Defending champions Peres Jepchirchir and Alexander Mutiso are set to headline the London Marathon on Sunday, April 27, as they aim to retain their titles in the highly anticipated race.
The two Kenyan stars face a formidable lineup, including reigning Olympic champions Sifan Hassan and Tamirat Tola.
Jepchirchir, a former Olympic champion and three-time world half marathon gold medalist, dazzled in last year’s event by setting a new women-only world record of 2:16:16, shaving 45 seconds off the previous mark. Her victory marked her third triumph in the World Marathon Majors, ahead of Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa and former London champion Joyciline Jepkosgei.
On the men’s side, Mutiso claimed a sensational victory in his London Marathon debut, clocking 2:04:01 to edge out Ethiopia’s distance legend Kenenisa Bekele.
Fierce Competition Awaits
Both Jepchirchir and Mutiso will face tough challenges this year. Sifan Hassan, the reigning Olympic champion, will be one of Jepchirchir’s main rivals. Their last head-to-head was at the Paris Olympics, where Hassan outpaced Jepchirchir, who finished 15th in 2:26:51.
Mutiso, who placed 21st in Paris, has shown recent strong form, finishing second at the Bangsaen21 Half Marathon in Thailand with a time of 1:02:34. He will battle it out with Tamirat Tola, Ethiopia’s Olympic gold medalist, among others.
Chepngetich Targets World Record
Adding to the excitement, women’s marathon world record holder Ruth Chepngetich will also take to the starting line. Chepngetich, who finished ninth in London last year, made history three months later at the Chicago Marathon by smashing the world record. She clocked an astonishing 2:09:56, becoming the first woman to dip under 2:10 and taking nearly two minutes off Assefa’s previous record of 2:11:53 set in Berlin.
Chepngetich is optimistic about lowering Jepchirchir’s world record from last year.
“I want to prepare as best as I can, and we’ll see if we can lower Peres’s record of 2:16:16. With the strength of the field, I think we can support each other, and maybe the world record will fall,” Chepngetich said.
Reflecting on her record-breaking performance in Chicago, she added, “I didn’t know setting the world record was possible, but I came to realize that dreams can come true.”
A Race for the Ages
With a lineup featuring world-class talents and record-breaking aspirations, the 2024 London Marathon promises to be one of the most exciting editions yet. All eyes will be on the Kenyan stars as they aim to defend their crowns and inspire another thrilling chapter in marathon history.
