By Charlie Bennett in Tokyo
There must be something in the Japanese air that just suits Peres Jepchirchir.
Four years ago, the Kenya runner won Olympic marathon gold in sweltering Sapporo and has now backed that up with a sensational sprint finish to add the World Athletics Championships title in Tokyo.
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Jepchirchir looked destined for silver when she and Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa entered the Japan National Stadium at the end of an energy-sapping, gruelling race.
Assefa, the Olympic silver medallist from Paris last summer, was the pre-race favourite after winning the London Marathon in April in a world-leading time.
She also appeared in full control. Sitting on Jepchirchir’s shoulder as they ran into the stadium, her face was relaxed. Her rival, meanwhile, looked like the majority of us would at the end of a 26.2-mile race in 25-degree heat and 77% humidity.
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Jepchirchir was in agony. She’d lost almost all control of her facial muscles, mouth wide open, tongue sticking out.
Kenya’s athlete Peres Jepchirchir (L) and Ethiopia’s athlete Tigst Assefa compete in the women’s marathon final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on September 14, 2025. (Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP) (Photo by YUICHI YAMAZAKI/AFP via Getty Images)
(YUICHI YAMAZAKI via Getty Images)
Assefa made the first move with 300m to go, rounding the outside of Jepchirchir to take what appeared to be a decisive lead.
Yet she could not break away and Jepchirchir, it turned out, had plenty in reserve. When they entered the home straight, the 31-year-old found the energy of a Duracell bunny and powered past a stunned Assefa to win in 2hr 24min 43sec.
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Assefa was just two seconds behind, suffering a similar experience to a year ago when Sifan Hassan beat her to the Olympic title.
“I feel grateful and I thank God for this,” said Jepchirchir – who had her gold confirmed after a USA protest was rejected following reports Kenya’s support crew were passing her bottles outside unassigned locations along the route.
“When I entered the stadium, I was feeling so exhausted, you know? And then when we were in the 400 metres, she kicked, 200 she kicked, 100 metres, I saw the finishing line. Energy come from nowhere.
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“I’m dedicating this medal to all my Kenyans, my fans, for believing in us, for praying for us.
“I have good memories here. It is a special place for me.”
Despite her sprint finish, the biggest surprise was that this is Jepchirchir’s first-ever World Athletics Championships.
Kenya’s high level of competition and a string of injuries has meant she has missed out time and again, while an ankle injury threatened to continue that streak and forced her to miss the London Marathon.
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“In April, I was feeling so bad because I was in a great shape,” she said.
“I prepared well, but I twisted the ankle. So the doctor told me it’s better to rest than to risk a stress fracture.
“I was not expecting it, but I won. I feel so happy to run here for my first World Championship. It’s my first time and my first medal here. So I feel grateful.
“I was so tired. I was so stressed, but I didn’t lose hope.
“I came back with my shape. I was in a great shape preparing for London, but I rested for two months before I resumed my training.
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“But before, I was having that feeling that I’m going to go to run World Athletics Championship. I was supposed to run in Berlin, but I decided, no, let me go and run the World Championships.”
Assefa and Jepchirchir broke clear of the field with eight miles to go after reeling in the fast-starting American Susanna Sullivan.
Kenya’s Magdalyne Masai and Uganda’s Stella Chesang was locked in a battle for third but Julia Paternain instead completed the podium for Uruguay’s first-ever World Athletics Championships medal.
Follow all the action from the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 on the BBC.
AloJapan.com