by Deji Ogeyingbo
A Thrilling Finish to the Women’s Marathon in Tokyo
The women’s marathon at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo unfolded in a way that kept the crowd on edge until the very last stride. Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir, already an Olympic champion, showed her knack for timing her effort when it mattered most. After 42 km through the streets of Tokyo, she and Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa entered the Japan National Stadium shoulder to shoulder.
Assefa, who earlier this year broke Jepchirchir’s women-only world record at the London Marathon, seized the initiative on the back straight of the track. It looked like the Ethiopian would carry her momentum to the finish. But as the final 100 meters approached, Jepchirchir leaned into her stride with the authority of someone who has seen these battles before. She accelerated, inch by inch, pulling away from her rival. By the line, she was two seconds clear in 2:24:43, raising her arms in disbelief. “I really did not expect to win,” she said afterward, explaining that the sight of the finish spurred her into one last effort.
The scene had a familiar echo for Assefa. At last year’s Paris Olympics, she had been caught in the final meters by Sifan Hassan. Here in Tokyo, the outcome was different in detail but similar in sting. “I don’t like to think I lost gold,” she reflected. Her build-up had been disrupted after her record run in London, and she admitted that preparation was not ideal. The silver, though, was proof that she remains one of the sport’s most compelling marathoners, even on days when she falls narrowly short.
The surprise of the day, and perhaps of the championships so far, came from Julia Paternain of Uruguay. Only 25 years old and in her second marathon, she found herself in the thick of the chase as others fell away. With a steady rhythm and unshaken focus, she claimed bronze in 2:27:23, the first global medal for her country in the marathon. “I cannot believe it, I’m in shock,” she said. Her performance drew admiration from athletes and coaches alike. Small nations rarely feature in the front pack of the marathon, but Paternain proved that opportunity can meet preparation in ways that few anticipate.
The race itself had been set up by an early bold move from Susanna Sullivan of the United States. She broke clear in the first half, gaining attention and stretching the field. While she could not hold the lead, her effort established a lively tempo. Sullivan still finished fourth in 2:28:17, a performance that will strengthen her reputation as an athlete unafraid to take risks.
Among the non-finishers was Ethiopia’s Tigist Ketema, while Japan’s Kana Kobayashi carried local hopes to seventh place. The home crowd recognized her fight with long applause as she crossed the line, reflecting the enthusiasm Tokyo has shown for distance running in recent years.
Jepchirchir’s victory adds to a career that already includes Olympic gold and major city wins. What stood out in Tokyo was her ability to summon finishing speed after a tactical race that had ebbed and flowed through the streets. Marathon runners often speak of hidden energy, a reservoir that can appear without warning. Jepchirchir tapped into hers precisely when Assefa seemed ready to claim the crown.
For the fans in the stadium, the closing meters provided the type of drama that makes the marathon special. The discipline is known for attrition and endurance, but when two runners enter the final straight stride for stride, it becomes something closer to a duel. In Tokyo, Jepchirchir had the sharper kick and the clearer mind.
