Sharon Cherop Home: Marakwet, Kenya Bib: #F6 Pronunciation: Sha-ron Che-rop Birthdate: 16 March 1984 Personal Best: 2:22:28 (Berlin, 2013)

World Marathon Majors:

29Sep13	BMW Berlin Marathon	2nd	2:22:28
15Apr13	Boston Marathon	3rd	2:27:01
16Apr12	Boston Marathon	1st	2:31:50
27Aug11	Daegu IAAF World Championships Marathon	3rd	2:29:14
18Apr11	Boston Marathon	3rd	2:22:42

Additional Marathon Highlights:

01Dec13	Singapore Marathon	1st	2:41:12
18Nov12	Turin Marathon	1st	2:23:57 CR
27Jan12	Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon	7th	2:22:39
26Sep10	Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon	1st	2:22:43
25Apr10	Hamburg Marathon	1st	2:28:38
25Oct09	Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon	3rd	2:33:53
26Apr08	Nashville Country Music Marathon	4th	2:39:52
07Oct07	Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon	3rd	2:38:45

Career Notes:

Sharon Cherop has proved she knows how to run Boston with three podium runs over as many years. Last year, she stayed with winner Rita Jeptoo and runner-up Meseret Hailu Debele until the closing mile to finish third. In 2012 her experience on the course proved to be the deciding factor, despite the record heat, as she out sprinted Jemima Sumgong down Boylston Street to win by two seconds. In her Boston debut in 2011, Cherop ran in step with countrywoman Caroline Kilel and American Desiree Davila Linden until the final meters, but could not keep pace with the duo and was denied the title by six seconds and the runner-up spot by four seconds.

This past fall, Cherop raced against countrywoman Florence Kiplagat at the Berlin Marathon and finished runner-up in a personal best of 2:22:28. She then closed the year with a win at the Singapore Marathon.

Cherop is past marathon champion in Toronto and Hamburg, and was the bronze medalist at the IAAF World Championships Marathon in 2011. She was in the hunt to win the World Marathon Majors title in New York City in 2012, but when the race was cancelled she lost the opportunity. She quickly found an alternate race and won in Turin in a course record 2:23:57.

Personal Notes:

Cherop trains in Marakwet where she was born and also in Iten. She started running in primary school and in 1999 began serious training. In 2000, she won the bronze medal in the 5,000m at the IAAF World Junior Championships. Cherop currently runs for the Kenyan Armed Forces and says she will work in the army after her professional running career slows down.

Cherop is married to Mathew Bowen, who is a 2:10 marathoner, and the couple has a daughter named Natalia. Bowen expects to compete in the Boston Marathon this year as well. Cherop says when she is not training she enjoys reading novels and swimming. She is coached by Gabrielle Nicola and is represented by Gianni Demadonna.