Lonah Salpeter of Israel stopped and Seidel was back in the medals.Īfter the race, Seidel said during the press conference that she was inspired by Team USA’s Courtney Frerichs, who made a bold move in the 3,000-meter steeplechase to get silver this week. Seidel didn’t panic when she found herself lagging in fourth place-with about three miles to go, any one of the three in front of her could melt under the conditions and one of them did. When Jepchirchir and Kosgei surged in the final miles, she maintained her form, continuing to look smooth and calm. Seidel, 27, remained with the front group through 35K, in just her third career marathon. KAWAGOE, JAPAN – AUGUST 07: Peres Jepchirchir of Team Kenya celebrates as she crosses the finish line to win the gold medal in the Women’s Marathon Final on day fifteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Kasumigaseki Country Club on Augin Kawagoe, Japan. At the halfway point it was 79 degrees with 72 percent humidity, but according to reports from the ground, the pavement was about 100 degrees. After 25K, the lead group of 20 or so had been whittled down to 10. The women went out at a cautious pace, which they gradually squeezed down from 5:48 per mile in the first 5K to 5:36 right after the halfway point. I’m happy for my country, Kenya.”Īny expectations for fast times, despite the deep field, were thrown out when the weather forecast became clear.

I’m so, so happy because we win as Kenya,” Jepchirchir said. Brigid Kosgei took silver in 2:27:36, and Molly Seidel became the third American woman in history to earn a medal in the event, taking bronze in 2:27:46. Under extremely hot and humid conditions in Sapporo, Japan, Peres Jepchirchir survived the heat best, finishing the 2021 Olympic marathon in 2:27:20 to take gold.

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