2019 World Athletics Championships – Women's marathon
The women's marathon was one of the road events at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar. Due to the heat in Doha, the race was scheduled to begin at 23:59 on 27 September 2019, which made it the first midnight marathon in the history of the World Championships. Even with the unusual timing, the temperature was above 30 °C (86 °F) and the humidity over 70 per cent, making conditions difficult for running. Only 40 of the 68 entrants finished the race, which was won by Ruth Chepng'etich of Kenya in 2:32.43; the slowest winning time at the World Championships. Bahrain's Rose Chelimo was second in 2:33.46, with Helalia Johannes of Namibia third in 2:34.15.
The leading group
2019 World Athletics Championships
The 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships was the seventeenth edition of the biennial, global athletics competition organised by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), since renamed World Athletics. It was held between 27 September and 6 October 2019 in Doha, Qatar, at the renovated multi-purpose Khalifa International Stadium, but reduced to 21,000 available seats. 1,772 athletes from 206 teams competed in 49 athletics events over the ten-day competition, comprising 24 events each for men and women, plus a mixed relay. There were 43 track and field events, 4 racewalking events, and 2 marathon road running events. The racewalking and marathon events were held in Doha Corniche.
Hayward Field, venue of the Eugene bid, which failed to win the 2019 hosting rights but was awarded the 2022 event. The next event was to have been held in 2021, but the 2021 Summer Olympics rescheduling as a byproduct of the COVID-19 pandemic forced World Athletics to change the date a year on 30 March 2020.
View of the Doha Corniche which was the route for the marathon and racewalking events.
World champion Sally Pearson announced her retirement in August before the World Championships
The 2017 World Championship women's 800 m final, with excluded athletes Margaret Wambui, Caster Semenya, and Francine Niyonsaba