Vivian Cheruiyot is the 2016 Olympic champion at 5000 meters. She had won two Olympic silvers and one Olympic bronze. At the World Championships, Vivian has won four golds and one silver medal. After three marathons, she now has two marathon wins. And in a bit of an upset, Vivian Cheruiyot won the 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon.
Vivian Cheruiyot wins 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon, photo courtesy of Virgin Money London Marathon
In her move to the marathon, Vivian Cheruiyot debuted at the London Marathon in April 2017. It was a learning experience. In her second marathon, last October 2017, Vivian Cheruiyot won a windy Frankfurt Marathon, scoring a small PB. Her win in London was so special because she held back, letting Mary Keitany and Tirunesh Dibaba build a lead by the half marathon over Vivian of 1:41. At 25k, it was 1:32, at 30k, it was 1:16. Vivian Cheruiyot began to turn the direction of the race.
Then, Mother Nature took its toll. Around 35 kilometers, Vivian Cheruiyot had cut the lead of Keitany to 12 seconds. By 40k, Vivian Cheruiyot had 1:21 over Brigid Kosgei as Dibaba had DNFed and Keitany fallen to fourth, then fifth. Vivian Cheruiyot, having learned from 2017 London, discussed race plans with her husband and her manager, and decided to hit the halfway at 1:09, not 1:07 like Keitany and Dibaba. That proved a big difference in Cheruiyot’s race.
This was a superb win for Vivian Cheruiyot. Here is a few minutes with Vivian Cheruiyot thanks to Andy Edwards, of Race News Service!
