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Yehualaw aims for record return
The defending champion is in confident mood ahead of Sunday's showdown
with the world's best
Yalemzerf Yehualaw believes the world record could be in danger on Sunday
when she defends her London Marathon title against a women's field
described as one of the greatest ever assembled.
The Ethiopian became the youngest women's winner in London Marathon history
last October when she broke the course record, running 2:17:26 – her second
victory and second sub-2:18 race in her short marathon career.
Just six months later, the world 10K road record holder has returned to the
British capital in mood to add another record-breaking exploit to her
steadily growing list of superlatives.
"My preparations have gone very well," said the 23-year-old, who also set
the fastest ever debut marathon in Hamburg last year and holds the second
quickest half-marathon time in history.
"I am so happy to be back in London. It is a beautiful city and a great
competition. With so many great athletes, I hope we can run a course
record, or even the world record.
"I really want to defend my title. I am in good shape and focused. But I
will need to be even better this year."
Yehualaw's assessment of the field is hardly misplaced for she faces a
formidable set of foes, including Kenyan world record holder Brigid Kosgei,
seeking her third London crown; her compatriot Peres Jepchirchir, who took
the Tokyo Olympic gold in Sapporo two years ago; and the much garlanded
Dutch runner Sifan Hassan, who's making an eagerly anticipated marathon
debut after taking world and Olympic titles on the track at every distance
from 1500m to 10,000m.
Like Yehualaw, Jepchirchir is undefeated over the 26.2-mile distance,
winning all five of her races so far, including the 2021 New York City and
2022 Boston Marathons. With the world half marathon record and a
super-quick 2:17:16 time to her name, it's no surprise that the Olympic
champion is also eyeing the record books ahead of her London debut.
"I can see the team is very strong here," said the 29-year-old. "So, if the
weather is good, I think the record can go on Sunday.
"This is my dream race," she added. "I have always said I want to run the
London Marathon, so I'm delighted to be here at last."
Jepchirchir suffered a gluteus muscle injury when training for the New York
City Marathon last autumn, but described her London preparations as "very
good".
"I do the same training for all my marathons," she said. "Training has been
good since January. Everything is well and I hope on Sunday my body
responds and the result can come."
For once, results are not at the top of Hassan's mind as she dips her toe
in the choppy waters of marathon running for the first time. The
30-year-old former refugee from Ethiopia admitted she's been feeling the
nerves in the build-up to Sunday's race.
"I've already been nervous for a month," said Hassan, who holds the
European half marathon record. "To be honest, I am scared of the marathon.
Sometimes I wake up and think ‘Why the hell did I decide to run a
marathon?' I don't know whether I will finish or not.
"But I'm also very curious. I am excited to be in front of the crowds. I
don't watch many marathons, but I always watch London because it is like a
championship race – you never know who's going to win till the end.
"I can't really say how I will do," she added. "I don't have a time in
mind, or a place. I just want to finish the race and see what happens."
Compared to Hassan, Kosgei is a marathon veteran, with 15 races behind her
and victories in Chicago and Tokyo as well as back-to-back London wins in
2019 and 2020.
But training hasn't quite gone to plan this year for the 29-year-old, who
suffered a hamstring injury "some weeks ago".
"I don't think it is too bad, so I decided to come," said Kosgei. "The
field is not easy, so it will be a struggle till the last moments. May the
best one win."
Kosgei famously broke Paula Radcliffe's long-standing women-only world
record in Chicago three and a half years ago. Whether she will still hold
it after Sunday remains to be seen.
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