Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia took advantage of the warm weather to pull away late for her first London Marathon title Sunday, setting a record time for a women’s-only race in the process.
Assefa made up for second-place finishes in London and the Paris Olympics last year by pulling away from Joyciline Jepkosgei near the end to finish in 2 hours, 15 minutes, 50 seconds. It was the fastest-ever time in a women’s-only marathon but 25 seconds slower than the course record set by Paula Radcliffe in 2003 when it was a mixed race.
The previous women’s-only record of 2:16:16 was set last year in London by Peres Jepchirchir. Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya set the overall women’s world record of 2:09:56 at last year’s Chicago Marathon.
Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe won the men’s race in his major marathon debut, finishing in 2:02:27 for his biggest career victory.
The weather in London was a lot warmer this year than in 2024, with temperatures nearing 64 degrees by the time the elite runners were finishing, which Assefa said was to her advantage.
“Last year I did have some problems with the cold. My hamstring tightened up toward the end of the race,” Assefa, 28, said through an interpreter. “This year the weather suited me really well.”
Unlike in Paris, Assefa…
