NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 26 – Kenyan Hellen Obiri announced her London Marathon debut with a second place finish in a Personal Best time of 2:15:53 as compatriot Joyciline Jepkosgei settled for third in a race won by Ethiopian Tigst Assefa on Sunday.
Assefa defended her London Marathon title in style after breaking her own world record for a women-only field, setting a new fastest time of 2:15:41as she surged clear of Kenyan rivals Obiri and Jepkosgei in a thrilling finish.
Jepkosgei, the 2021 London Marathon champion stopped the time at 2:15:55.
A lead quartet of Assefa, two-time Boston and New York champion Obiri, Jepkosgei, and Catherine Reline Amanang’ole set the early tempo, passing 5km in 15:39 (2:12:02 pace) and 10km in 31:03, already opening a significant gap on the chasers.
Amanang’ole began to drop back before 15km (46:39), leaving a leading trio of Assefa, Obiri, and Jepkosgei. They reached halfway in 1:06:12 (2:12:24 pace), half a minute quicker than Assefa’s record-breaking run the previous year.
The trio remained together through much of the second half, extending their advantage over the rest of the field. Their pace dropped, and a sub-2:15 finish slipped out of reach, but they remained on course to improve Assefa’s women-only world record.
In the closing stages, Assefa gradually edged clear to secure victory in 2:15:41, taking nine seconds off her own global mark. Behind her, Obiri – making her London debut – finished second in a PB of 2:15:53, with Jepkosgei close behind in 2:15:55, marking the first time three women have finished inside 2:16 in the same race.
*Subject to the usual ratification procedure
Leading results
Women
1 Tigst Assefa (ETH) 2:15:41
2 Hellen Obiri (KEN) 2:15:53
3 Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) 2:15:55
4 Degitu Azimeraw (ETH) 2:19:13
5 Catherine Reline Amanang’ole (KEN) 2:21:20
6 Eunice Chumba (BRN) 2:23:44
7 Eilish McColgan (GBR) 2:24:51
8 Julia Paternain (URU) 2:25:47
9 Rose Harvey (GBR) 2:26:14
10 Marta Galimany (ESP) 2:27:38
