The women's marathon at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics was held at the Beijing National Stadium on 30 August.

For the next 25K, the lead pack remained about the same size with some runners bridging the gap in time for others to fall off the pace.

In the next 4K, the lead pack cut in half, the remaining athletes were three Kenyans, two Ethiopians and Eunice Kirwa wearing a Bahrain uniform, from Kenya.

London Marathon champion Tigist Tufa was the first to fall back, then Kiplagat began to lose contact.

Kirwa was perfectly positioned to strike but instead Helah Kiprop launched the attack from the back after looking like she was ready to drop off, long striding behind the diminutive Dibaba.