Reigning world marathon champion Ruth Chepngetich has been named as the LG/SJAK Sports Personality of the Month for April. As part of the recognition, she was awarded with a LG washing machine.
The win follows her superb performance in the Kolay Istanbul Half Marathon, where she posted a new world record of 1:04:02 hours to beat Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw to second place. The 26-year-old beat the previous record, set 14 months ago by Ababel Yeshaneh with 29 seconds. Her spirited dash from gun to tape didn’t just wow millions of fans who followed live the proceedings, she was also outstanding throughout the race.
To crown her April success, Chepngetich also beat recent ARC Equator Rally winner Carl “Flash”Tundo, Eliud Kipchoge who won the NN Mission Marathon in Enschede, Holland in 2:04.30hours, and KPA Libero Sam Juma for the recognition by LG.
Other nominees floored by Chepngetich were Medline Sande who led Kenya Prisons to third position at the CAVB Women’s Club Championship and rugby star Daniel Taabu who scored 7 tries for Kenya Sevens at the Emirates Invitational in Dubai.
Chepng’etich joins the growing list of sportsmen and women to have won the coveted title this season. Other winners are tennis superstar Angela Okutoyi (January), basketballer Tylor Okari Ongwae of Kenya Moran’s (February), and boxer Elly Ajowi (March) in a fairy tale stint that saw him qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.
World Half Marathon Record Holder Ruth Chepng’etich indicated that her partnership with SJAK goes a long way in
bolstering athletes talent and empowering them to be the backbone of sports in the country. Being an Olympic year, sports personalities are giving their all to uphold higher standards hence the need to motivate their efforts.
LG Electronics corporate communications manager Maureen Kemunto, while congratulating Chepng’etich, noted that the company is proud to be a part of an initiative which rewards excellence.