Reigning Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya crushed the women’s-only world record in winning the London Marathon on Sunday.
Jepchirchir, 30, pulled away over the final 300 meters in a sprint finish, crossing the finish line in front of Buckingham Palace in 2 hours, 16 minutes, 16 seconds to break Mary Keitany’s mark of 2:17:01 set at the 2017 London race.
“I thought the race would be fast and that the record would go, but I was not expecting it to be me,” Jepchirchir said. “It’s because I believe in myself. 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 in Paris.”
Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia, who clocked 2:11:53 at the Berlin Marathon in September to set a world record for women in a race alongside male runners, crossed second in 2:16.23.
Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya, the 2021 London winner, was third in 2:16.24.
Alexander Mutiso Munyao of Kenya held off Kenenisa Bekele in the final 3 kilometers to win the men’s race in 2:04:01.
Mutiso Munyao and Bekele were in a two-way fight until the Kenyan made his move as they ran along the River Thames, quickly building a six-second gap that only grew as he…
