FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Vibian Cepkirui: From sleeping on the floor in Doha to triumph
in Vienna within three days
Sunday's comeback race of the Vienna City Marathon had everything you can
get from the classic event: Triumph, joy, fun, jubilant scenes, dejection,
ups and downs for elite and fun runners. As Swiss record holder Tadesse
Abraham, who finished seventh in 2:12:26 and was happy with his race in hot
weather conditions, had put it in the press conference before the race with
regard to his own situation: "This is sport, there are always ups and
downs." Marathon races always provide plenty of proof for that.
The 38th edition of the Vienna City Marathon delivered a great comeback for
major international city marathon running during the pandemic. One of the
stories of the day written in Austria's capital was that of Vibian
Chepkirui, who won her debut marathon in 2:24:29.
The 27 year-old Kenyan was clearly not among the hot favorites when she
arrived in Vienna. She had never run a marathon before and in the past
twelve months Vibian Chepkirui was only able to compete in a single
international race due to the corona pandemic. It was a 10,000 m track
event in Stockholm, where she finished eighth with a personal best of
31:09.42.
"It was a tough time because of Corona. I tried to qualify for the Olympics
in Stockholm, but I did not manage. After that I decided to concentrate on
a marathon," said Vibian Chepkirui, whose half marathon PB of 69:09 did not
indicate either that something spectacular might be on the cards for her in
Vienna.
Additionally she had to cope with a major obstacle on her way to Vienna.
Flying via Doha from Nairobi Vibian Chepkirui and a group of Kenyan runners
- among them Vienna's men's winner Leonard Langat as well - missed their
connecting flight. The plane from Kenya had been delayed. "They were stuck
in Doha and the airline did not care. So they had to sleep on the floor,"
explained Vibian Chepkirui's coach Julien di Maria. "Obviously this is not
ideal two days before a marathon."
Despite all this Vibian Chepkirui ran a brilliant marathon debut and
dominated a strong field. At 30 k she was well in the lead and her split
time of 1:40:37 pointed towards a 2:21:30 finish, well inside the course
record of 2:22:12. "I was surprised to win the race, but I started to
believe by the half way mark. Of course this is the biggest win in my
career," said Vibian Chepkirui, whose husband Wesley Kangogo was her
pacemaker. "The heat was a problem though. In cooler conditions I could
have run at least two minutes faster. Additionally I got problems with a
calf muscle with around four kilometres to go." She finally finished in
2:24:29.
It was only in 2020 when Vibian Chepkirui ran her first international
races. She clocked her half marathon PB in Prague, the home of her
management group Ikaika. In Kenya she trains in Iten and one of her
training partners is the three-time winner of the Vienna City Marathon and
course record holder Nancy Kiprop. Vienna's record winner could not return
to the race due to a back injury. "Nancy gave me advice on Vienna. I was
trying to break her course record," said Vibian Chepkirui, hoping that both
of them will be on the start line at the next Vienna City Marathon on 24
April 2022. One thing is sure: They will avoid flying to Vienna via Doha.
More information is available at: www.vienna-marathon.com
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