PRONUNCIATION: Ree-tah Jep-too

BIRTHDATE: 15 February 1981

PERSONAL BEST: 2:19:57 (Chicago, 2013)

WORLD MARATHON MAJORS:
13Oct13 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 1st 2:19:57
15Apr13 Boston Marathon 1st 2:26:25
07Oct12 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2nd 2:22:04
16Apr12 Boston Marathon 6th 2:35:53
02Nov08 ING New York City Marathon 4th 2:27:49
21Apr08 Boston Marathon 3rd 2:26:34
02Sep07 Osaka IAAF World Championships Marathon 7th 2:32:03
16Apr07 Boston Marathon 4th 2:33:08
05Nov06 ING New York City Marathon 4th 2:26:59
17Apr06 Boston Marathon 1st 2:23:38
14Aug05 Helsinki IAAF World Championships Marathon 7th 2:24:22

ADDITIONAL MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
20Nov11 Eldoret KASS Marathon 1st 2:36:15
30Oct11 BMW Frankfurt Marathon 5th 2:25:44
10Apr11 ABN AMRO Rotterdam Marathon 5th 2:28:09
17Apr05 Turin Marathon 3rd 2:31:50
28Nov04 Milan City Marathon 1st 2:28:11
05Jun04 Stockholm Marathon 1st 2:35:14

CAREER NOTES: Rita Jeptoo was the top female marathoner in the world in 2013, winning Boston for the second time and then setting the fastest women’s marathon time of the year with a commanding sub-2:20 win in Chicago. Jeptoo is also past champion of marathons in Stockholm, Milan and Eldoret and was runner-up by one second at the 2012 Chicago Marathon.

“Winning the Boston Marathon for me in 2013 was fantastic, especially to come back and win again after 2006, has shown my potential,” says Jeptoo. “But of course my victory last year was not as important as helping the victims of the bombs and the families who were affected by the terrible tragedy. Coming back is so nice for me to try to win again and hopefully to bring some hope and joy to families and to the injured. It also will be an honor to run Boston again to show the world that we don’t give in to fear.”

Jeptoo holds one of the fastest half marathon times ever run, having finished third at the 2013 Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in 66:27. She also won the bronze medal at the 2006 IAAF World Road Running 20K Championships in 63:47.

PERSONAL NOTES: Jeptoo’s win in Chicago was the first time a Kenyan woman won the race since 2001 when four-time Boston Marathon champion Catherine Ndereba set a 2:18:47 world record there. Jeptoo took time off from racing from 2008 until 2010 for maternity leave. She returned to marathon competition with a renewed sense of purpose in 2011 by running three marathons and four half marathons. She has finished in the top six at Boston five times and trains in Eldoret with teammate Jemima Sumgong.

“Coming back is so nice for me to try to win again and hopefully to bring some hope and joy to families and to the injured.”