WRRC: Jepchirchir completes world half marathon hat-trick with victory in Riga

Olympic marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir has become the fourth woman in history to win three world half marathon titles after leading a Kenyan sweep of the women's world half marathon podium at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia on Sunday.

Heading to Sunday's race, the Olympic champion who won in New York 2021 and Boston 2022 after her triumph in Tokyo, had won the Great North Run half marathon on 10 September and was the overwhelming favourite. 

The women-only half marathon world record holder who ran 1:05.16 to win the 2020 title in Gdynia out-kicked Margret Chelimo in 1:07.25 for her third world title (2016,2020, 2023). 

She becomes the fourth woman after Tegla Loroupe, Paula Radcliffe and Lornah Kiplagat as a three-time winners of the world half-marathon championship.

She was followed home by compatriot Chelimo in 1:07:26, with Catherine Reline completing a 1-2-3 for Kenya in 1:07:34.

“I wanted to win three times and make history, and thank God I have made it,” Jepchirchir told World Athletics after the race. “It was my birthday this week and I told my husband I would work extra hard to get the win.”

Jepchirchir led Kenya to a decisive victory in the team title, their first since 2016, when they also swept the medal positions. 

Their top three had a cumulative time of 3:22:25, with Ethiopia second with 3:27:55 and Great Britain and Northern Ireland claiming bronze with 3:29:15.

“I am so happy for team Kenya,” said Jepchirchir. “I knew we would sweep this as a team because I trust my colleagues so much.”

Leading into the wind in the final kilometre, Chelimo began to veer around the road, hoping for assistance from those behind, but by then it was every woman for themselves, Jepchirchir smartly sitting in her teammate’s slipstream until she drew inside the final 400 metres, at which point she unleashed that renowned change of pace, surging to gold.

“When I saw the tape, I started celebrating,” said Jepchirchir, who admitted she couldn’t sleep the night before as she was worried about the race. But with another global title in the bag, she has big plans for the year ahead.

WRRC: Clean sweep for Kenyan men in Riga

Chelimo, on her part, said it was great to run with Peres. 

"I am always proud to run for Kenya. I was fourth at the World Championships on the track so to get a medal today is very special. It’s very nice to see that I’m progressing and next, I will race the Valencia Half Marathon.”

Relin was content with her bronze, saying: “It was a very tough race but I’m super excited because it is my first time running this event.”