T. NashipaeJepkosgei seeking Barcelona half marathon victory after classic Sirikwa show
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 09.02.24. | 11:07
She is not new to long-distance running, having made history by winning the 2019 New York City Marathon on debut, clocking 2:22:38
2019 New York City Marathon champion Joycilline Jepkosgei will be hoping to build up on her Sirikwa Classic World Cross Country Tour gold performance when she takes part in the Barcelona Half Marathon slated for Sunday, 11 February 2024 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
Jepkosgei finished second in the Sirikwa Classic in 33:10, less than a minute behind Immaculate Anyango who claimed the top honors. Catherine Reline completed the podium at 33:18.
Speaking after the Lobo event, Jepkosgei noted that she was using the event as a springboard ahead of the main event in the Spanish City.
“I will be competing at the Barcelona Half Marathon on Sunday and I wanted to use the cross country as part of my training ahead of the Spanish race,” she offered.
If her performance in the previous Barcelona Half Marathon is anything to go by, Jepkosgei could be on the right track to registering a personal best. She claimed second position in 1:04:46 behind winner Irine Kimais (01:04:37) while Catherine Reline (01:05:39) finished third.
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She is not new to long-distance running, having made history by winning the 2019 New York City Marathon on debut, clocking 2:22:38. Her time also went down as the second fastest time on the course for women.
Her fine form continued when she won the 2021 London Marathon in 2:17:43 making her the seventh fastest female marathoner in history.
She faded off to a seventh position at the 2022 Boston Marathon before finishing second at the 2022 London Marathon (2:18:07) behind Ethiopia's Yalemzerf Yehualaw (2:17:26). That performance saw her promoted to the position of sergeant.
She finished second at the 2018 World Half Marathon Championships.
At the Prague Half Marathon in 2017, Jepkosgei represented Kenya and became the first woman to break 65 minutes for the half marathon with her 64:52 world record of 13.1 miles.
In 2016, she won a bronze medal at the African Championships in Durban South Africa, and a silver medal at the World Half Marathon Championships in Valencia, Spain.
She will be up against two-time Chicago Marathon champion Ruth Chepngetich.
The Olympian first won the Chicago Marathon in 2021 before defending it the following year in 2:14:18, a personal best by almost three minutes and just 14 seconds outside of compatriot Brigid Kosgei's then-world record of 2:14.04.
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