Siranesh Yirga of Ethiopia managed to beat a strong field of women in the Shanghai Marathon to emerge as the winner on Sunday, November 26, 2023.

The World Athletics Platinum Label road race featured five women runners, all of whom carried sub-2:21 records before the Sunday race.

Yirga shockingly defeated the field that also had her compatriot Tadu Teshome, who had a personal best of 2:17:36.

Meanwhile, before the 15-kilometer mark, the pace was slow as compared to a previous record of 2:20:36 that was set by Ethiopian Yebrgual Melese in 2018.

The pre-race favourite Teshome was leading at the five kilometre mark, which they hit at 33:47, before completing the next 10 kilometres in 50:36.

Shockingly, Teshome could not keep up with the pace at the 30-kilometre mark as she started to fade away.

Yirga emerged as a strong contender at the 35- kilometre mark before she established a 200m gap at the 40 kilometre point. She was now leading Kenya’s Selly Chepyego before she broke the tape at 2:21:28.

The win means Yirga has won titles in four of the five races she has featured in. The 23-year-old moved to the classic distance last year and secured victories in Lagos, Madrid, and Ljubljana in 2022 before finishing third in Dubai in February.

Although Chepyego is more experienced than Yirga, she finished second to the Ethiopian, while Eunice Chebichii Chumba, Sandra Felis Chebet Tuei, and Emily Chepkemoi Arusio completed the race in third, fourth, and fifth positions, respectively.

Shanghai Marathon women’s leading results

1 Siranesh Yirga Dagne (ETH) 2:21:28
2 Selly Chepyego Kaptich (KEN) 2:21:51
3 Eunice Chebichii Chumba (KEN) 2:22:20
4 Sandra Felis Chebet Tuei (KEN) 2:22:22
5 Emily Chepkemoi Arusio (KEN) 2:23:40
6 Tadu Teshome Nare (ETH) 2:25:05
7 Chernet Misganaw Takele (ETH) 2:26:16
8 Jackline Sakilu (TAN) 2:26:50