect to win. Sprinting in the final meters wasn’t my ultimate plan, but when I saw I was 100 meters from the finish, I just started kicking. I found some hidden energy. (…) Even though I’ve run many marathons in my career, I’m so grateful for this one because I didn’t expect to win. It’s my first World Championships victory, and I’m grateful it happened in Tokyo because I won my first marathon gold medal in Japan at the Olympic Games. This one was harder. The humidity was so high, and I didn’t know it would be so hot.” At 31, the two-time world half-marathon champion had already made her mark in the marathon at the 2021 Olympics in Sapporo. She can now add a world title to a glittering résumé that already includes wins at the iconic New York and London marathons.

Julia Paternain delivers the surprise

Behind them, a South American underdog story stole the spotlight from the favorites. Uruguay’s Julia Paternain, little known until now, reeled in Uganda’s Stella Chesang after 38 kilometers to claim an astonishing bronze in 2:27:23. The emotion was overwhelming when she learned she had made the podium, having never imagined she would cross the line in third. It was Uruguay’s first-ever medal at the World Athletics Championships. Even more remarkable: 25-year-old Julia Paternain, born in Mexico to Uruguayan parents and raised in Great Britain, was running just the second marathon of her career.

“I can’t believe it. I’m in shock. I wasn’t paying attention to my time. I was just trying to run. It was an amazing experience. When things get tough, I like to be on my own little planet and run my own race, and today that worked in my favor. My coach told me to run my own race and that people would support me as the race went on. That’s exactly what happened. It was the perfect strategy. Toward the end, I thought a lot about Uruguay. I love representing Uruguay. My whole family is from there. I grew up in England and live in the United States. It’s a small country, but I’m very proud. The only thing I don’t like about the country is mate tea (laughs). I hope to go back to Uruguay soon. (…) I’d like to be an example for young girls in South America, so they can see that anything is possible. It doesn’t matter where you come from. All you need is a pair of shoes. I didn’t start running until I was 16, and I’m 25 now. Anyone can do it. ”

The Assefa-Jepchirchir duel

The first selection came at the 25-kilometer mark, when the Ethiopians blew the race apart. Jessica McClain (ninth at the finish in 2:29:20), followed by Sullivan, were dropped. That left the much-anticipated duel between former marathon world record-holder Tigist Assefa and Peres Jepchirchir, the current half-marathon world record-holder. From 30 kilometers onward, the pair went head-to-head at a furious pace. In the end, the Kenyan prevailed after an intense sprint finish on the track at the National Stadium. She crossed in 2:24:43, just two seconds ahead of Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa (2:24:45). Uganda’s Stella Chesang (2:31:13) and Kenya’s Madeleine Massai (DNF) were still in the race, but almost 1:40 back, close enough to watch yet far from contention. The suspense lasted until the 35-kilometer mark, when it became clear the win would be decided between Assefa and Jepchirchir.

Before that final showdown, Japan’s Kana Kobayashi had fired up the home crowd by taking the lead from the gun, before the pace rose under pressure from the African favorites. American Susanna Sullivan, already a standout at the Budapest World Championships, then took over at the front and stayed there through 28 kilometers. Caught by the leaders, she refused to fade and crossed the line in fourth in 2:28:17. Heroic.

Manon Trapp suffers in the heat

For France, Manon Trapp endured a baptism of fire in the Japanese heat, completing her 42.195 kilometers in 32nd place in 2:36:09. She was 58th at 5 kilometers (18:11), then 52nd at 10 kilometers (36:12), but held on despite the growing gap to the leaders (1:13:08 at 20 kilometers, 36th at 35 kilometers in 2:09:21). It was an invaluable experience in such a deep and punishing field, and in such demanding conditions. “My strategy was to start cautiously and speed up toward the end, but I was a little naive because, like everyone else, I struggled with the conditions from halfway,” the 25-year-old marathoner said afterward. “I backed off as much as possible because I wanted to avoid speeding up too early and overheating. It’s a fine balance between taking a chance and blowing up. After that, I wanted to accelerate, but I kept slowing down. Everything hurt, and I did what I could. I handled the aid stations well. It was quite an experience, something else! The Japanese fans were giving me everything, and that helped me maintain my pace because I wasn’t able to latch onto a pack. I had no idea where I was in the race. I just tried to get through it, and over the final three kilometers I gave everything I had left to try to pick off a few places. I have no regrets. “”