Press Release - London Marathon - 4/21/24

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 Jepchirchir smashes women-only world record as Munyao wins on London Debut

First to finish the 2024 TCS London Marathon today was Switzerland's Marcel 
Hug, who crossed the line in 1:28:35 after breaking away in the final 10K 
of the race to take a record-breaking fourth London victory in a row.
Daniel Romanchuk of the USA finished second in 1:29:06 with Great Britian's 
David Weir third in 1:29:58 – the same podium placings as the Boston 
Marathon six days ago. 

For Weir it was a special day as he took his place on the London Marathon 
podium for the 21st time at his 25th consecutive appearance at the event. 

Women's Wheelchair Race

Catherine Debrunner at the Finish Line

In the women's wheelchair race, Switzerland's Catherine Debrunner put in an 
imperious performance as she led from the start and raced alone to win in 
1:38:54, just 30 seconds outside her own course record of 1:38:24, set here 
in 2022.

The Swiss athlete's decision not to race in Boston six days ago paid off as 
she looked fresh in the bright and breezy conditions.

Manuela Schär made it a one-two for Switzerland, crossing the world-famous 
Finish Line in second place in 1:45:00, while just behind her the third 
podium spot came down to a sprint finish on The Mall as the USA's Tatyana 
McFadden finished in 1:45:51, just holding off last year's champion Madison 
de Rozario of Australia (1:45:54).

Great Britain's Eden Rainbow-Cooper finished sixth in 1:50:39 after winning 
the Boston Marathon just six days ago. 

Elite women's race

Peres Jepchirchir (ETH) celebrates as she crosses the finish line on The 
Mall to the win the Elite Women's Race

Kenya's Peres Jepchirchir produced a stunning surge outside Buckingham 
Palace today to sprint to victory in a new women-only world record time of 
2:16:16.

The previous best time of 2:17:01 was also set here in London by 
Jepchirchir's compatriot Mary Keitany in 2017.

Today's race featured the best women's field ever assembled, but the 
calibre of her fellow racers failed to phase the 2020 Olympic champion 
Jepchirchir, who played a smart waiting game in the final 10K before 
surging away from pre-race favourite Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia – racing for 
the first time since setting a stunning world record of 2:11:53 at the 2023 
Berlin Marathon.

Jepchirchir's sprint finish put clear space between her and Assefa, who 
finished in 2:16:23 in the runner-up spot, with Joyciline Jepkosgei of 
Kenya third just a second behind in 2:16:24.

Elite men's race

Alexander Mutiso Munyao (KEN) celebrates as he wins the Elite Men's Race 

The elite men's race also produced a close final 5K, as Kenya's Alexander 
Mutiso Munyao pulled away from Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele along the 
Embankment to sprint to victory on The Mall at his debut London Marathon. 
Munyao finished in 2:04:01 while Bekele crossed the line in 2:04:15.

Great Britain's Emile Cairess delighted the London crowds with his 
third-place finish in 2:06:46, the second fastest time ever by a British 
man, while fellow Brit Mahamed Mahamed finished fourth in 2:07:05.

Marc Scott finished just outside the top 10, placing 11th in 2:11:19 on his 
marathon debut, while Callum Hawkins finished 16th in 2:17:34.

Behind the elites, more than 50,000 are expected to finish the TCS London 
Marathon today, while around the world thousands of people are taking part 
in the sold-out TCS London Marathon MyWay virtual event, covering their 
26.2 miles on a course of their choice any time between 00:00 and 23:59 
today. 

                                      ###