The London Marathon has announced a stellar elite to beat the world record

He London Marathonthird Major of the year, which will be celebrated next April 21, has announced a luxury elite with three of the four fastest women in history to try to beat the marathon world record in a women-only race.

The main favorite is Ethiopian Tigst Assefaworld record holder in the distance (in the mixed race) with a mark of 2h11:53 achieved in September in Berlin.

The previous record holder, the Kenyan Brigid Kosgeiwill also be part of the race at the age of 30. Kosgei, who won the Abu Dhabi marathon in December, has the second fastest time in history with 2:14:04.

Kenyans are also on the list Ruth Chepngetichfourth fastest woman ever, and the current Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchirin addition to Ethiopian Yalemzerf Yehualawwinner in London in 2022.

The London Marathon is one of the few races where women run separately from men, so athletes can aim to achieve the women-only world record, which since 2017 has been held by Mary Keitany with mark of 2h17:01 acquired on London soil. In total, there will be 10 women with times under 2h17.

Among men, one of the main favorites is Ethiopian Tamirat Tola, world champion in 2022 and current New York Marathon champion. His countrymen will accompany him Mosinet Geremewseventh fastest man in history with 2h02:55, and by Kenyan Alexander Mutiso Munyaosecond in the last edition of the Valencia marathon with 2h03:11.

Kenyan is also confirmed Geoffrey Kamwororsecond in the last edition of the London Marathon, and the track’s multiple champion and third fastest man ever, Kenenisa Bekelewho in 2023 ran the Valencia marathon in 2h04:19 at the age of 41 and set a new world masters record.

Elite women

• Tigst ASSEFA (ETH, 2:11:53 WR)
• Brigid KOSGEI (KEN, 2:14:04)
• Ruth CHEPNGETICH (KEN, 2:14:18)
• Tigist KETEMA (ETH, 2:16:07)
• Almaz AYANA (ETH, 2:16:22)
• Megertu ALEMU (ETH, 2:17:09)
• Peres JEPCHIRCHIR (KEN, 2:17:16)
• Joyciline JEPKOSGEI (KEN, 2:17:23)
• Yalemzerf YEHUALAW (ETH, 2:17:23)
• Sheila CHEPKIRUI (KEN, 2:17:29)
• Tsige HAILESLASE (ETH, 2:22:10)
• Susanna SULLIVAN (USA, 2:24:27)
• Manon TRAPP (FRA, 2:25:48)
• Becky BRIGGS (GBR, 2:29:04)
• Alice WRIGHT (GBR, 2:29:08)
• Anya CULLING (GBR, 2:34:45)
• Rachel HODGKINSON (GBR, 2:34:46)
• Helen GAUNT (GBR, 2:35:38)
• Mhairi MACLENNAN (GBR, Debut)
• Lucy REID (GBR, Debut)

Elite people

• Kenenisa BEKELE (ETH, 2:01:41)
• Mosinet GEREMEW (ETH, 2:02:55)
• Alexander Mutiso MUNYAO (KEN, 2:03:11)
• Tamirat TOLA (ETH, 2:03:39)
• Dawit WOLDE (ETH, 2:03:48)
• Kind Look (ETH, 2:03:51)
• Leul GEBRESILASE (ETH, 2:04:02)
• Geoffrey KAMWOROR (KEN, 2:04:23)
• Seifu TURA (ETH, 2:04:29)
• Daniel DO NASCIMENTO (BRA, 2:04:51)
• Addisu GOBENA (ETH, 2:05:01)
• Milkesa MENGESHA (ETH, 2:05:29)
• Henok TESFAY (ERI, 2:07:12)
• Emile CAIRESS (GBR, 2:08:07)
• Callum HAWKINS (GBR, 2:08:14)
• Hassan CHAHDI (FRA, 2:08:19)
• Mahamed MAHAMED (GBR, 2:08:40)
• Brian Shrader (USA, 2:09:46)
• Weynay GHEBRESILASIE (GBR, 2:09:50)
• Andrew HEYES (GBR, 2:13:52)
• Alexander LEPRETRE (GBR, 2:15:01)
• Hiko Tonosa HASO (IRL, 2:15:01)
• Norman Shreeve (GBR, 2:16:17)
• Alex MILNE (GBR, 2:16:30)
• William MYCROFT (GBR, 2:17:02)
• David BISHOP (GBR, 2:17:06)
• Adam BOWDEN (GBR, 2:17:18)
• Kieran WALKER (GBR, 2:17:30)
• Alexander LAWRENCE (GBR, 2:17:41)
• Daniel HAMILTON (GBR, 2:17:59)
• Dominic JONES (GBR, 2:18:15)
• Fraser STEWART (GBR, 2:18:34)
• Tom FRITH (GBR, 2:18:35)
• James HOAD (GBR, 2:18:38)
• Ryan THOMSON (GBR, 2:18:46)
• Martin HOARE (IRL, 2:18:57)
• Charlie SANDISON (GBR, 2:19:22)
• Paulos SURAFEL (GBR, No Time)
• Daniel MATEIKO (KEN, No Time)
• Jacob ALLEN (GBR, Debut)
• Kieran Clements (GBR, Debut)
• Marc SCOTT (GBR, Debut)
• Sean TOBIN (IRL, Debut)