Athletics: Eldoret celebrates ‘queen of Chicago’

Chicago Marathon winner Rita Jeptoo returned home to a queen’s welcome yesterday morning.

Jeptoo, who stunned the world with back-to-back wins in Chicago and Boston marathons, landed at the Eldoret International Airport where her family members, training mates and coaches were at hand to welcome her back home.

At the airport, her 65-year-old father Paul Lagat led the Mursik (sour milk) drinking fanfare before her mum Grace Lagat garlanded her with Sinendet, the Kalenjin traditional ornamental plant used to honour heroes and heroines.

The procession, which started at the airport as usual, headed to the Uasin Gishu County Governor’s office in downtown before it melted into the posh Eldoret Sports Club, where a huge party had been laid out even as song and dance for the heroine enlivened the air.

Emmanuel Mutai, second placed in Chicago Marathon, world 800m champion Eunice Sum and former world champion Janeth Jepkosgei were among a host of world-beating athletes present at the airport.

Central Rift Athletics Kenya chairman Abraham Mutai led coaches David Letting and Richard Metto in the homecoming fete.

Jeptoo defended the Chicago title clocking 2:24.35 after breaking the Boston Marathon course record in April at 2:18.57, which inched her closer to Britain’s Paula Radcliffe’s world marathon record of 2:15:25.

Jeptoo tops the 2013/2014 World Marathon Majors series leaderboard with 75 points.

Jeptoo, 33, said: “The course was so concentrated with experienced runners but I had to try my best. It’s not easy but I thank God who gave me powers to do it. I ensured other runners especially Ethiopians who gave us a difficult time trying to overtake us don’t succeed but luckily enough I managed to win.”

Mutai said it was time for AK officials to take care of athletes and ensure they are on the right track.

“It is our job as officials to ensure that we guide our athletes. I am not an athlete and I have never run but what I have done in the athletics world is better than those who have been athletes,” said Mutai.