Kenyan Jepchirchir Breaks Women’s Marathon World Record In London

April 21, (THEWILL)- Kenyan athlete, Peres Jepchirchir, smashed the women’s marathon world record on Sunday, at the 2024 London Marathon. The 30-year-old clocked an astonishing two hours, 16 minutes and 16 seconds to claim the new world best time for a women’s-only race.

Jepchirchir’s blistering pace saw her finish comfortably ahead of Ethiopian runner, Tigst Assefa and her Kenyan compatriot, Joyciline Jepkosgei. Her time eclipsed the previous women’s-only record of 2:17:01 set by compatriot, Mary Keitany, at the 2017 London Marathon.

While Britain’s Paula Radcliffe holds the overall marathon world record of 2:15:25 from 2003, her time was set in a mixed race using male pacemakers. Jepchirchir is the first woman to dip under 2:17 in an all-female marathon field.

Pre-race favourite Assefa was unable to match Jepchirchir’s searing finish in the final kilometre. However, both she and third-placed Jepkosgei also finished inside Keitany’s former world record time in the English capital.

Two-time former London winner, Brigid Kosgei, had to settle for fifth place, trailing behind Megertu Alemu of Ethiopia who claimed fourth spot in the record-breaking race.

Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.