Assefa sets new women's only world record in London

Tigst Assefa set a new women’s only world record to register her first TCS London Marathon win on Sunday.

The Ethiopian clocked 2:15:50 to banish memories of 2024 in which she lost two sprint finishes – one in London and one to Sifan Hassan at the Olympic marathon.

Hassan was threatening to pile more misery on Assefa in London but the Dutchwoman could not maintain the pace being set by Assefa and Joyciline Jepkosgei.

She was cast adrift just after the halfway mark which the leaders passed in 66:40, almost a minute ahead of the pre-agreed target time for 13.1 miles.

Jepkosgei stuck with the former world record-holder until the 35km mark, but as Assefa emerged from the darkness of the tunnel on the Victoria Embankment, she was all alone, and surged away to take a deserved win.

View Assefa's finish here.

"I won second here last year so to win this year is very special. I am really, very happy," Assefa told BBC One.

"Last year I did have some problems with the cold and my hamstring tightened up towards the end. This year the weather suited me better.

"I am really pleased with how the race went."

The men’s race was billed as the old vs the new with four-time winner Eliud Kipchoge in the field alongside newcomers Jacob Kiplimo and Sabastian Sawe, and a large group containing all the key contenders was still in the argument at the 30km mark.

Sawe, who ran the fastest time in the world last year in Valencia, chose his moment as he exited the Docklands area, and even Kiplimo, who ran an astonishing 56:47 in Barcelona for a new half marathon world record, did not have the speed to go with him.

As the final two kilometers arrived, the Kenyan was 46 seconds ahead, and came home on The Mall in 2:02:27, over one minute ahead of debutant Kiplimo.

2024 champion Alex Mutiso edged our Abdi Nageeye in a thrilling spring finish for third place, with both men clocking 2:04:20.