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Press Release - London Marathon - 4/21/24

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

               Peres Jepchirchir sets women-only world record
				
Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir broke the women-only world record to add 
the 2024 TCS London Marathon title to her glittering array of honours on 
Sunday, winning a fast and frantic four-way fight for the line between some 
of the fastest women in history. 

Fastest of all was Tigst Assefa, who smashed the outright women's record in 
Berlin last year, and was hotly tipped for victory here. But the Ethiopian 
had to settle for second as the 30-year-old Jepchirchir called on all her 
experience to triumph in a tussle for the ages. 

After shadowing the leaders for 42K, the Kenyan finally broke free from her 
rivals as they turned the last corner of the iconic course, sprinting onto 
The Mall to take the tape in 2:16:16. Behind her, three other women also 
dipped under the old record mark of 2:17:01. 

The four had been locked together for 10K with no-one prepared to pounce 
until the final moments. Jepchirchir, a known fast finisher, took full 
advantage, as Assefa hung on for second in 2:16:23, a step ahead of Kenya's 
2021 London champion Joyciline Jepkosgei. Last year's runner-up Megertu 
Alemu was fourth, missing out on a podium place by 10 seconds. 

The winning time was exactly a minute inside Jepchirchir's personal best, 
and puts her on top of the London leaderboard as the fastest woman ever on 
the iconic course. 

"I was not expecting to run the world record," said the smiling victor 
later. "With this field, I knew we could beat it but I wasn't expecting it 
to be me. 

"The ladies were all so strong and fast, so I was focusing extra hard 
because it was windy towards the end." 

Jepchirchir's win was her fifth in six elite marathons, her only defeat 
coming in London 12 months ago when she was third. After missing the New 
York City Marathon last November with injury, the London victory confirms 
her place in Kenya's team for the Paris Olympic Games this summer where she 
will now defend her title flush with confidence. 

"I'm happy to be in Paris," she said. "It was my prayer to be there to 
defend my title. It won't be easy but I will try my best." 

This victory was far from easy too, the outcome unknown until the very end 
as a field described by Race Director Hugh Brasher as the greatest ever 
produced one of London's most exciting finishes. 

A cast of 16 runners were sent on their way from Greenwich by 
barrier-breaking ultra runner Jasmin Paris, the first woman to complete the 
Barkley Marathons. It was an elite field containing three of the 
four-fastest women in history and nine who had previous run under 2:17:30. 
Among them were three former London champions and five victors at Abbott 
World Marathon Majors races. 

Hardly surprising, then, that Mary Keitany's course and women-only record 
was in their sights from the start as five Ethiopians and five Kenyans set 
off at a pelt in cool and dry conditions. 

Assefa led the pack through the speedy early stages, with Jepchirchir and 
former and world record holder Brigid Kosgei shadowing her every move. They 
passed 5K in 15:44, some five minutes inside record schedule, and 
maintained that pace as they strode through the south London streets and 
over Tower Bridge, passing halfway in 67:04. 

By now the pack was down to seven with Kenya's Ruth Chepngetich, one of 
those to lose touch, the 2019 world champion troubled by the searing speed.  

Little seemed to trouble Assefa, though, as she powered on at the front 
towards the Isle of Dogs, dispensing with her rivals one-by-one as the last 
of the pacemakers stepped aside. Kosgei was next to drop away, as Alemu 
stepped up alongside her compatriot, the Ethiopian pair exchanging words at 
the front. 

Alemu was second last year and it was her surge towards Canary Wharf that 
proved too much for the 2022 champion, Yalemzerf Yehualaw, and Assefa's 
young training partner, Tigist Ketema. 

But Jepchirchir was always there. Shrouded in a hat tugged low against the 
chilly breeze, her eyes fixed on Assefa's heels. Jepkosgei completed the 
challengers as the quartet slowed slightly along The Highway to 35K, 
setting themselves up for a cat-and-mouse battle in pursuit of the three 
podium places. 

They were stuck together as they passed the Tower of London and dipped down 
to the Embankment, Jepkosgei now prominent at the front with Assefa on her 
tail. They were still on course for the record as they passed 40K and 
turned towards the final stretch, sweeping by the Houses of Parliament and 
up Birdcage Walk. 

With five marathon victories behind her, few know how to win better than 
Jepchirchir, and it was she who was playing the smartest game, doing little 
of the work as they raced into the testing headwind. 

Shoulder to shoulder, they skirted St James's Park before Alemu slipped 
back, then Jepkosgei. Assefa prepared for a last push, but Jepchirchir was 
having none of it, finally opening daylight as they leaned around the last 
bend. 

She crossed the line with 50 metres to spare, her arms wide and a cry of 
joy on her lips. It was the 18th time a Kenyan woman has won the London 
Marathon. 

"It means a lot to me to do this in London," she said. "As I crossed the 
Finish Line, I thought about how grateful I am for this to be my last event 
representing Kenya before I head to Paris.  

"I now know I have a great chance to defend my title." 

"It was a really good competition," said the defeated Assefa. "Towards the 
end, my leg was hurting a little but I continued. I wasn't sure I could 
finish the race, but I toughed it out." 

Scotland's Mhairi Maclennan was the first Briton home, placing 11th overall 
on her marathon debut in 2:29:15.  

"The race was amazing and awful," she said. "I thought I might get first 
Brit, and hopefully under 2:30, so I'm really happy. I can't ask for more."

                                      ###

 

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