Sheila Chepkirui Aims for Sub-2:20 at Nagoya Women’s Marathon

Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui returns to Nagoya, Japan, seeking to defend her title at the Nagoya Women’s Marathon on Sunday, March 9, and potentially break the 2:20 barrier. The 2023 New York City Marathon champion won last year’s race in 2:20:40.

Chepkirui’s Recent Form and Goals

Chepkirui expressed her ambition to improve upon her previous performance at Nagoya. “My goal on Sunday will be to try and defend my title,” she stated during the pre-race press conference. She added that favorable weather conditions could contribute to a faster time, stating, “It will also depend on the weather. If we have good weather, I will push myself to run 2:20 or under.”

Her training regimen remains consistent with last year’s preparation, with a particular focus on strength training. “I haven’t changed my training. it is similar to my training before last year’s race. My main area of focus has been on gym work,” Chepkirui explained.

2025 Season Recap

Chepkirui’s 2025 season has been varied. Following her Nagoya victory, she participated in track events at the Kenya Defence Forces championships, achieving a seventh-place finish in the 5,000m with a time of 15:57.5. She rebounded with a win in the 10,000m at the same championships, clocking 33:34.14.

Returning to road racing, Chepkirui finished seventh at the Boston 10K in 32:17. She then secured a victory at the Great North Run Half Marathon in Britain, finishing in 1:09:32. She concluded the year with a third-place finish at the New York Marathon, where Kenyan women achieved a podium sweep, with Hellen Obiri (2:19:51) and Sharon Lokedi (2:20:07) taking first and second place, respectively.

Competition in Nagoya

Chepkirui will face strong competition in Nagoya, including Ethiopia’s Aynalem Desta, the 2023 Amsterdam Marathon champion, and Eunice Chumba of Bahrain, who finished third in last year’s race. Selly Kaptich, the 2022 Frankfurt Marathon champion, will also join Chepkirui, bolstering the Kenyan contingent.

Key Takeaways

• Sheila Chepkirui is the defending champion of the Nagoya Women’s Marathon.
• She aims to defend her title and potentially run a sub-2:20 marathon.
• Chepkirui’s 2025 season included successes in both track and road racing.
• She will face competition from Aynalem Desta and Eunice Chumba, among others.

Sources:

Watch Athletics, World Athletics, Pulse Sports, Athletics Illustrated