Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa wins elite women's London Marathon

Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa won the elite women’s London Marathon after crossing the line in 2:15:48

That was the women’s only world record for the 28-year-old Ethiopian by 28 seconds.

Assefa took it up early and had the stamina to set an incredible time. Paula Radcliffe’s course record survived.

Technically, Paula Radcliffe has the course record, her 2:15:25 time standing since 2003.

But that was a ‘mixed’ race of men and women who started at the same time.

The existing mark was set by Peres Jepchirchir at the 2024 London Marathon, running 2hrs 16mins 16secs.

Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei came through in second place in 2hrs 18mins 41secs for second, with Hassan third, closing hard, just 16 seconds behind.

Tigst Assefa moved into the lead after breaking away from Jepkosgei as she looked set to win.

The win was a sweet revenge for the former world record holder after finishing second twelve months ago.

Kenya’s Joyline Jepkosgei came through in second place in 2hrs 18mins 41secs for second, with Hassan third, closing hard, just 16 seconds behind.

This was surely a two-woman race with the leaders sharing the pace, taking it in turns to front-run.

Tigst Assefa moved into the lead after breaking away from Jepkosgei as looked set to win.

The win was a sweet revenge for the former world record holder after finishing second twelve months ago.

In 2024 Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir smashed the women-only world record by 45 seconds at the TCS London Marathon, winning the World Athletics Platinum Label road race in 2:16:16*.

It was widely regarded as one of the deepest and highest-quality women’s fields ever assembled.

The three-time world half-marathon champion sprinted away from Assefa, 2021 London winner Joyciline Jepkosgei and last year’s runner-up Megertu Alemu – all of whom finished inside 2:17 – to notch up her third victory in a World Marathon Majors race.