Helena Kirop

Helena Loshanyang Kirop (born 9 September 1976) is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specialises in marathon running.

She is the head of the Helena Kirop Foundation, a charitable organisation aiming to provide education to girls in poor families in the Turkana and Pokot communities.

[5] At the 2009 Dubai Marathon she ran the second fastest time of her career (2:25:35) in spite of rainy conditions and finished in third place behind Ethiopians Bezunesh Bekele and Atsede Habtamu.

[5] Kirop was selected for the women's marathon at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics – she remained among the leading pack at the 25K mark, but slowed thereafter and eventually dropped out of the race altogether.

[7][8] She decided upon a late entry into the Portugal Half Marathon in October and she was rewarded with a win over local opposition in Ana Dulce Félix and Marisa Barros.