World marathon champion Ruth Chepng’etich has point to prove
World marathon champion Ruth Chepng’etich knows that she has a point to prove when she competes at the Nagoya Marathon in Japan next month.
Memories of her dropping from the leading group and eventually pulling out of the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics last year in Sapporo are still fresh in her mind.
“I was not at my best during the Games,” recalled Chepng’etich.
“At the highest level of competition you must be at your best to stand a chance. Unfortunately that was not the case for me, the situation was made worse by adverse weather conditions,” added the world champion.
In her absence, Peres Jepchirchir kept the Olympic crown in Kenyan hands with a valiant run.The two-time world half marathon champion won in 2:27:20, while world marathon record holder Brigid Kosgei settled for second in 2:27:36.
Chepng’etich now hopes to write her own history where the winner of the March 13 race will walk away with Sh28 million - the highest ever prize money awarded to a female marathoner in history.
For Chepng’etich, Nagoya represents a chance for redemption after her Olympics disappointment as well as the opportunity to extend her ruthless performance from October’s Chicago Marathon.
Top competitors
“Chicago is one of the races I took part in after Tokyo which did go well. I feel I can build on that in my next race before hopefully defending my world title in July,” added Chepng’etich.
Kenyan-Israeli runner Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, who finished 66th at the Olympics Games as well as Japanese Yuka Ando who competed in the women’s 10,000m are some of the athletes Chepng’etich will be up against.
Ando, who has twice finished second in Nagoya in 2017 and 2020, will be joined by countrywoman Mirai Waku, who represented Japan at the 2016 World Half Marathon Championship in Cardiff, Wales.
