Selly Chepyego clocked a time of 2:21:513 to bag silver at the Shanghai Marathon on Sunday, a race that was won by Ethiopia's Siranesh Yirga Dagne who crossed the finish line in 2:21:282.
The Kenya trio of Eunice Chebichii Chumba (2:22:204) Sandra Felis Chebet Tuei (2:22:225) and Emily Chepkemoi Arusio (2:23:406), were third fourth and fifth respectively.
Ethiopian duo Tadu Teshome Nare (2:25:057) and Chernet Misganaw Takele (2:26:168) was sixth and seventh in that order while Tanzania's Jackline Sakilu who managed 2:26:50, closed the top eight.
The organisers had assembled a quality field in the women’s race.
The field featured five sub-2:21 runners headed by Tadu Teshome of Ethiopia with a PB of 2:17:36.
The pace of the first 15km was relatively slow compared to the course record time of 2:20:36 set by Ethiopian Yebrgual Melese in 2018.
Teshome led a group of 10 runners through the opening five kilometres in 17:00 before passing 10km in 33:47 and 15km in 50:36.
The lead pack was trimmed to six after hitting the 20km mark in 1:07:01, and the pre-race favourite Teshome started to drift away after 30km.
Ethiopia’s Yirga, a 2:21:08 performer, managed to pull clear near the 35km mark. At 40km, the 23-year-old was already about 200m ahead of the sole chaser Chepyego.
Yirga kept her pace until breaking the tape in 2:21:28.
It is the fourth marathon title in five races for the rising Ethiopian, who just moved to the classic distance in 2022, securing victories in Lagos, Madrid and Ljubljana last year and finishing third in Dubai this February.
Chepyego, 38, whose time of 2:21:55, is the fourth fastest time of her career.
