Peres Jepchirchir Sets Women-Only Marathon World Record at London Marathon

London, UK — Kenyan marathoner Peres Jepchirchir set a new world record for a women-only marathon on Sunday, April 21, during the London Marathon. She completed the race in an impressive time of 2 hours, 16 minutes, and 16 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 2:17:01 set by Mary Keitany in 2017 at the same event.

Jepchirchir, 30, had an exceptionally strong finish, leaving her competitors behind as she sprinted alone down the final stretch in front of Buckingham Palace.

Although her time was more than four minutes slower than the overall women's world record set by Tigst Assefa in Berlin last year, it stands as the fastest time ever recorded in a women-only marathon.

The elite women's field in London traditionally starts about 30 minutes ahead of the elite men, highlighting the significance of Jepchirchir's accomplishment in this context.

The victory holds particular importance for Jepchirchir, as it likely secures her a spot on Kenya's Olympic team for the upcoming Paris Games.

The London Marathon was the final qualifying race before Kenya's Olympic selectors finalize their team. Jepchirchir expressed her dual focus for the race, not only to set a record but also to defend her Olympic title in Paris.

"I was not expecting to run that time," she stated. "I was trying to work extra hard to defend my title in the Olympics."

This win serves as redemption for Jepchirchir, who finished third in last year’s London Marathon. This year's triumph, especially her strong finish, is a boost to her confidence as she prepares for the Olympics.

"For me, when I reach 800 meters (left), it’s difficult to defeat me," she said, reflecting on her strategy and strength in the closing stages of a race.

The London Marathon was also notable for another Kenyan victory in the men's race. Alexander Mutiso Munyao won the men’s 42 km race with a time of 2 hours, 4 minutes, and 1 second, followed by Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele and Britain's Emile Cairess.

The event was tinged with poignancy as it remembered Kelvin Kiptum, last year’s champion from Kenya, who tragically died in a car crash in February at the age of 24.

This year's marathon highlighted the strength and resilience of Kenyan athletes, marking a significant day for Kenya in international marathon racing.