Mary Jepkosgei Keitany, born on January eighteenth, nineteen eighty-two, is a distinguished former professional long-distance runner from Kenya. Renowned for her exceptional talent, she made history as the world record holder in a women-only marathon, achieving an astonishing time of two hours, seventeen minutes, and one second at the 2017 London Marathon.
Throughout her illustrious career, Keitany has secured her place among the elite in marathon running, ranking fifth on the world all-time list as of November twenty-two. Additionally, she holds the eleventh position on the all-time list for the half marathon, showcasing her versatility and prowess in long-distance events.
Her remarkable achievements include a former half marathon best of one hour, five minutes, and fifty seconds, which stood as the women's world record for three years. Keitany has also set world bests in various distances, including ten miles in fifty minutes and five seconds, twenty kilometers in one hour, two minutes, and thirty-six seconds, and twenty-five kilometers in one hour, nineteen minutes, and fifty-three seconds, all accomplished in road races.
Beyond her athletic accomplishments, Keitany is dedicated to giving back to her community. In August twenty-eighteen, she was honored by the Shoe4Africa foundation, which established the Mary Keitany Shoe4Africa school in Torokwonin, Baringo County, Kenya. Together with her husband Charles, she actively participates on the school board, contributing to the education and development of future generations.