Rita Jeptoo is the fastest woman on the starting list of the 31st ABN AMRO Marathon Rotterdam

Rita Jeptoo is the fastest woman on the starting list of the 31st ABN AMRO Marathon Rotterdam on Sunday April 10. The 30-year old Kenyan has a personal best of 2.23.38 to her name. That was the time she won with in Boston in 2006.

Jeptoo started running when her parents were no longer able to pay for her schooling. She was inspired by famous compatriot Tegla Loroupe, who still holds the 'Rotterdam' course record: 2.20.47, run in 1998. That achievement by Jeptoo's role model was a world record.

Jeptoo's list of five fastest marathons is as follows (time, city, placing, year):

2.23.38 Boston 1st 2006

2.24.22 Helsinki 7th 2005

2.26.34 Boston 3th 2008

2.26.59 New York 4th 2006

2.27.49 New York 4th 2008

In January Jeptoo finished second in the Alicante half marathon (1.12.02). Her fastest time at this distance is 1.07.08 (Lisbon, 2007).

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