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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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