{"id":460,"date":"2020-10-20T15:21:09","date_gmt":"2020-10-20T15:21:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/kenya\/?p=460"},"modified":"2026-04-08T08:41:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T08:41:27","slug":"peris-jepchirchir-cements-place-in-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/kenya\/athletes\/peris-jepchirchir-cements-place-in-history.htm","title":{"rendered":"Peris Jepchirchir cements place in history"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Having the physical tools is one thing, but to go where no woman has gone before \u2013 and set a world record \u2013 you need a whole lot of determination to go with it.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s an area in which Peres Jepchirchir has never been lacking.<\/p>\n

Her courage, class and composure were all on full display on Saturday as the 27-year-old claimed her second global title at the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships Gdynia 2020, her time of 1:05:16 in cold, windy conditions a world record (pending ratification) in a women-only race.<\/p>\n

Jepchirchir cements place in history as a half marathon all-time great<\/h3>\n

It came as no surprise to those watching. Jepchirchir, after all, had run 1:05:34 in Prague last month in what was a largely solo run and for her manager, Gianni Demadonna, the photos from that race were a window into her mindset.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was alone in front, but you could see the determination in her face,\u201d he says. \u201cShe\u2019s not only really motivated, but she has a tough mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was February 2014 when he first came across it, and it left a lasting impression.<\/p>\n

Virtually no one knew who Jepchirchir was when she appeared at the front in the Kenyan<\/a> Cross Country Championships, surging clear of reigning world cross country champion Emily Chebet and 1500m star Faith Kipyegon, who eventually outkicked 20-year-old Jepchirchir for the win.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe ran an amazing race for a girl nobody knows,\u201d says Demadonna. \u201cShe was caught in the last 500, 600 but I said, \u2018this is amazing \u2013 a good talent not only in the legs, but in the brain, if you are so motivated to run without fear out front.\u2019 I signed her immediately after that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jepchirchir had run one low-level marathon before that, clocking 2:47:33 at altitude in Kenya, but until that point no one had ever witnessed her world-class potential.<\/p>\n

She grew up in Kericho in western Kenya and her family were farmers, growing tea and maize. Jepchirchir ran to school throughout her childhood, a commute she estimates was between three and five kilometres, and she started running competitively in primary school after a gentle push from her brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said, \u2018you are capable as a runner\u2019,\u201d says Jepchirchir. \u201cHe motivated me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her coach for many years as a senior was Gabriela Nicola, but after he relocated back home to Italy the remote coaching arrangement via phone calls, WhatsApp and emails soon became difficult and she later decided to steer her own path.<\/p>\n

Jepchirchir trains in Kapsabet alongside a pacemaker and with her husband, Davis Ngeno, who was once a competitive runner. When the lockdown restrictions took hold in the spring and Kenyans were warned not to train with more than two other athletes, Jepchirchir\u2019s close-knit setup remained much the same, although without access to tracks her focus was on doing fartleks and long runs over the rolling hills around Kapsabet.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis pandemic was difficult and it affected a lot of people,\u201d she says. \u201cI used this time to train, I didn\u2019t stop because I was trying to reach my shape.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her big target was the Boston Marathon in April, but when that was first postponed, then outright cancelled, she began to focus her sights on the World Half Marathon Championships.<\/p>\n

Despite the cold weather and sea breeze blowing in from the Baltic on Saturday, she spoke in confident terms about a fast time and even told her manager before the race she was \u201cin as good shape, if not better\u201d than she was in Prague last month.<\/p>\n

After a strong early pace \u2013 5km was reached in 15:20, 10km in 30:47 \u2013 Jepchirchir knew she was on for a fast time, but the chief thing on her mind was bringing the gold medal back to Kenya. She had a major moment of panic with 50 minutes on the clock as her teammate Joyciline Jepkosgei tangled legs with Ethiopia\u2019s world record-holder Ababel Yeshaneh, both athletes crashing to the road and forcing Jepchirchir to hurdle them to stay on her feet.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt affected me because I (stood) to see if Joyciline was coming, but I heard (her) say, \u2018Peres, go, I\u2019m coming,\u2019 so I moved on. I was looking (out) for the team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jepchirchir closed up quickly on the leaders and turned for home alongside Ethiopia\u2019s Yalemzerf Yehualaw and Germany\u2019s Melat Yisak Kejeta. Jepchirchir powered ahead as they navigated a chicane into the finishing straight and from there she was able to enjoy a solo run to the line, crossing in 1:05:16 to carve 18 seconds off her women-only world record.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am so happy with this,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a gift to all the Kenyans, to my family.\u201d<\/p>\n

Having the physical tools is one thing, but to go where no woman has gone before \u2013 and set a world record \u2013 you need a whole lot of determination to go with it.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s an area in which Peres Jepchirchir has never been lacking.<\/p>\n

Her courage, class and composure were all on full display on Saturday as the 27-year-old claimed her second global title at the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships Gdynia 2020, her time of 1:05:16 in cold, windy conditions a world record (pending ratification) in a women-only race.<\/p>\n

It came as no surprise to those watching. Jepchirchir, after all, had run 1:05:34 in Prague last month in what was a largely solo run and for her manager, Gianni Demadonna, the photos from that race were a window into her mindset.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was alone in front, but you could see the determination in her face,\u201d he says. \u201cShe\u2019s not only really motivated, but she has a tough mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was February 2014 when he first came across it, and it left a lasting impression.<\/p>\n

Virtually no one knew who Jepchirchir was when she appeared at the front in the Kenyan Cross Country Championships, surging clear of reigning world cross country champion Emily Chebet and 1500m star Faith Kipyegon, who eventually outkicked 20-year-old Jepchirchir for the win.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe ran an amazing race for a girl nobody knows,\u201d says Demadonna. \u201cShe was caught in the last 500, 600 but I said, \u2018this is amazing \u2013 a good talent not only in the legs, but in the brain, if you are so motivated to run without fear out front.\u2019 I signed her immediately after that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jepchirchir had run one low-level marathon before that, clocking 2:47:33 at altitude in Kenya, but until that point no one had ever witnessed her world-class potential.<\/p>\n

She grew up in Kericho in western Kenya and her family were farmers, growing tea and maize. Jepchirchir ran to school throughout her childhood, a commute she estimates was between three and five kilometres, and she started running competitively in primary school after a gentle push from her brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said, \u2018you are capable as a runner\u2019,\u201d says Jepchirchir. \u201cHe motivated me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her coach for many years as a senior was Gabriela Nicola, but after he relocated back home to Italy the remote coaching arrangement via phone calls, WhatsApp and emails soon became difficult and she later decided to steer her own path.<\/p>\n

In 2016 she lowered her half marathon best to 1:06:39 and announced herself on the global stage with victory at the World Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff. She reached an even higher level in 2017, breaking the half marathon world record in Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, clocking 1:05:06 to beat Mary Keitany by seven seconds.<\/p>\n

What made that run all the more astonishing was that Jepchirchir was a few weeks pregnant at the time, and she gave birth to her daughter, Natalia, in October 2017. She was patient on the comeback, as is the custom with Kenyan athletes, slowly nursing her body back to fitness.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was difficult, I had to lose weight (after pregnancy),\u201d says Jepchirchir. \u201cBut Natalia was a blessing from God.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thirteen months after giving birth, Jepchirchir returned to racing with another low-key marathon in Kenya, clocking 2:46:15, and she ran her first high-level marathon in Saitama, Japan last December, winning in 2:23:50, a PB and just 32 seconds shy of the course record.<\/p>\n

Jepchirchir trains in Kapsabet alongside a pacemaker and with her husband, Davis Ngeno, who was once a competitive runner. When the lockdown restrictions took hold in the spring and Kenyans were warned not to train with more than two other athletes, Jepchirchir\u2019s close-knit setup remained much the same, although without access to tracks her focus was on doing fartleks and long runs over the rolling hills around Kapsabet.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis pandemic was difficult and it affected a lot of people,\u201d she says. \u201cI used this time to train, I didn\u2019t stop because I was trying to reach my shape.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her big target was the Boston Marathon in April, but when that was first postponed, then outright cancelled, she began to focus her sights on the World Half Marathon Championships.<\/p>\n

Despite the cold weather and sea breeze blowing in from the Baltic on Saturday, she spoke in confident terms about a fast time and even told her manager before the race she was \u201cin as good shape, if not better\u201d than she was in Prague last month.<\/p>\n

After a strong early pace \u2013 5km was reached in 15:20, 10km in 30:47 \u2013 Jepchirchir knew she was on for a fast time, but the chief thing on her mind was bringing the gold medal back to Kenya. She had a major moment of panic with 50 minutes on the clock as her teammate Joyciline Jepkosgei tangled legs with Ethiopia\u2019s world record-holder Ababel Yeshaneh, both athletes crashing to the road and forcing Jepchirchir to hurdle them to stay on her feet.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt affected me because I (stood) to see if Joyciline was coming, but I heard (her) say, \u2018Peres, go, I\u2019m coming,\u2019 so I moved on. I was looking (out) for the team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jepchirchir closed up quickly on the leaders and turned for home alongside Ethiopia\u2019s Yalemzerf Yehualaw and Germany\u2019s Melat Yisak Kejeta. Jepchirchir powered ahead as they navigated a chicane into the finishing straight and from there she was able to enjoy a solo run to the line, crossing in 1:05:16 to carve 18 seconds off her women-only world record.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am so happy with this,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a gift to all the Kenyans, to my family.\u201d<\/p>\n

Peres Jepchirchir after winning the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships Gdynia 2020 (Dan Vernon)Peres Jepchirchir after winning the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships Gdynia 2020 (Dan Vernon) \u00a9 Copyright<\/p>\n

Jepchirchir plans to take a week off training now then build up for the Valencia Marathon, which is scheduled for 6 December. \u201cI hope for 2:17, 2:18, if God gives me good health and energy,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

First, though, it\u2019s back to Kenya with the world title in tow, and she knows her daughter will be keen to welcome her after following the race from afar. \u201cShe understands,\u201d says Jepchirchir. \u201cShe says she wants to run like Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kenya\u2019s Olympic marathon team was selected in January this year, but Jepchirchir is hopeful there might be room for revision ever since the Games were postponed to 2021. \u201cMaybe if I can run a good time I can be selected, but Kenya has strong ladies.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the half marathon has so far been her strongest discipline, Jepchirchir says she \u201cloves them all\u201d and she is relishing the chance to take on double the distance in December.<\/p>\n

With the form she\u2019s in, even the most ambitious goal now seems achievable.<\/p>\n

Cathal Dennehy for World Athletics<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Having the physical tools is one thing, but to go where no woman has gone before \u2013 and set a world record \u2013 you need a whole lot of determination to go with it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":462,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[21,3,404,1],"tags":[164,6,408],"class_list":["post-460","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-featured","category-halfmara","category-news","tag-half-marathon","tag-kenya","tag-peris-jepchirchir"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/kenya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/460","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/kenya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/kenya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/kenya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/kenya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=460"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/kenya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/460\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":463,"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/kenya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/460\/revisions\/463"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/kenya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/462"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/kenya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=460"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/kenya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=460"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/kenya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=460"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}