Jepchirchir crushes women’s-only world record in winning London Marathon

LONDON : Reigning Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya crushed the women’s-only world record in winning the 44th London Marathon on Sunday.

The 30-year-old pulled away over the final 300 metres in a sprint finish, crossing the finish line in front of Buckingham Palace in two hours 16 minutes 16 seconds to break Mary Keitany’s mark of 2:17:01 set in a women-only race at the 2017 London event.

Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia, who clocked 2:11.53 at the Berlin Marathon in September to set a world record for women in a race alongside male runners, crossed second in 2:16.23.

Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya, the 2021 London winner, was third in 2:16.24.