Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya won the athletics marathon at the Tokyo Olympics. The 27-year-old athlete, world champion in the half marathon, triumphed on the track in Sapporo in the classic distance of 42.195 kilometers in 2:27.20 hours.
Peres Jepchirchir was 16 seconds ahead of the world record holder in the discipline and two-time winner of the London Marathon Brigid Kosgei, also from Kenya. Surprisingly, Molly Seidel (USA) won bronze, finishing 26 seconds and recording first place on the podium in a major race.
The two Kenyans ran side by side in the forehead throughout the race, both breaking away at the end. Peres Jepchirchir attacked a mile and a half before the final, and Brigid Kosgei had no forces. The marathon was moved an hour ahead and started at 6.00 am local time due to high temperatures.
World champion Ruth Chepng’etich (Kenya) failed to finish. She was the leader of the 15th kilometer and continued to run in the leading group for another ten kilometers, after which she started to waste time and after the 30th kilometer she gave up.
Women’s Marathon:
1. Peres Jepchirchir (Kenya) – 2:27.20
2. Brigid Kosgei (Kenya) – 2:27.36
3. Molly Seidel (USA) – 2:27.46
4. Roza Dereje (Ethiopia) – 2:28.38
5. Volha Mazuronak (Belarus) – 2:29.06
