Bahrain’s Ruth Jebet wins marathon in China

TDT | Manama                                                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahraini elite athlete Ruth Jebet won the women’s race at the Zhengkai Marathon 2024, held in Zheng-Kai, China.

The 2016 Olympic champion in the women’s 3,000 metres steeplechase triumphed amongst a high-quality field of long-distance specialists from around the world.

She was in a class of her own in her event, winning in a time of two hours 26 minutes 48 seconds.

Ruth finished more than five minutes ahead of runner-up Leah Jeruto of Kenya, who clocked a mark of 2:32:24, while Sheila Jepkosgei Chesang, also from Kenya, came third in 2:32:46.

The race was the first competitive run for Ruth this year. Her time was not far behind her personal best in the marathon of 2:23:08, which she clocked last year in December in Turley.

Ruth’s finishing time in Zheng-Kai met the entry standard for the women’s marathon at the upcoming Paris Olympic Games of 2:26:50.

Her individual record time in Turkey had already qualified her for the Olympics, although it has yet to be announced which events she will be competing in at the French capital later this summer.

Ruth is one of the Kingdom’s top hopefuls for a medal at this year’s Olympiad, being one of the national team’s most decorated athletes.

Apart from her Olympic gold medal, Ruth is also a two-time Diamond League Final winner, an Asian Games gold-medallist, a former world under-20 champion, and is a former world-record holder, all in the stee- plechase.