Helen Kiprop was Kenya’s only medalist in the women’s marathon, winning silver behind Ethiopia’s Mare Dibaba. Edna Kiplagat who had won the previous two world championship races finished fourth. The race went according to form-book unlike the men’s marathon. Mare Dibaba went to the race as the world leader in the marathon with a time of 2:19:52 which she ran in China which means she was already suited for the climatic conditions.
With 7km left, six women were left in the leading pack. : Kiprop, Sumgong, Kiplagat, Bahrain’s Eunice Kirwa, Tufa and Dibaba. Tigist Tufa would later drop out with 6km left, leaving three Kenyans, one Ethiopian and the Bahraini. With 5km left , Edna Kiplagat started to drift back conceding that she had nothing left.
As they approached the stadium, Kirwa of Bahrain, Kiprop, and Jemima Sumgong, we left to challenge Dibaba. First Kirwa tried then dropped back as did Sumgong.
Helen Kiprop put on a strong challenge, pursuing Dibaba in the final stages. But Dibaba had some reserves left in the tank
Top Ten finishers
| POS | BIB | ATHLETE | COUNTRY | MARK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 343 | Mare Dibaba |  ETH |
2:27:35 | |
| 2 | 565 | Helah Kiprop |  KEN |
2:27:36 | |
| 3 | 192 | Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa |  BRN |
2:27:39 | |
| 4 | 576 | Jemima Jelagat Sumgong | KEN |
2:27:42 | |
| 5 | 564 | Edna Ngeringwony Kiplagat | KEN |
2:28:18 | |
| 6 | 354 | Tigist Tufa | ETH |
2:29:12 | |
| 7 | 535 | Mai Ito |  JPN |
2:29:48 | |
| 8 | 353 | Tirfi Tsegaye | ETH |
2:30:54 | |
| 9 | 692 | Hye-Song Kim |  PRK |
2:30:59 | |
| 10 | 867 | Serena Burla |  USA |
2:31:06 |
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