Margaret_Akidor
Margaret Akidor
Kenyan runner (born 2000 or 2002)
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 [jp] Athletics Club. She currently has the record for the fastest 3000 metres time ever run on Japanese soil.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Margaret Ngathike Akidor[1] |
| Nationality |  Kenya |
| Born | (2000-06-26) 26 June 2000 (age 23) or (2002-06-26) 26 June 2002 (age 21)[2] |
| Height | 162 cm (5 ft 4 in)[2] |
| Weight | 46 kg (101 lb)[2] |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Event(s) | 5000 metres 3000 metres |
| Club | Comodi-iida [jp] Athletics Club[3] |
| Achievements and titles | |
| National finals | |
| Personal best(s) | 5000 m: 14:44.83 (2022) 3000 m: 8:29.88 (2023) |
| Updated on 15 January 2024 | |
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]
Originally from Kenya, Akidor now lives in Japan where she trains with the Comodi-iida [jp] 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]
Personal best progression
| # | Mark | Pl. | Competition | Venue | Date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16:55.4h |  | Kenya National Secondary Schools Championship | Mombasa, Kenya | 7 Jun 2017 | [8] |
| 2 | 16:41.4h |  | Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association Term 1 Games | Kigari, Kenya | 10 Apr 2018 | [9] |
| 3 | 15:13.62 |  | Niigata Record Meeting | Niigata, Japan | 10 Oct 2020 | [10] |
| 4 | 15:10.10 | | Niigata Prefectural High School Ekiden | Niigata, Japan | 28 Oct 2020 | [10] |
| 5 | 14:57.03 | | GENJO Record Meeting | Tokyo, Japan | 22 Sep 2021 | [11] |
| 6 | 14:55.43 | | Nippon Sport Science University Long Distance Competition | Yokohama, Japan | 12 Nov 2021 | [12] |
| 7 | 14:44.83 | | Nippon Sport Science University Long Distance Competition | Yokohama, Japan | 11 Nov 2022 | [13] |
- Margaret Ekidor at Tilastopaja (registration required) / Margaret Akidor at Tilastopaja (registration required)
- "Akidor praying for Oregon chance to cure Togo heartbreak". The Star. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- Larner, Brett. "Margaret Akidor Breaks 3000 m JPN All Comers Record at Nittai". Japan Running News.
- "Akidor lead Omare and Kipkemoi to sweep Sanyo Ladies half marathon". dailysport.co.ke. 18 December 2023.
