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The two-time world half marathon champion broke a virtual tie in the 40-kilometer race with the world record holder and compatriots and won the championship.
On Saturday, Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir won the women’s marathon at the Sapporo Olympics, beating compatriot Brigid Kosgei in the final minutes, and continued in the event. Won the country’s gold medal for the second time.
Kosgei won the silver medal and American Molly Seidel rose from a short distance in the third marathon to win the bronze medal.
Kenyan Kosgei, world record holder and world champion Ruth Chepngetich has been a popular candidate for Saturday’s gold medal.
However, two-time world half marathon champion Jepchirchir came to the fore after breaking a virtual draw with Kosgei at 40 kilometers, and she decided to take action.
“When I was there, I said,’Wow, I will succeed.’ So I picked up the pace because I knew I would win,” Jepchirchir said.
“I am very, very happy because we won as Kenya, first and second… I am happy for my family and happy for my country, Kenya, to support us.”
Jepchirchir finished the game with 2:27:20, 16 seconds ahead of Kosgei and 26 seconds ahead of Seidel.
Fighting the hot and humid environment, Chepngetich withdrew from the race at around 30km, while Israel’s Lonah Chemtai Salpeter withdrew after looking like a strong contender for the bronze medal at the 38km stage.
In order to overcome the hot summer in the Japanese capital, the game was transferred from Tokyo to Sapporo before the Olympics.
But the heat wave swept the region, and even after the game was rescheduled to start one hour before 6 am, the temperature climbed from 26 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit) at the start of the game to 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit). 9 o’clock in the morning.
American Sally Kipyego was in the same group as the leader midway, but ended with a lead for more than 5 minutes. She said the high temperature was “absolutely” a factor.
“I know I’m really fit to come in, so my performance is far from my health. I know calories have to work, I just think I will cope better, but I don’t,” she said.
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