Portugal Colonial - Assefa wins London Marathon in women's-only world record time

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Assefa wins London Marathon in women's-only world record time / Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS - AFP

Assefa wins London Marathon in women's-only world record time

SPORTS 26.04.2026

Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa defended her London Marathon crown on Sunday, breaking her own women's-only world record.

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The reigning Olympic and world silver medallist was locked in a three-way tussle with Kenyan pair Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei, but pulled away in the closing stages to cross the line in a time of 2hr 15min 41sec.

That time beat by nine seconds her previous best, set on the same course last year.

Obiri, a two-time former world 5,000m champion who won marathon bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics, came in second in a personal best of 2:15:53.

She finished just two-hundredths of a second ahead of compatriot Jepkosgei.

The world record set in a mixed race where female athletes benefit from male pacemakers was by Kenya's Ruth Chepngetich, who clocked 2:09:56 at the Chicago Marathon in October 2024.

Chepngetich picked up a three-year doping ban in October 2025, although achievements and records pre-dating the March 2025 sample stand.

L.Mesquita--PC

Portugal Colonial - Assefa wins London Marathon in women's-only world record time

Assefa wins London Marathon in women's-only world record time

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