Tigst Assefa broke the women’s-only world record in the London Marathon on Sunday as Sabastian Sawe used a dominant performance to reach the top of the podium in a stacked men’s race.
Assefa, 28, crushed the record by 26 seconds by clocking a 2:15:50 that passed Peres Jepchirchir’s 2:16:16 mark that was set last year on the streets of London.
The lead pack kept the pace aggressive from the start, with Assefa, Joyciline Jepkosgei, Sifan Hassan and Megertu Alemu holding steady at 15:34 through the first 5k and maintaining formation with a 31:16 split at the 10k mark that ensured a record was likely on the table.
However, Assefa and Jepchirchir pulled from the group near the half at 1:06:40 as Hassan trailed and would not catch back up. Alemu was nearly two minutes behind Hassan and would drop out of the race just past the 20k point.
But by 35k, Assefa made her move and surged past Jepkosgei and did not let off of her pace and pressed through the 40k mark at 2:08:47 with a 56 second margin.
She soared through the final straightaway and claimed the new women’s-only record while Jepkosgei was second in 2:18:44. Hassan came in third in 2:19:00.
“The conditions were really good, as there was no wind,” Assefa said after the race. “The pacemakers really pushed the pace early on, which suited me.”
She added, “I was pleased with my silver medal [at the Paris Olympic marathon], but today means so much to me to be here in London. It means so much to win the race and break the world record.”
In the men’s race, Sawe took a dominant performance to the line with an impressive 2:02:27 finish that was a minute faster than Jacob Kiplimo (2:03:37), who took second place.
Sawe, 29, posted the second-fastest London Marathon ever and claims his second straight marathon win after topping the podium at the Valencia Marathon in December.
On Sunday, he was locked in battle with a lead group of 11 runners that kept close from the start through the 25k mark at 1:13:01, with Kiplimo, Alexander Mutiso Munyao, Abdi Nageeye, Tamirat Tola, Eliud Kipchoge and Hillary Kipkoech among those vying to stay in contention.
But Sawe continued to look strong and broke ahead at the 30k point at 1:27:47 as Kipkoech and Tola gave chase.
Sawe kicked and opened a larger lead in 1:41:43 at 35k as Kiplimo tried to give chase but was 22 seconds behind.
And at 40, Sawe was in control in 1:56:03 with a 46 second margin as Kiplimo would have to settle for second place. But Munyao and Nageeye would fight for third and let a final sprint decide with Munyao slipping past in 2:04:20.
For Sawe, he proved that even the task of taking on a stack field in his first major was not only manageable, but a sign of consistency in such an early stint at the marathon distance.
“I was very confident because I came in well prepared,” Sawe said. “That got me through today.”
Men’s elite field
1. Sabastian Sawe (Kenya) – 2:02:27
2. Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda) – 2:03:37
3. Alexander Mutiso Munyao (Kenya) – 2:04:20
4. Abdi Nageeye (Netherlands) – 2:04:20
5. Tamirat Tola (Ethiopia) – 2:04:42
6. Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) – 2:05:25
7. Hillary Kipkoech (Kenya) – 2:06:05
8. Amanal Petros (Germany) – 2:06:30
9. Mahamed Mahamed (Great Britain) – 2:08:52
10. Milkesa Mengesha (Ethiopia) – 2:09:01
Women’s elite field
1. Tigist Assefa (Ethiopia) – 2:15:50
2. Joyciline Jepkosgei (Kenya) – 2:18:44
3. Sifan Hassan (Netherlands) – 2:19:00
4. Haven Hailu Desse (Ethiopia) – 2:19:17
5. Vivian Cheruiyot (Kenya) – 2:22:32
6. Stella Chesang (Uganda) – 2:22:42
7. Sofiia Yaremchuk (Italy) – 2:23:14
8. Eilish McColgan (Great Britain) – 2:24:25
9. Rose Harvey (Great Britain) – 2:25:01
10. Susanna Sullivan (USA) – 2:29:30
