Kenyan Peres Chepchirchir won the Boston Marathon on Monday 18 April. But the one who caught the eye was her compatriot, Edna Kiplagat, who continues to shine on the roads at 42.
The Boston Marathon always brings us great stories. It was in Boston, for the first time, that a woman ran the 42 km . It was on 19 April 1967 with a certain Kathrine Switzer. For the 126th edition, run on Monday 18 April, we will remember above all the feat of Edna Kiplagat.
She was indeed the sensation of this edition. The 42 year-old Kenyan finished at the foot of the podium with a time of 2h21mn40. She signed the best time in history for a woman over 40 years old. At her age, no other athlete has achieved such a performance. And yet, Edna Kiplagat is a mother of five. But that doesn't stop her from being at the top of her game.
Her secret: "It is thanks to my discipline that I am still at this level today," says Kiplagat. It's not easy, because I train twice a day every day and after training I take care of everything at home. I take care of my family. It's my priority there for them and to fulfil my role as a mother as well as possible. But I manage everything: my family, training and especially recovery.
Her performance is not insignificant when you know the intensity of the Boston Marathon. Even the champion and current queen of the 42.195 km, her compatriot Peres Chepchirchir, recognizes this. "Boston is Boston. It's a tough course," she said after her victory.
Double world champion in 2011 and 2013, Edna Kiplagat has shone in the biggest marathons: London, Los Angeles, New York ... She has won everything. Only one Olympic medal is missing from her rich record. And the winner of the 2017 Boston Marathon has not yet finished writing her history on the roads.
