ATHLETICS-GBR-MARATHON Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa reacts after crossing the line to win the women's race in a new women's only world record at the 2026 London Marathon in central London on April 26, 2026. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
London: Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa defended her London Marathon crown on Sunday, breaking her own women's-only world record.
The reigning Olympic and world silver medallist was locked in a three-way tussle with Kenyan pair Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei, but pulled away in the closing stages to cross the line in a time of 2hr 15min 41sec.
That time beat by nine seconds her previous best, set on the same course last year.
Obiri, a two-time former world 5,000m champion who won marathon bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics, came in second in a personal best of 2:15:53.
She finished just two-hundredths of a second ahead of compatriot Jepkosgei.
The world record set in a mixed race where female athletes benefit from male pacemakers was by Kenya's Ruth Chepngetich, who clocked 2:09:56 at the Chicago Marathon in October 2024.
Chepngetich picked up a three-year doping ban in October 2025, although achievements and records pre-dating the March 2025 sample stand.
