Johannes sets Namibian record en route to winning Nagoya Women’s Marathon

WINDHOEK, March 10 – Long-distance runner and 2018 Commonwealth Games champion Helalia Johannes stunned Kenyans Visiline Jepkesho and Valary Jemeli at the Nagoya Dome finish line to win the Nagoya Women’s Marathon by 2 hours, 22 minutes and 25 seconds earlier today.

According to the Athletics Namibia website, 38 year old Johannes won the Nagoya Women’s Marathon in Nagoya, Japan in a personal best time and set a new national record of 2:22:25.

In addition, the website stated that “As the winner of the largest women’s Marathon in the world, she was also awarded the first ‘Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) Inspirational Women Award.'”

Jepkesho finished with a time of 2:22:58 while her Kenyan counterpart finished with 2:23:01, despite the pair having led at the 35-kilometer mark.
However, Johannes pulled away from the runners after 41 kilometers to win the title. – NDN Staffer