Tigst Assefa successfully defended her title at the London Marathon on Sunday, setting a new women-only world record with a time of 2:15:41. The performance shaved nine seconds off her previous record, which she set on the same course last year.
The Ethiopian star, an Olympic and world silver medallist, surged ahead in the final stages of a closely contested race against Kenya’s Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei. Obiri finished second in a personal best of 2:15:53, narrowly edging Jepkosgei, who placed third just fractions of a second behind.
The women-only record remains distinct from the overall women’s marathon world record set in a mixed race by Ruth Chepngetich, who clocked 2:09:56 at the Chicago Marathon in October 2024. Chepngetich was later handed a three-year doping ban in October 2025, although her previous records remain valid.