Olympic champion Jepchirchir wins women's race at London Marathon

LONDON (AP) — Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya pulled away late to win the London Marathon women’s race on Sunday and cement her status as the favorite to defend her gold in Paris.

Jepchirchir had by far the strongest finish as she easily left world-record holder Tigst Assefa and two other rivals behind to sprint alone down the final stretch in front of Buckingham Palace. She finished in 2 hours, 16 minutes, 16 seconds, with Assefa in second and Joyciline Jepkosgei in third.

That was more than 4 minutes slower than Assefa's world record set in Berlin last year, but it was the fastest time ever in a women-only marathon, beating the mark of 2:17:01 set by Mary Keitany in London in 2017. The elite women’s field in London starts about 30 minutes ahead of the elite men.

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Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya is about to cross the finish line to win the women's race at the London Marathon in London, Sunday, April 21, 2024.(AP Photo/David Cliff)

Runners including Joyce Chepkirui, Brigid Kosgei, Becky Briggs, Tigst Assefa and Mhairi Maclennan as the women's elite race gets under way at the London Marathon, London, Sunday April 21, 2024. (Zac Goodwin/PA via AP)

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