Peres Jepchirchir Triumphs at Tokyo 2025 World Marathon Championships in a Dramatic Finish Against Tigist Assefa
On September 14, 2025, at the World Athletics Championships, Peres Jepchirchir from Kenya won the gold medal in the women’s marathon, finishing the race with an exceptionally thrilling sprint. The fight for the title took place in the final meters in Japan, where Jepchirchir managed to outpace Tigist Assefa from Ethiopia at the national stadium, securing another major victory in her career.
Decisive finish and the winner’s tactics
After 42 kilometers of running, Jepchirchir and Assefa entered the stadium almost shoulder to shoulder, promising an extremely exciting finish. In the final meters, Assefa took the lead, but the Kenyan accelerated in the last 100 meters and ultimately won by two seconds with a time of 2:24:43.
Peres Jepchirchir summarized:
I really did not expect to win, but when I saw there were only 100 meters left, I decided to attack. I discovered some hidden energy inside me.
Tigist Assefa – silver medalist
Tigist Assefa, who set the women-only world record in the marathon at the London race with a time of 2:15:50, this time took silver. This was the second time she narrowly lost a gold medal in a sprint finish – she had a similar experience at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Assefa said:
I don’t like to think that I lost gold. I had difficulties in preparation after a long rest following the record in London. However, I am happy that I finished the race with a silver medal.
Historic bronze for Uruguay — Julia Paternain
The biggest surprise of the championships was Julia Paternain from Uruguay, who won the first-ever world championships medal in the marathon for her country by finishing third with a time of 2:27:23.
Julia Paternain confessed:
I can’t believe it, I’m in shock. This was only my second marathon, and I was not focused on the time but on the competition itself.
Race progress and other participants
The early part of the race was dominated by Susanna Sullivan from the USA, who led for a large part of the course before being overtaken by the medalists. Sullivan finished in fourth place with a very good time of 2:28:17.
Also noteworthy was Kana Kobayashi, the winner of the Osaka Marathon earlier this year, who took seventh place, sparking enthusiasm among Japanese fans.
Significance of the competition
The women’s marathon at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo demonstrated that competition over the longest distance is gaining new momentum. The high athletic level, unexpected results, and fierce battle to the very last meters are attracting increasing attention from track and field fans.
Peres Jepchirchir’s triumph and the successes of the other athletes prove that the women’s marathon is becoming one of the most exciting events in the world of athletics.
📸 Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly
