Peres Jepchirchir claimed a resounding victory at the TCS London Marathon 2024, obliterating the women-only world record by an impressive margin of 45 seconds.
The Olympic champion powered away from a small group of runners to cross the finish line in a remarkable time of 2:16:16 on Sunday (21) at the World Athletics Platinum Label road race.
“I wasn’t expecting to run a world record,” Jepchirchir told the BBC after the race. “I am so happy and very grateful.”
Read more: Sifan Hassan reveals “I was running away from running” after Tokyo Olympics
In a race characterized by a swift tempo right from the start, a lead group of nine women set a brisk pace and clocked 31:26 at the 10km mark. As the race progressed, the pack dwindled to seven athletes by the halfway point, which they reached in 1:07:04.
Olympic Champion ✅
London Marathon Champion ✅Amazing run from Peres Jepchirchir!#LondonMarathon pic.twitter.com/TgjLWRwAFv
— TCS London Marathon (@LondonMarathon) April 21, 2024
It was around the 18-mile mark when the elite group of Peres Jepchirchir, Tigist Assefa, Joyciline Jepkosgei, and Megertu Alemu surged ahead, establishing themselves as the frontrunners for a significant portion of the race.
With the finish line in sight and the clock showing 2:15, Megertu Alemu was unable to maintain the pace set by the leading trio.
Shortly thereafter, Jepchirchir, the Tokyo Olympic champion and the three-time world half marathon gold medal winner, unleashed a decisive burst of speed in London to surge away, leaving her competitors Jepkosgei and Assefa trailing behind.
The Kenyan athlete’s electrifying performance culminated in a record-breaking time of 2:16:16, eclipsing the previous women-only world record of 2:17:01 set by Mary Keitany in 2017.
Read Also: Tigst Assefa smashes world record at Berlin Marathon 2023; Eliud Kipchoge wins 5th title
Jepchirchir’s victory marks her third triumph in a World Marathon Majors event, solidifying her status as a dominant force in the world of endurance running.
Top 10 results from the TCS London Marathon 2024
Women
1. Peres Jepchirchir (KEN) — 2:16:16 (women’s only WR)
2. Tigst Assefa (ETH) — 2:16:23
3. Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) — 2:16:24
4. Megertu Alemu (ETH) — 2:16:34
5. Brigid Kosgei (KEN) — 2:19:02
6. Sheila Chepkirui (KEN) — 2:19:31
7. Tigist Ketema (ETH) — 2:23:21
8. Yalemzerf Yehualaw (ETH) — 2:23:26
9. Ruth Chepngetich (KEN) — 2:24:36
10. Tsige Haileslase (ETH) — 2:25:03
