History repeated itself for Peres Jepchirchir and Tigist Assefa in what was a thrilling finish to the women’s marathon on the second morning session at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25.
They were locked in battle for several kilometres in the closing stages and were still inseparable as they entered the stadium. Jepchirchir, who won Olympic gold in her last outing in Japan four years ago, kicked hard with 100 metres to go and strode to victory in 2:24:43. Assefa, who lost out on Olympic gold last year in a sprint finish, once again had to settle for silver in 2:24:45.
But perhaps the biggest surprise came from Julia Paternain, who came through to take bronze in 2:27:23, earning Uruguay’s first ever medal at a senior global championships.
Full report
Result: 1 Peres Jepchirchir (KEN) 2:24:43, 2 Tigist Assefa (ETH) 2:24:45, 3 Julia Patternain (URU) 2:27:23
In the rounds…
In Sunday morning’s qualifying rounds, the men’s 1500m provided some of the biggest talking points.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen, winner of the Olympic title in this stadium in 2021, made his outdoor season debut after battling injury all year, but the Norwegian didn’t have the fitness to advance to the next round, placing eighth in his heat. World leader Azeddine Habz also didn’t make it through, nor did world U20 record-holder Phanuel Koech, who fell in his heat.
World and Olympic champion Camryn Rogers led the qualifying in the women’s hammer, throwing 77.52m.
More to follow…
AloJapan.com