Gladys Koech secured a hard-fought victory in the women’s 21km race at the 21st edition of the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon on Sunday.
Koech clinched the top spot with a time of 1:12:10, edging out Esther Chemutai (1:12:12) and Mary Jerotich (1:13:59) who claimed second and third place, respectively.
The 28-year-old expressed her gratitude for the win, attributing it to her unwavering faith and dedication. “I prayed to God before the race, asking for His blessing. I’ve worked tirelessly, and this victory fills me with immense joy,” Koech stated.
This win marked a significant turnaround for Koech, who had a disappointing 18th-place finish in the senior women’s 10km at the National Cross Country Championships in Ruiru earlier this year.
“The race was incredibly challenging, but I gave it my all. Considering this was my first StanChart Marathon, it’s a fantastic achievement. I aspire to represent Kenya at the international level,” she added.
Chemutai, who also had a remarkable day, expressed her dream of competing in the World Championships or Olympics.
“I’ve never had the opportunity to represent Kenya internationally, but it’s my ultimate goal. I hope to earn a spot on the Kenyan team for the World Championships, possibly in the women’s marathon,” the 29-year-old said.
Earlier, Chemutai had secured a dominant victory in the women’s 42km race, clocking 2:31:52. Caroline Koech (2:35:00) and Joy Kemuma (2:36:06) rounded out the podium.
This marked her first podium finish in the marathon, having previously competed in 2022 and 2023, finishing seventh and fifth, respectively.
Chemutai attributed her victory to a bold strategy of taking the lead at the 17km mark, despite the risk of burning out.
“My husband and daughter were watching on TV, and I wanted to give my best for them. I’ve been training hard, and this is the reward,” she said.
Chemutai also acknowledged the inspiration she draws from 2017 World Cross Country champion Irine Cheptai. “She’s my role model, and I wanted to make her proud. I dedicated this win to her and my family,” she added.
In other race categories
- Men’s Half Marathon: Vincent Mutai (1:03:27), Keyborn Obato (1:03:34), Silas Kiplimo (1:03:51)
- Men’s 10km: Shadrack Musyoka (29:50), Dickson Katagon (29:58), Robert Biwott (30:14)
- Women’s 10km: Emmy Chemutai (36:17), Daisy Kandie (37:43), Sharon Rutto (38:19)
