Peres Jepchirchir, a two-time World Half Marathon champion and Olympic gold medalist, displayed her exceptional skills as she secured victory in the Great North Half Run in the United Kingdom, finishing with a time of 1:06:45.
Her compatriot, USA-based Sharon Lokedi, who is also preparing for the World Athletics Road Running Championships, claimed second place with a time of 1:07:43.
“I decided to run by myself,” Jepchirchir stated in an interview with the BBC. Both Jepchirchir and Lokedi are in the midst of marathon preparations and are gearing up for their return to the New York City Marathon on November 5th.
Jepchirchir’s performance was a step up from her runner-up finish in the previous year, and it serves as part of her preparation for defending her world half marathon title at the upcoming World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga on October 1st.
Notably, Jepchirchir set a women-only world record when she triumphed at the 2020 World Half Marathon Championships.
Despite challenging conditions with temperatures reaching 24°C, Jepchirchir maintained a swift pace, leaving Lokedi as her sole competitor for the first four miles.
Her ability to perform well in hot weather conditions was evident, as she previously won the Olympic marathon in 31°C heat with 78% humidity.
Source: World Athletics
