Quick Facts
Biography
Joan Chelimo Melly (born 10 November 1990) is a Kenyan female long-distance runner who competes in road running competitions. She is the 2017 Berlin Half Marathon and Boston 10K Champion.
Career
Chelimo ran 1500 metres while at school, going up to the National Championship level. She began to compete in small road races in 2011, mainly running in Spain and Morocco for the next 3 years. During that period, she won several races, including the Valencia 10K in a course record of 32:17 and the OCP 10K Int’l de Khouribga where she set a then 31:41 personnal best over the 10K distance.
She ended her 2014 season with 3 consecutive victories, winning Wachau Half Marathon in 1:11:52, Swansea 10K and Cardiff Half Marathon.
Due to pregnancy, she skipped the 2015 season and returned to competition in september 2016 by placing sixth at the Kericho 10K.
Chelimo made a strong comeback on the international scene by winning the 2017 Berlin Half Marathon in 68:45. In may, she finished second at Le Puy-en-Velay 15K before winning Boston 10K in a new best of 31:24 In september, she ended up second at the Copenhagen Half Marathon after leading most of the race, clocking a new personnal best of 66:25, the seventh fastest time of the year.
Personal life
She is married and has a daughter named Ariana. She trains and lives in Iten.
Road race wins
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Torrevieja Half Marathon | Torrevieja, Spain | 1st | Half marathon | 1:18:16 |
| Alicante Half Marathon | Alicante, Spain | 1st | Half marathon | 1:17:50 | |
| Bilbao 15K | Bilbao, Spain | 1st | 15K | 53:43 | |
| Crevillentina 10K | Crevillentina, Spain | 1st | 10K | 33:56 | |
| 2012 | Khouribga 10K | Khouribga, Morocco | 1st | 10K | 31:41 CR |
| Bilbao 15K | Bilbao, Spain | 1st | 15K | 53:52 | |
| Valencia 10K | Valencia, Spain | 1st | 10K | 32:17 CR | |
| 2014 | Mohammédia 10K | Mohammédia, Morocco | 1st | 10K | 31:58 |
| Wachau Half Marathon | Krems an der Donau, Austria | 1st | Half marathon | 1:11:52 | |
| Swansea 10K | Swansea, United Kingdom | 1st | 10K | 33:04 | |
| Cardiff Half Marathon | Cardiff, United Kingdom | 1st | Half marathon | 1:12:26 | |
| 2017 | Berlin Half Marathon | Berlin, Germany | 1st | Half marathon | 1:08:45 |
| Boston 10K | Boston, USA | 1st | 10K | 31:24 |
Personal bests
- 10K – 31:24 (2017)
- 15K – 47:25 (2017)
- Half marathon – 1:06:25 (2017)