Sarah Kiptoo Cheriwoi (born 1989) is a Kenyan-born long-distance runner who is the winner of the 2014 Casablanca International Marathon as well as the 2013 and 2016 Grandma's Marathon, the 2017 Philadelphia Marathon and several other American road races.[1][2][3][4]

Top three finishers in the 2015 Minneapolis to St. Paul Twin Cities Marathon: Sinke Biyadgilgn, Serkalem Biset Abrha and Sarah Kiptoo

Professional career

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Before winning the Grandma's Marathon in June 2013 (and setting a new course record),[5] Kiptoo ran and won several half marathons (as well as 5K and 10K road races) in the Netherlands, Finland, France, and England, while also finishing third at the Helsinki Marathon and top-10 in the Reims à Toutes Jambes, Madrid Half Marathon, Prague Half Marathon and Great Bristol Half Marathon.[6][7] She took the 30,000-runner Indianapolis Half Marathon woman's win in 2013 as well, clocking a 1:12:26.[8][9]

In May 2013, she was in Cleveland, Ohio, for the Cleveland Rite Aid Marathon. With a time of 2:33:42, Kiptoo won the race while lowering her personal record by more than 10 minutes.[10] She won the race again in 2014.[11]

Her first Grandma's Marathon in 2013 showed her aggressive running style and characteristic fast start. She had trained in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and arrived at the shores of Lake Superior ready to push the pace. She left Everlyne Lagat and clocked 1:11:31 at the half marathon mark, then kept the speed high to break Firiya Sultanova's course-record time from 2003. Kiptoo finished in 2:26:32 and won $20,000 along with a new Toyota Corolla.[12]

She returned to the race in 2014, finishing third. In 2015, she was leading, but Jane Kibii passed her in the last mile. But when she arrived on a humid June day in 2016, things were different. She drank fluids copiously and kept looking over her shoulder to find Clara Santucci and Serkalem Biset Abrha. They wouldn't catch her—she broke the tape in first place with a 2:33:28 finish.[13]

She also ran the California International Marathon in 2013 after the Houston Marathon canceled due to inclement weather. In the Sacramento race, she dueled with Paige Siemers, Jeannette Faber and Pasca Cheruiyot to finish second in 2:31:23, as Rebecca Wade finished first with a course record of 2:29:21.[14][6] In 2016, she returned to the race in top form. She started in the lead pack and continued to pull ahead of some of the top runners in the nation by winning in 2:31:20, outpacing Stephanie Bruce and Lauren Jimison.[15]

She raced the Big Sur Half Marathon and won back-to-back victories in 2013 and 2014, clocking her personal best half marathon time (1:11:21) in the first win.[6][16]

In 2014, she was a top competitor at the USATF Half Marathon Championships.[17]

In 2016, Kiptoo was making headlines in her hometown. She took first in the Santa Fe Thunder Half Marathon, winning in 1:15:52 (she had finished second in 2013 and 2014).[18]

In 2017, Kiptoo arrived in Philadelphia with another New Mexican runner, Boniface Kongin. The two would lead men and women in the chilly, windy morning at the Philadelphia Marathon, with Kiptoo finishing in 2:38:13.[19][20] She returned in 2018 to finish third as Serkalem Biset Abrha set a course record.[21][22]

In October 2019, Kiptoo and hundreds of other runners had great conditions at the start of the Duke City Marathon in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Wearing her purple Grandma's Marathon T-shirt, she won the race and set her sights on returning to the Philadelphia Marathon.[23]

Kiptoo was back in Kenya after the COVID-19 pandemic hit, but returned to Duluth for the 2021 Grandma's Marathon. She faded out though, and did not finish.[24][25][26]

Kiptoo has finished 1st in over 25 races domestically and internationally, winning more than $150,000 in prize money.[27]

Personal life

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Kiptoo has 10 siblings. She is the only elite runner in her family. She has two children (as of 2014). Kiptoo lives and trains in New Mexico with the AmeriKenyan Running Club. In the mid-2010s, she worked with agent Scott Robinson.[12][13]

Achievements

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Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
2009 BIG 25 Berlin Berlin, Germany 7th 25K 1:32:04
2010 Nottingham Half Marathon Nottingham, England 1st Half Marathon 1:16:54
2010 Val-de-Marne Half Marathon Nogent-sur-Marne, France 1st Half Marathon 1:13:56
2012 Lidingöloppet Stockholm, Sweden 4th 10K Cross Country Run 36:05
2013 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon Indianapolis, Indiana 1st Half Marathon 1:12:26
2013 Cleveland Marathon Cleveland, Ohio 1st Marathon 2:33:42
2013 Grandma's Marathon Duluth, Minnesota 1st Marathon 2:26:32
2013 Big Sur Half Marathon Big Sur, California 1st Half Marathon 1:11:22
2013 California International Marathon Sacramento, California 2nd Marathon 2:31:23
2014 Cleveland Marathon Cleveland, Ohio 1st Marathon 2:34:58
2014 Grandma's Marathon Duluth, Minnesota 3rd Marathon 2:34:55
2014 Casablanca International Marathon Casablanca, Morocco 1st Marathon 2:35:22
2014 America's Finest City Half Marathon San Diego, California 3rd Half Marathon 1:15:38
2014 Big Sur Half Marathon Big Sur, California 1st Half Marathon 1:13:40
2015 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon Indianapolis, Indiana 1st Half Marathon 1:13:09
2015 Cobán International Half Marathon Cobán, Guatemala 1st Half Marathon 1:17:41
2015 Grandma's Marathon Duluth, Minnesota 3rd Marathon 2:32:51
2015 America's Finest City Half Marathon San Diego, California 3rd Half Marathon 1:15:38
2016 Grandma's Marathon Duluth, Minnesota 1st Marathon 2:33:29
2016 America's Finest City Half Marathon San Diego, California 2nd Half Marathon 1:15:52
2016 Twin Cities Marathon St. Paul, Minnesota 2nd Marathon 2:32:18
2016 California International Marathon Sacramento, California 1st Marathon 2:31:20
2017 Philadelphia Marathon Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1st Marathon 2:38:14

References

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  1. ^ Triola, Page (2 October 2019). "Everything You Need to Know About the Philadelphia Marathon". Runner's World. Easton, Pennsylvania: Hearst. Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Trafeh, Nelson Win National Half-Marathon Titles". Runner's World. Easton, Pennsylvania: Hearst. 24 July 2013. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Records & Results - Grandma's Marathon". grandmasmarathon.com. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
  4. ^ Rapp, Timothy (19 November 2017). "Philadelphia Marathon 2017: Boniface Kongin, Sarah Kiptoo Win, Full Results". Bleacher Report. San Francisco, California: Turner Broadcasting System. Archived from the original on 23 November 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  5. ^ Bencomo, Phil (23 June 2013). "Sarah Kiptoo Sets New Grandma's Course Record; Bazu Worku Wins Men's Marathon". Lake Superior Magazine. Duluth, Minnesota: Hearst. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "Sarah Kiptoo Jeriwoi". Monaco: World Athletics. 2022. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  7. ^ "Sarah Kiptoo". Professional Athlete Biographies (PDF). St. Paul, Minnesota: Twin Cities in Motion. 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  8. ^ Woods, David (2 May 2014). "2013 women's 500 Festival Mini champ Sarah Kiptoo back to defend Saturday". The Indy Star. Indianapolis, Indiana: USA Today Network.
  9. ^ "Runners crossing the finish line of the Mini Marathon". WTHR-TV. Indianapolis, Indiana: ABC. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  10. ^ "Kenyans Philemon Terer, Sarah Kiptoo run away from field to win Cleveland Marathon". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Cleveland, Ohio: Advance Local. 19 May 2013. Archived from the original on 4 February 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  11. ^ Cunningham, Kaily (18 May 2014). "Philip Lagat, Sarah Kiptoo win Cleveland marathon". Morning Journal. Lorain, Ohio: MediaNews Group. Archived from the original on 17 February 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  12. ^ a b Nowacki, Jon (22 June 2013). "Kiptoo shatters course record". Duluth News Tribune. Duluth, Minnesota: Forum Communications. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  13. ^ a b Weegman, Rick (18 June 2016). "Kiptoo shatters course record". Duluth News Tribune. Duluth, Minnesota: Forum Communications. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  14. ^ Kawahara, Matt (9 December 2013). "Temperatures Low, Spirits High: Kenyan's Sprint Shakes Competition". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California: The McClatchy Company. pp. A1, C1, C9.
  15. ^ Billingsley, Mark (5 December 2016). "Oyugi bests training partner, last year's champ, with late kick". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California: USA Today Network. pp. 1A, 3A, 8C.
  16. ^ "Half Marathon set for Sunday". The Californian. Salinas, California. 14 November 2014. pp. 12A.
  17. ^ Gambaccini, Peter (17 January 2014). "Meb Keflezighi Headlines Sunday's U.S. Half Marathon Championship". Runner's World. Easton, Pennsylvania: Hearst. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  18. ^ "Santa Fe's Kiptoo on Top". The Santa Fe New Mexican. Santa Fe, New Mexico: Tom Cross. 19 November 2016. pp. B1.
  19. ^ Sharp, Corey (20 November 2017). "Two New Mexicans are champs in Philly". The Philadelphia Daily News. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Philadelphia Media Network. p. 48.
  20. ^ "Runners top marathon". The Sentinel. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Lee Enterprises. 20 November 2017. pp. A3.
  21. ^ "Male, female winners set course records". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Philadelphia Media Network. 19 November 2018. pp. B1, D12, D38.
  22. ^ Shaw, Clay (18 November 2018). "Yae, Abrha Top Philly Marathon". Runner's Gazette. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  23. ^ Newell, Patrick (21 October 2019). "Howe, Kiptoo race to top Duke City Marathon". The Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico: Journal Publishing Company. pp. B1.
  24. ^ Kevin, Pates (19 June 2021). "Marathon Mainstays Unwavering In Pursuit". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. pp. C5.
  25. ^ Warfield, Baihly (18 June 2021). "Kiptoo, Kongin among elite pack racing to repeat as Grandma's Marathon champions" (video). WDIO—TV. Duluth, Minnesota: Hubbard Broadcasting. ABC. Archived from the original on 22 August 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  26. ^ Wellens, Matt (20 June 2021). "Grandma's Marathon notebook: Fast, early times hold up for Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon winners". Yahoo! News. Sunnyvale, California. Tribune Publishing. Archived from the original on 17 February 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  27. ^ Ken Young; Andy Milroy, eds. (10 February 2022). "Sara Kiptoo". Mattole Valley, California: Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Archived from the original on 4 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.