OTC Elite’s Kipyego makes successful return to competition

By Curtis Anderson | Jun 27, 2018

EUGENE, Ore. – With an eye on running a fall marathon, Olympic silver medalist Sally Kipyego returned to competition at the B.A.A. 10K in Boston last Sunday.

It was the first official race for the Oregon Track Club Elite athlete since she gave birth to her daughter, Emma, in July of 2017. Kipyego, who placed second in the 10,000 meters at the 2012 London Olympics, finished 10th overall with a time of 34 minutes, 31 seconds.

“To finish two minutes behind the winner might seem like a disappointment,” Kipyego tweeted. “But funny enough, I’m actually happy about it … now heading back to the mountains to get ready for a fall marathon. All I need is time to fly again!”

It was not an easy trip for Kipyego. Besides dealing with the flu for the second time in a month, she said Emma “got sick upon arrival” in Boston from their home in Kenya, and “had to spend time at the hospital.”

“All in all, our visit to Boston didn’t start well,” Kipyego said. “But at the end, we had a lot of fun … and that’s why today was a success for me.”

The 32-year-old Kipyego has competed in two marathons during her illustrious running career, both in New York City. In 2015, she dropped out at mile 23, but came back the following year to place second in 2:28:01.