The longest game of cat and mouse in the 43-year history of the London Marathon finally came to an end on the Mall on Sunday, as Peres Jepchirchir sprinted clear of three rivals to claim the women’s-only world record.
The Olympic champion’s time of 2hr 16min 16sec was also quick enough to surpass Mary Keitany’s record from 2017, which applies to races where women are not paced by men, by 51 seconds.
In truth, though, it was no surprise to see Keitany’s time fall given how loaded this field was. By far the biggest shock was the result itself – with Tigst Assefa, who smashed the overall women’s world record when she ran 2:11:38 last year, only able to finish in second, seven seconds back.
“I am so happy for the victory,” said Jepchirchir afterwards. “I was not expecting to run a world record – I knew it might be beaten but I did not expect it to be me as I knew the history and the ladies were strong. But I’ve come good today and set a personal best.”
The temperature was an unseasonably chilly 7C when the women set off at 9.25am – cold enough, in fact, for Jepchirchir to wear a black hat to keep warm. Initially the pace was red hot, however, as the first three miles were covered in a pace quicker than Assefa’s world record.
But it already began to steady long before the pacemakers dropped out, shortly after halfway.
At that point it began to slip again as the race turned into a race and not a time trial. Not that Jepchirchir was complaining. She knew it was playing into her finishing kick.
For mile after mile the shadowing operations continued, with none of the four women out in front – Jepchirchir, Assefa, the 2021 winner Joyciline Jepkosgei, and last year’s runner up, Megertu Alemu – wanting to push it. But when Jepchirchir applied the pressure with 600 metres remaining the race was swiftly put to bed.
“My strong finishing kick helps me a lot,” she said. “When I reach 800m it’s difficult to be defeated. Last year I think it was because it was raining. I was waiting until 600m as it was windy.”
She also knows that the performance will allow her to defend her Olympic title in Paris. “I know it won’t be easy but I’m confident for the summer,” she said.
Elsewhere, Marcel Hug won a record fourth-consecutive men’s wheelchair race, with Britain’s David Weir third in his 25th consecutive London Marathon. The women’s wheelchair race was won by a distance by another Swiss, Catherine Debrunner, who came home over five minutes ahead of her nearest rival.
