| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Margaret Ngathike Akidor |
| Nationality |  Kenya |
| Born | (2002-06-26) 26 June 2002 (age 22) |
| Height | 162 cm (5 ft 4 in) |
| Weight | 46 kg (101 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Event(s) | 5000 metres 3000 metres |
| Club | Comodi-iida [jp] Athletics Club |
| 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 | |
Margaret Ngathike Akidor (born 26 June 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.
Career
In February 2017, Akidor placed 28th in her first Kenyan Cross Country Championships U20 race. 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.
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. In November 2022, she ran 8:32.53 for 3000 metres in Yokohama, the fastest time ever run on Japanese soil.
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. 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.
Personal life
Originally from Kenya, Akidor now lives in Japan where she trains with the Comodi-iida [jp] Athletics Club. 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.
Statistics
Personal best progression
| # | Mark | Pl. | Competition | Venue | Date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16:55.4h |  |
Kenya National Secondary Schools Championship | Mombasa, Kenya | 7 Jun 2017 | |
| 2 | 16:41.4h |  |
Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association Term 1 Games | Kigari, Kenya | 10 Apr 2018 | |
| 3 | 15:13.62 |  |
Niigata Record Meeting | Niigata, Japan | 10 Oct 2020 | |
| 4 | 15:10.10 | |
Niigata Prefectural High School Ekiden | Niigata, Japan | 28 Oct 2020 | |
| 5 | 14:57.03 | |
GENJO Record Meeting | Tokyo, Japan | 22 Sep 2021 | |
| 6 | 14:55.43 | |
Nippon Sport Science University Long Distance Competition | Yokohama, Japan | 12 Nov 2021 | |
| 7 | 14:44.83 | |
Nippon Sport Science University Long Distance Competition | Yokohama, Japan | 11 Nov 2022 |
References
- "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).
- ^ 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.
- "Margaret AKIDOR - Athlete Profile". World Athletics. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
- "Athletics recap for meeting #12889482". Tilastopaja.
- Margaret Akidor at World Athletics
- 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.
- "Athletics recap for meeting #12894780". Tilastopaja.
- "Athletics recap for meeting #12912727". Tilastopaja.
- ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #undefined". Tilastopaja.
- "Athletics recap for meeting #12997552". Tilastopaja.
- "Athletics recap for meeting #12998927". Tilastopaja.
- "Athletics recap for meeting #13024106". Tilastopaja.