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Three-Peat for Peres Jepchirchir

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by Clay Shaw and Karen Mitchell

10.1.23, Riga, Latvia, World Athletics Road Championships—World Athletics introduced two new distances and added them to the half marathon championships, which were last held in Gdynia, Poland in October 2020.  While the new races had new world records (the road mile), and the 5k had their first champions, Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya became a three-time champion with a 1:07:25 victory.  The Kenyan women swept the medals with Margaret Kipkemboi finishing second in 1:07:26 and Catherine Reline Amanang’ole finishing third in 1:07:34. Peres had won in Gydnia 2020 and Cardiff (Wales) in 2016.  Now Jepchirchir joins Tegla Laroupe and Paula Radcliffe as three-time champions. Tegla won in 1997 Kosice, 1998 Zurich, and 1999 Paermo.  Paula’s victories came in 2000 in Veracruz, 2001 Bristol (we were there), and 2003 in Vilamoura.

After winning the event, Jepchirchir said:

“I feel grateful, and thank God for another win. I wasn’t expecting this. After London, I trusted and believed in myself to come back . . . [About being one of the few women to achieve the hat-trick] It means a lot to me, and I’m ever so grateful – I’m so happy about it. It was my motivation and I promised my family – especially my husband who surprised me with a gift this week, that I would do my best. So, I dedicate my gold medal to my husband . . . My plan now is to run the New York City Marathon, so I can defend my title. I am confident about it. It was this race today that I worried about. I could hardly sleep last night thinking about. It is a great idea to combine the mile and the 5K with the half-marathon road event.”

Tsigie Gebreselama of Ethiopia was fourth in 1:07:50. Irine Kimais of Kenya was fifth in1:08:02. Kenya was recognized as the team champs with all four runners in the top five.  Ethiopia was second and Great Britain was third with Calli Thackery (7th, 1:08:56) and Samantha Harrison (9th, 1:09:26) both in the top ten.  Thackery ran a personal best.

7th – Calli THACKERY, GBR

“I felt much better than I expected. The race was tough, but I managed to work in the group and execute my strategy to run with the leading group. I truly believe that I belong in it. Despite previous mishaps, overall I think I did great. In terms of preparation for this race, I have been training primarily for my debut marathon that is just in a two weeks time. And this shows that I am really getting back on my feet, because this season has been a big catch-up. Earlier I had some health issues, but now I am ready to show what I’m capable of. In the last meters of the race my mind was occupied by the thoughts of my teammate and me finishing at such a great position.”

Molly Grabill of Superior, CO was thirteenth in 1:09:53, a personal best.  Sarah Pagano Buchanan of San Diego, CA was 29th in 1:11:37.  Amber Zimmerman of Philadelphia was 32nd in 1:12:36.  Sara Hall was selected, but did not make the trip to Latvia. 

70 of the 72 women who started in the elite half marathon finished on a reasonable afternoon with some wind.

Top Finishers

  1. 1:07:25 Peres Jepchirchir, Kenya
  2. 1:07:26 Margaret Kipkemboi, Kenya
  3. 1:07:34 Catherine Reline Amanang’ole, Kenya
  4. 1:07:50 Tsigie Gebreselama, Ethiopia
  5. 1:08:02 Irine Kimais, Kenya
  6. 1:08:31 Ftaw Zeray, Ethiopia
  7. 1:08:56 Calli Thackery, Great Britain
  8. 1:09:19 Rahma Tahiri, Morocco
  9. 1:09:26 Samantha Harrison, Great Britain
  10. 1:09:31 Cacisile Sosibo, South Africa
  11. 1:09:37 Sofiia Yaremchuk, Italy
  12. 1:09:47 Glenrose Xaba, South Africa
  13. 1:09:53 Molly Grabill, USA
  14. 1:10:08 Isobel Batt-Doyle, Australia
  15. 1:10:08 Cian Oldknow, South Africa
  16. 1:10:16 Annet Chelangat, Uganda
  17. 1:10:27 Rigbe Habteslasie Tesfamariam, Eritrea
  18. 1:10:35 Meline Rollin, France
  19. 1:10:40 Belinda Chemutai, Uganda
  20. 1:10:40 Kaoutar Farkoussi, Morocco
  21. 1:10:49 Rkia El Moukim, Morocco
  22. 1:10:53 Clara Evans, Great Britain
  23. 1:10:56 Carolina Wikstrom, Sweden
  24. 1:11:07 Shona Heaslip, Ireland
  25. 1:11:08 Abbie Donnelly, Great Britain
Peres Jepchirchir wins her third World Athletics Half Marathon. She won by one second just in front of Kenyan teammate Margaret Kipkemboi who clocked in at 1:07:26.
Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya now has World Athletics Half Marathon wins in Cardiff (2016), Gdynia (2020) and now Riga (2023).
Calli Thackery of Great Britain was seventh in a personal best of 1:08:56.
Samantha Harrison of Great Britain was ninth in 1:09:26.
Cacisile Sosibo of South Africa powers a tenth place finish and a personal best of 1:09:31.
Molly Grabill of Superior, CO, USA was 13th in 1:09:53, setting a new personal best.
Molly Grabill of Superior, CO was 13th in 1:09:53.
Isobel Batt-Doyle of Australia sprints by a 50 Cent billboard on her way to 14th place in 1:10:08. Annet Chelangat of Uganda was 16th in 1:10:16, earning a personal best.
Rkia El Moukim of Morocco earns a personal best of 1:10:49, placing 21st. Rkia won the Quarterback 5K in York, PA ten years ago.
Shona Heaslip of Ireland elevates as she sprints in with a 1:11:07. Heaslip was 24th and Abbie Donnelly of Great Britain was 25th in 1:11:08.
Sarah Pagano Buchanan of San Diego, CA, USA was 29th in 1:11:37. The next World Athletics Road Racing Championships will be in San Diego in 2025.
Margaux Sieracki of France was 31st in 1:12:07.
Amber Zimmerman of Philadelphia came back from injury to race well, finishing 32nd in 1:12:26. Amber won the Philadelphia Marathon in 2022.
Amber Zimmerman of Philadelphia was 32nd in 1:12:26.
Isabel Oropeza Vazquez of Mexico was 39th in 1:14:11.
Laura Maasik of Estonia had a personal best of 1:16:47 and finished 51st. Estonia borders Latvia on the north.
Anna Yusupova of Azerbaijan races to a 1:17:05 personal best and places 53rd.
Aline De Freitas of Brazil celebrates a new personal best of 1:17:51.
Jelena Abele of Latvia was the first finisher from the host country; she ran 1:18:13 placing 57th.
Debbie Donald of New Zealand had a personal best of 1:18:35 placing 59th. Riga sure got the crowds out on the home straight.
Anna Klucnika of Latvia celebrates a personal best of 1:21:52.
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