Ethiopian wins the battle for survival with women’s-only world record-breaking performance

After a 2024 in which she was forced to settle for second place in both London and at the Paris Olympics – as well as usurped as the world record-holder – Tigist Assefa produced a statement marathon win in the English capital on Sunday (April 27).

Paula Radcliffe’s course record of 2:15:25 survived but the women’s-only world record fell as the Ethiopian clocked 2:15:50, well inside the mark of 2:16:16 set by Peres Jepchirchir in winning London last year.

Following a searing opening half of 66:40, Assefa won the battle for survival in the increasingly warm conditions, making what proved to be the crucial move just before Blackfriars tunnel with a little over two miles to go to see off the challenge of 2021 winner Joyciline Kepkosgei.

The Kenyan was left a distant second in 2:18:43, while Sifan Hassan – who so memorably and dramatically beat Assefa to the Olympic marathon title last summer – was third in 2:18:59.

On her marathon debut, Eilish McColgan broke the Scottish record and was the first British woman home, coming eighth in 2:24:25. She also overtook the 2:26:52 marathon best of her mother and coach, 1996 London Marathon winner Liz McColgan.

Assefa is a two-time Berlin marathon winner and stunned the world with a debut of 2:15:37 in 2022 and then became the first woman to break 2:12 a year later after running 2:11:53.

Last year proved to be a testing time, though, as she finished runner-up in London to Jepchirchir, lost the tussle for Olympic gold to Hassan and then had to watch Ruth Chepng’etich run 2:09:56 in Chicago last October.

Kenya’s world record-holder was a late withdrawal from London, meaning that the re-match between Assefa and Hassan moved firmly to centre stage. When the women’s field set off, it didn’t take long for a four-strong leading group made up of Assefa, Hassan, Jepkosgei and Megertu Alemu (second in London in 2022 and 203) to emerge.

The Olympic marathon champion – who took four months off after also contesting the 5000m, and 10,000m in Paris – and has proved to be a highly unpredictable performer, was happy to sit slightly off the back of that group and lurk in the background.

That group hit 5km in 15:34 and then 10km in 31:16 but the first major change in proceedings came at the 10-mile mark, when there was a gear change from Assefa and Jepkosgei. It was enough to drop Alemu, while suddenly Hassan found herself 20 metres adrift.

The effort that it took for the Dutchwoman to catch back up perhaps proved telling and Tower Bridge was a landmark in more ways than one. It was there, around the 20km point, that there was another burst of speed that left Hassan trailing by five seconds. By the halfway point, that gap had doubled and it was lookingly increasingly like a two-way fight for victory.

So it proved and Assefa and Jepkosgei continued to move away from their pursuers, even if the pace had slowed as the weather took its toll. The Ethiopian still managed to cover the distance between 35km and 40km in 16:35 and made that push for home around the 24-mile point.

Assefa admitted to being worried that Hassan might run her down but there was to be no drama this time around as she was able to enjoy a clear path to the finish line, and that world record.

“When I crossed the line I just felt extreme happiness,” she said. “I was training for all outcomes. I felt I could win with a sprint finish or with a long a run for home. The main thing was to prepare well and that’s what I did.

“I really wanted to win today. After Paris, and coming second again, I really trained hard and obviously I’m really happy that it’s paid off.”

Read all about Sabastian Sawe’s win in the men’s race here