Mary Jepkosgei Keitany
Kenyan former professional long distance runner and world record holder.
Mary Jepkosgei Keitany, born 18 January 1982 in Kabarnet, Baringo County, Kenya, is a former professional long-distance runner. She began running in primary school and joined the Hidden Talent Academy in 2002. Her first senior race was the Shoe4Africa 5 km in January 2006, where she placed 21st. The following year, she earned a silver medal at the World Road Running Championships, finishing behind Lornah Kiplagat, who set a world record.
After taking a year off for pregnancy, Keitany returned in May 2009 at the World 10K Bangalore, setting a personal best but finishing one second behind winner Aselefech Mergia. That September, she won the Lille Half Marathon in 1:07:00, the seventh-fastest time ever. This qualified her for the World Half Marathon Championships in Birmingham, where she won her first world title in a championship record of 1:06:36 and helped Kenya win team gold. Her 15 km split of 46:51 was not faster than the world record at the time (46:28 by Tirunesh Dibaba), though it was still a remarkable split. Her half marathon time set a new African record, beating Elana Meyer’s 1999 mark, and also broke her own Kenyan record.
In 2010, Keitany won the Abu Dhabi Half Marathon and set a world record at the Berlin 25 km race (1:19:53), finishing nearly five minutes ahead of runner-up Alice Timbilili. She won the Portugal Half Marathon in Lisbon in September (1:08:46) and made her marathon debut at the New York City Marathon, where she faded to third in 2:29:01.
The following year, she began with a world record at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon (1:05:50), the first sub-1:06 on a non-aided course, also setting world bests for 20 km (1:02:36), 8 km, and 10 miles. She won the London Marathon in 2:19:17, becoming the fourth-fastest woman ever. She repeated as Portugal Half Marathon champion in September, improving her course record to 1:07:54. At the New York City Marathon, she led by over four minutes at halfway but slowed to finish third in 2:23:38.
In 2012, windy conditions at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon slowed her to 1:06:49. She won the London Marathon in 2:18:37, breaking Catherine Ndereba’s African record and becoming the third-fastest woman at the distance. At the London Olympics, she ran with the lead pack until the 41 km mark, then finished fourth.
After announcing her pregnancy in early 2013, she skipped that year’s competitions. She re
- born
- 18 January 1982
- field
- Long distance running
- nationality
- Kenyan
- known_for
- World record in women-only marathon (2:17:01); former half marathon world record (1:05:50); world bests at 10 miles, 20 km, and 25 km
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- df=yes · 1982 · 1 · 18
- Birth Place
- Kabarnet, Baringo County, Kenya
- Weight
- 42 kg
- Retired
- Sep. 2021
- Country
- Kenya
- Sport
- Athletics
- Event
- Marathon
- Personal Best
- Half marathon: 64:55 (Ras Al Khaimah 2018) · Marathon: 2:17:01 WR (Wo, London 2017)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Mary Keitany was born in Kabarnet, Baringo County, Kenya, and started running while in primary school. In 2002, she joined the Hidden Talent Academy. Her first senior race was in January 2006 at the Shoe4Africa 5 km women's race, where she placed 21st. In 2007, she won a silver medal at the World Road Running Championships, finishing second to Lornah Kiplagat who broke the world record. After a year out due to pregnancy, she returned in 2009, winning the Lille Half Marathon and then the World Half Marathon Championships, setting a new personal best and championship record. She noted after that win, 'It's my best ever time, so I'm so happy.... I had a baby just 1 year and 3 months ago.'
Keitany set multiple world records and bests over various distances. In 2010, she set a world record in the Berlin 25 km race. Her husband Charles has been a supportive presence throughout her career, and the Mary Keitany Shoe4Africa school stands as a testament to her philanthropic legacy.
Reader's Guide
Mary Keitany's significance lies in her world record in the women-only marathon (2:17:01 at the 2017 London Marathon) and her former half marathon world record (1:05:50 in 2011). She also held world bests at 10 miles, 20 km, and 25 km. As of November 2022, she ranked fifth on the world all-time list for the marathon and eleventh for the half marathon. Her career included victories at the London Marathon (2011, 2012, 2017) and the New York City Marathon (2014, 2016, 2018), as well as a world championship gold at the 2009 World Half Marathon Championships. She competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics, finishing fourth. Her legacy includes setting multiple African and Kenyan records, and her performances helped elevate the standard of women's distance running. After retiring due to a hip injury, she remains involved in community work through the Shoe4Africa school.
Did You Know?
- Mary Keitany set the women-only marathon world record of 2:17:01 at the 2017 London Marathon.
- Her half marathon best of 1:05:50 (2011) was the women's world record for three years.
- She won a silver medal at the 2007 World Road Running Championships.
- She and her husband Charles sit on the board of the Mary Keitany Shoe4Africa school in Baringo County, Kenya.
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