From Crash-Out to Champion: Chepkemoi Triumphs in Nairobi as Jerotich Debuts with a Bang

By Robert Kibet

Nairobi, July 6, 2025 – On a cool, overcast morning with perfect racing conditions, Emily Chepkemoi stamped her authority on the women’s 42km race at the third edition of the Nairobi City Marathon, crossing the finish line in 2:25:45 to clinch a career-defining victory at the iconic Uhuru Park.

The marathon, run under the banner “I Love Nairobi,” offered runners a unique urban route—starting at Uhuru Park, rising onto the elevated Nairobi Expressway, and looping through major city arteries before finishing back at the same lush green park, freshly renovated and turned into a marathon village for the day.

Chepkemoi, who trains in Iten and hails from West Pokot, ran a smart, patient race. Positioned second at both the 15km mark (43:44) and halfway (1:06:47), she stayed close to the lead group, showing no panic as the early tempo fluctuated.

“Today’s marathon was good for me because I had prepared well to face any challenges,” Chepkemoi said after the win. “The course was good, but the heavy weather affected me a bit. At around 30km, I developed a stitch but managed to stay with the lead group.”

This win was particularly emotional for Chepkemoi. In the 2022 edition of the same race, she crashed out with a knee injury after a nasty fall. Since then, she has run in top-tier marathons across the globe—Milan, Paris, and Shanghai, where she ran 2:23 in 2023 to place fifth, despite fading in the final 10km. Sunday’s victory in Nairobi felt like full-circle redemption.

In second place was Vivian Jerotich, training at Kapsait, Elgeiyo Marakwet county who surprised many with a strong finish in 2:26:31. Ranked 18th at 15km (43:47) and 10th at halfway (1:06:51), she surged past fading rivals in the final 10 kilometers to secure her spot on the podium.

“It was a strong race, and the winner had incredible finishing power,” Jerotich said. “I’m happy with the podium finish, but I’ll go back to the drawing board. This was a learning experience.”

Lucy Chelele, also based at the Kapsait training camp, delivered a personal best performance to take third in 2:26:35. After placing 13th in 2024, her rise through the ranks showed both grit and growth.

“At 25km, the lead group was still together, but at 30km, one athlete broke away. I tried to close the gap but had to stick to my pace. I’m happy with third—last year, I was overwhelmed at 32km, so I worked on mileage this time.”

The 2025 course, which combined the sweeping views of the Expressway with the buzz of Nairobi’s city center, offered challenges in the form of false flats, flyovers, and long straightaways. But for these women, it also offered a stage to shine.

As music, cheers, and flags filled the finish zone inside Uhuru Park, it was clear the marathon had lived up to its theme, not just as a race, but a celebration of Nairobi’s resilience and its champions.

Top 10 Results – Women’s 42km, Nairobi City Marathon 2025

Position	Bib	Name	Time	15km	21km
1	886	Emily Chepkemoi	2:25:5	43:44	1:06:7
2	866	Vivian Jerotich	2:26:1	43:47	1:06:1
3	400	Lucy Chelele	2:26:5	43:48	1:06:2
4	368	Hellen Chepkorir	2:27:9	43:49	1:06:3
5	133	Naomi Chepkorir	2:27:2	43:46	1:06:0
6	381	Caroline Jeruto Chesir	2:28:8	43:47	1:06:1
7	7	Flomena Chepkiach Ngurasia	2:29:7	43:48	1:07:5
8	12	Judith Jeptum Korir	2:29:3	43:46	1:06:0
9	153	Dorine Jerop	2:29:5	43:46	1:06:0
10	1316	Sharon Jemaiyo Kipchumba	2:30:0	43:48	1:07:7