Kenya's Judith Jeptum breaks marathon record in Paris

Abu Dhabi marathon champion Judith Jeptum beat an elite field at this year's Paris marathon (Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris) to emerge victorious. 

Heading to the race, Jeptum was the third-fastest on the field with 2:22.30, one minute 27 seconds off Ethiopian Besu Sado’s personal best. The PB of Namibia’s Helalia Johannes (2:19:52) set in 2020 was the best time on the field. 

The 26-hear old Kenyan, however, clocked 2:19.48 to not only set a new PB but smash the women's course record set by Purity Rionoripo in 2017, proving her current form that saw her clock a half marathon PB of 1:05:28 one month ago no fluke. 

She had to battle with the unseasonably cold conditions in the French capital, but soldiered on to complete the race in record time.

“In the beginning, the weather was very cold and it is very difficult to run in 2 degrees, but I tried my best. From 6km, I tried to push a lot but it was not easy," Jeptum is quoted as saying by Euro Sport. 

Meanwhile, the men’s side of the race was won by Ethiopian Deso Gelmisa, who finished with a time of 2:05:07 to finish above compatriot Seifu Tura.

Morhad Amdouni claimed third place and set a French record time of 2:05:22 to beat the previous record set by Benoît Zwierzchiewski in 2003, who ran the race in 2:06:36.