Distinguished is level 3 of 4 in the Kenya Hall of Fame: sustained excellence over a career, widely honoured at home. See how the levels work.
Why they are here
Four New York City Marathon titles, three in London, and the fastest marathon ever run by a woman in a race without men in it.
Mary Jepkosgei Keitany came to running late, after a childhood in which she was told girls did not do it, and had her first child before her career properly began.
She won the London Marathon in 2011 and 2012, then took New York in 2014, 2015 and 2016 — three in a row — and again in 2018. At London in 2017 she ran 2:17:01 in a women-only field, taking more than a minute off Paula Radcliffe's women-only world record, which had stood since 2005. She also held the world record for the half marathon.
She retired in 2022 with four New York titles, a number only one other woman has matched, and is among the outstanding marathon runners of the century.
She won the London Marathon in 2011 and 2012, then took New York in 2014, 2015 and 2016 — three in a row — and again in 2018. At London in 2017 she ran 2:17:01 in a women-only field, taking more than a minute off Paula Radcliffe's women-only world record, which had stood since 2005. She also held the world record for the half marathon.
She retired in 2022 with four New York titles, a number only one other woman has matched, and is among the outstanding marathon runners of the century.
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