Peres Jepchirchir is optimistic that she will defend her title at the New York City Marathon

The Kenyan long-distance runner Peres Jepchirchir, who is the reigning New York Marathon champion, is optimistic that she will be able to defend her title in this year’s edition of the race, which will be held on November 6.

Peres Jepchirchir, who dropped out of Kenya’s team for the marathon World Championships in Eugene last month due to injury, said she was happy to be behind the elite athletes in New York.

“I’m excited to be back on the streets of New York. I saw the line-up which looks really strong, but I’m looking forward to defending the title I won last year. I know I will run well”, said Peres Jepchirchir.

Peres Jepchirchir is the Tokyo 2020 Olympics gold medalist who competes mainly in road running competitions. She was the gold medallist at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in 2016 and the gold medalist again at the championships in 2020. Her best time for the half marathon of 1:05:06, set on 10 February 2017 in UAE, is a former half marathon world record. She broke her own world record at the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships in Gdynia, Poland in 2020, crossing the line in 1:05:16.