Judith Korir Finishes Second in Women’s Marathon As Ethiopia’s Gotytom Gebreslase Wins Gold in Oregon

Judith Korir Finishes Second in Women’s Marathon As Ethiopia’s Gotytom Gebreslase Wins Gold in Oregon

Martin Moses
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:07 PM
  • Ethiopia's Gotytom Gebreslase denied Kenya her first gold in the Women's marathon after she set a new championship record of 2:18.11 in Oregon
  • Judith Korir used a time of 2:18.20 to win Kenya's third silver at the ongoing championships
  • Kenya had suffered an earlier blow when defending champion Ruth Chepngetich pulled out of the race due to stomach issues

Kenya's search for her first gold medal at the World Athletics Championships is set to continue after Judith Korir narrowly missed out in the women's marathon.

Korir was beaten by Ethiopia's Gotytom Gebreslase, who set a championship record to become the new champion. Kenyan-born turned Israeli national Lonah Salpeter won bronze.

Making her debut officially for Team Kenya, Korir, who is the reigning Paris and Abu Dhabi Marathon champion, took the mantle from the defending champion Ruth Chepngetich who pulled out of the race after just 18 kilometres.

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The 26-year-old was part of the leading pack of three Kenyans, three Ethiopians and an Israeli international. She swapped leads with Ethiopians Ababel Yeshaneh and Gotytom Gebreslasie.

It was her sith marathon race since making her official debut in road running. Another Kenyan, Angela Tanui, looked destined to finish in the medal bracket, but she fell off the pace and ended up finishing sixth.

Judith Korir, Team Kenya, World Athletics Championships
Judith Kori finished second in the women's marathon at the World Athletics Championships. Photo by Aleksandra Szmigiel.
Source: Getty Images

With less than 3 kilometres to go, Gebreslasie picked up the pace and widened the gap on Korir to ensure Ethiopia claimed a marathon double after Tamirat Tola's heroics in the men's edition yesterday.

Kenya's hopes for a first gold medal will now switch to the 3000 metres men's steeplechase and 1500 metres women's finals, where veterans like Conseslus Kipruto and Faith Kipyegon will be in action.

Despair for Kenya as Ruth Chepngetich withdraws from marathon race midway

Sports Brief had earlier reported that Team Kenya was dealt a massive blow in their pursuit to have a clean sweep in the women's marathon when defending champion Ruth Chepngetich withdrew after 18 kilometres.

Chepngetich was part of the three Kenyan women looking to land Kenya's first gold at the ongoing World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA.

She was also looking to become the first woman after Edna Kiplangát to win back-to-back titles after her triumph in Doha, Qatar, in 2019.

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Martin Moses
Martin Moses is a sports journalist with over five years of experience in media. He graduated from Multimedia University of Kenya (Bachelor of Journalism, 2017-2021)
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