Women’s-only World Record Attempt at TCS London Marathon 2023
Witness the thrilling battle at the TCS London Marathon as Tigist Assefa, Brigid Kosgei, and Ruth Chepngetich headline a formidable lineup aiming to break the women-only world record. Can these elite athletes surpass Mary Keitany’s 2017 record and rewrite history? Find out on race day!
Top Women Runners Set to Challenge Women-Only World Record at TCS London Marathon
Three of the top four fastest women in history will spearhead a charge to set a women-only world record at the TCS London Marathon – a World Athletics Platinum Label road race – on Sunday, April 21st.
The challenge will be led by Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa, who smashed the world record with 2:11:53 in Berlin last year, taking more than two minutes off Brigid Kosgei’s mark. Kosgei and 2019 world champion Ruth Chepngetich, the fourth-fastest woman of all time, are among the star-studded list of London-bound runners aiming to finish well inside the women-only world record of 2:17:01, set by Mary Keitany in the British capital back in 2017.
Others with eyes on the record include:
- Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir
- 2022 London Marathon champion Yalemzerf Yehualaw
- 2021 London Marathon champion Joyciline Jepkosgei
Incredibly, 10 women in the field have personal bests faster than 2:17:30, including:
- Multiple world and Olympic gold medalist Almaz Ayana
- Recent Dubai Marathon winner Tigist Ketema
- Fellow Ethiopian Megertu Alemu
- Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui
“We are in a golden age of women’s marathon running,” said event director Hugh Brasher. “Despite this, the women’s-only world record of 2:17:01, set by the great Mary Keitany here at the London Marathon in 2017, has amazingly stayed intact. However, I suspect that with Assefa, Kosgei and the likes of Ruth Chepngetich, Peres Jepchirchir and Yalemzerf Yehualaw in the field, Keitany’s world record is going to be under serious threat.”
Pacemakers will be tasked with keeping the leading women on track for the women-only world record, which is possible at the London Marathon as the elite women run a separate race to the elite men and masses.
Elite Men’s Race
The elite men’s race is headlined by:
- New York City Marathon champion Tamirat Tola
- Two-time New York City Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor
- Kenenisa Bekele, multiple world and Olympic gold medalist on the track
Other notable entries include:
- Two-time world silver medalist Mosinet Geremew
- Alexander Mutiso Munyao, who was runner-up at the 2023 Valencia Marathon in 2:03:11
- Ethiopia’s Dawit Wolde, 2019 Valencia winner Kinde Atanaw, and world bronze medalist Leul Gebresilase
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