TOKYO (BN24) — Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya outpaced Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa in a dramatic sprint finish to win the women’s marathon gold medal at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Sunday.
Jepchirchir, 31, added another chapter to her decorated career by triumphing in 2 hours, 24 minutes, 43 seconds. The victory came after a tense duel with Assefa, who set the women-only world marathon record of 2:15:50 in London earlier this year. The two broke away from the pack before the 30-kilometer mark and ran stride for stride until entering Japan National Stadium for the decisive final stretch.
Assefa, 28, surged first with 250 meters remaining, but Jepchirchir responded with a powerful kick on the final bend, crossing the line two seconds ahead of her Ethiopian rival.
“It was not my ultimate plan to sprint in the final meters, but when I saw I was 100 meters from the finish, I just started to kick,” Jepchirchir said. “It was so hot, so difficult, but I managed to do it. This is my first World Championships, and I am so happy it happened in Tokyo because I also won my first Olympic gold medal here. Today was tougher. The humidity was so high, and I was exhausted coming into the stadium. But I sprinted for it.”
Assefa settled for silver, adding to her runner-up finish at the Paris Olympics last year. She said she preferred to frame the result positively.
“I don’t like to think I lost the gold. I always try to think I won the silver,” Assefa said. “Every medal is special. Honestly, my world record race in London was much easier. That had pacemakers, purposeful preparation and perfect conditions. Today was different, but I coped with the challenges.”
The bronze medal went to Julia Paternain of Uruguay, who finished in 2:27:23. Her achievement marked the first-ever medal for Uruguay at a World Athletics Championships.
“I love being able to run for Uruguay,” Paternain said. “My whole family is from there. I grew up in England and live in the United States, but I am a Nacional fan and proud to represent a small country with so much pride.”
The men’s marathon will take place Monday morning in Tokyo, wrapping up the endurance races at this year’s championships.
