Kenya’s Jeptum Smashes Paris Marathon in Record Time

Kenya’s Judith Jeptum made history in France on Sunday, April 4 as she clocked a new course record at the Paris Marathon.

Jeptum won the race in two hours, 19 minutes and 48 seconds (2:19:48). She zoomed past her rivals right before the 30km mark and never looked back.

The feat is particularly outstanding as the race started with temperatures just above Zero Degree Celsius, at 8am in Paris.

“The conditions were tough but I’m happy with what I did today,” the athlete told journalists  after her victory.

The previous course record was notably held by her compatriot, Purity Cherotich Rionoripo. She beat Purity’s 2017 run by 17 seconds.

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Fantu Jimma and Besa Sado, both from Ethiopia, came second and third respectively. They both finished over three minutes behind Jeptum.

In the men’s race, Deso Gelmisa from Ethiopia emerged victorious with the biggest win of his career yet. He won in a time of 2 hours, 5 minutes and 7 seconds (2:05:07).

2021 Chicago Marathon Winner, Ethiopia’s Sefi Tura, finished second.  Tura finished three seconds behind 24-year old Gelmisa.

Gelmisa’s last marathon title came in 2019 at the Porto Marathon. The run in Paris was 14 seconds faster than his previous personal best.

Morhad Amdouni finished third in 2:05:22 – a new French record.

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