Assefa breaks world record at London Marathon as Sawe wins men’s race

Sebastian Sawe won the men’s race, while Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia set a world record for a women’s only field, while Sebastian Sawe of Kenya clinched the women’s race.

With 10 kilometers to go, Olympic silver medalist Assefa surpassed Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei in two hours, 15 minutes, and 50 seconds.

By 26 seconds, Assefa broke Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya’s previous record set in London last year.

Jepkosgei came in second place, nearly three minutes behind, with Dutch Olympian Sifan Hassan, the 2023 winner, in third place.

With just over 10 kilometers (6.21 miles) left to go, debutant Sawe started the men’s race, finishing in 2: 02: 27.

On his full-marathon debut, Ugandan half-marathon champion Jacob Kiplimo was over a minute off the lead, and 2024 champion Alexander Mutiso Munyao placed third.

Olympic triathlete Alex Yee placed 14th, Mahamed Mahamed finished ninth, and the Brits placed third.

On her marathon debut, Eilish McColgan set a new record of 2:24:25, beating Steph Twell’s mark of 2:26:40, which she had set in Frankfurt in 2019.

Rose Harvey finished a place ahead of the Commonwealth 10, 000m champion in eighth place.

Another battle between Hassan and Assefa, the gold and silver medal winners in Paris last summer, was billed as a highly anticipated women’s race.

Early on, the pair held the lead, but by the 20-kilometer (12-mile) mark, Hassan was five seconds ahead, with Assefa and Jepkosgei maintaining a fast pace.

Assefa, the former world record holder, kicked for the line, and from being just 35 kilometers (just under 22 miles), she was 56 seconds ahead at 40 kilometers, holding on to the edge by the line.

“To win this year is very special because I placed second last year.” Assefa told BBC One, “I’m really, really happy.

“Toward the end of last year, I did experience some issues with the cold and my hamstring tightened up.” I prefer the weather this year.

I’m very pleased with the way things turned out.

After 30 kilometers (18.64 miles), the lead group for the men’s elite race was still made up of nine athletes. The field was hailed as the best ever in London.

No one could match Sawe, despite the presence of Kiplimo, Mutiso, four-time Olympian Tamirat Tola, and Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge, who he had just crossed the 31 km (26 miles) mark.

The Kenyan extended his lead before passing the halfway point just one minute and ten seconds before his closest rivals.

“I’m so happy,” I said. He told BBC One, “This is my fastest time for the London Marathon.”