Husband: Huge party to be thrown for Sumgong

Noah Kipsang Talam, the husband and coach of newly minted London Marathon women’s champion, Jemimah Sumgong, has termed her biggest career victory as a ‘dream come true’ announcing on Monday that a huge party will be thrown in her honour.

Kipsang, who won the 2009 Nashville Marathon in a lifetime best of 2:14:54, was beside himself with joy when the apple of his eye completed a 2:22:58 victory after recovering from a nasty fall to dethrone Ethiopia’s Tigist Tufa as London champion.

“Jemimah has been yearning to win a major race, for a long time. Her time came yesterday (Sunday) and she took what was hers. As her family we are very happy for her.

“Even though she underwent a lot of challenges during the marathon; it was a motivation to her and her victory brought happiness to all of us, including our church members, neighbours and fellow athletes,” the husband who stopped running in 2011 to focus on building his wife’s career told Citizen Digital.

“Jemimah has been training so hard, with one main goal; to win one major race,” he added.

The London victor is in for a resounding reception when she arrives on Tuesday at 6am.

“We are planning to welcome her in a very unique way, since she has made us proud. Plans are under way to receive her at the airport and then head home for a big celebration,” Kipsang added.

Sumgong finished fourth last year (2:27:42) at the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing and is in pole position to bag a place in the women’s marathon squad for Rio 2016 Olympics.

-Report by Mercy Cherop