Margaret Akidor

Margaret Ngathike Akidor (born 26 June 2000 or 2002), also spelled Margaret Ekidor, is a Kenyan middle- and long-distance runner specializing in the 5000 metres. Since 2019, she is based in Japan and trains under the Comodi-iida Athletics Club. She currently has the record for the fastest 3000 metres time ever run on Japanese soil.

Margaret Akidor
Personal information
Full nameMargaret Ngathike Akidor[1]
Nationality Kenya
Born (2000-06-26) 26 June 2000
or (2002-06-26) 26 June 2002[2]
Height162 cm (5 ft 4 in)[2]
Weight46 kg (101 lb)[2]
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)5000 metres
3000 metres
ClubComodi-iida Athletics Club[3]
Achievements and titles
National finals
  • 2017 Kenyan U20s
  •  • 6km XC, 28th
  • 2020 Kenyan U20s
  •  • 6km XC, 5th
Personal best(s)5000 m:
14:44.83 (2022)

3000 m:
8:29.88 (2023)
Updated on 15 January 2024

Career

In February 2017, Akidor placed 28th in her first Kenyan Cross Country Championships U20 race.[4] After placing 5th in the same race three years later, she was selected for the Kenyan U20 team at the 2020 African Cross Country Championships in Togo – however, the championships were indefinitely delayed due to the 2020 Togolese presidential election and the COVID-19 pandemic, ultimately taking away Akidor's first chance to represent Kenya internationally.[3]

After first racing in Japan in July 2019, she ran under 15 minutes for 5000 m in 2021 to win the GENJO Record Meeting in Tokyo.[5] In November 2022, she ran 8:32.53 for 3000 metres in Yokohama, the fastest time ever run on Japanese soil.[6]

Akidor's best-ranked performance was an 8:29.88 3000 m to finish 3rd at the 2023 Xiamen Diamond League, which was the 9th-fastest 3000 m run in the world that year.[2] In December 2023, Akidor ran her second half marathon, defending her title at the Sanyo Ladies half marathon in a time of 1:09:29.[7]

Personal life

Originally from Kenya, Akidor now lives in Japan where she trains with the Comodi-iida Athletics Club.[3] Along with Teresia Muthoni, she would make trips between Japan and Kenya to compete for national teams. Until the end of 2022, she studied Japanese language in Tokyo.[3]

Statistics

Personal best progression
5000m progression
#MarkPl.CompetitionVenueDateRef.
116:55.4hKenya National Secondary Schools ChampionshipMombasa, Kenya7 Jun 2017[8]
216:41.4hKenya Secondary Schools Sports Association Term 1 GamesKigari, Kenya10 Apr 2018[9]
315:13.62Niigata Record MeetingNiigata, Japan10 Oct 2020[10]
415:10.10Niigata Prefectural High School EkidenNiigata, Japan28 Oct 2020[10]
514:57.03GENJO Record MeetingTokyo, Japan22 Sep 2021[11]
614:55.43Nippon Sport Science University Long Distance CompetitionYokohama, Japan12 Nov 2021[12]
714:44.83Nippon Sport Science University Long Distance CompetitionYokohama, Japan11 Nov 2022[13]

References
  1. "READY STEADY TOKYO－陸上競技」（東京2020テストイベント） ワールドアスレティックス コンチネンタルツアーゴールド 出場予定選手 （2021年4月27日現在）" (PDF). 2020 Summer Olympics (in Japanese).
  2. Margaret Ekidor at Tilastopaja (registration required) / Margaret Akidor at Tilastopaja (registration required)
  3. "Akidor praying for Oregon chance to cure Togo heartbreak". The Star. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  4. "Athletics recap for meeting #12889482". Tilastopaja.
  5. Margaret Akidor at World Athletics
  6. Larner, Brett. "Margaret Akidor Breaks 3000 m JPN All Comers Record at Nittai". Japan Running News.
  7. "Akidor lead Omare and Kipkemoi to sweep Sanyo Ladies half marathon". dailysport.co.ke. 18 December 2023.
  8. "Athletics recap for meeting #12894780". Tilastopaja.
  9. "Athletics recap for meeting #12912727". Tilastopaja.
  10. "Athletics recap for meeting #undefined". Tilastopaja.
  11. "Athletics recap for meeting #12997552". Tilastopaja.
  12. "Athletics recap for meeting #12998927". Tilastopaja.
  13. "Athletics recap for meeting #13024106". Tilastopaja.
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