London Marathon 2025: Elite Runners Shine in Record-Breaking Performances
The 2025 London Marathon saw a spectacular display of athleticism, with elite runners pushing their limits to achieve record-breaking performances. According to USA Today, Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe and Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa emerged victorious in the men’s and women’s elite divisions, respectively.
Assefa, the 28-year-old Olympic silver medalist, shattered the women’s-only world record by 26 seconds, clocking an impressive 2:15:50. This achievement surpassed the previous record of 2:16:16 set by Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir in London last year. Assefa attributed her success to the warmer temperatures, which she said helped her improve over her previous performance. “Last year, I did have some problems with the cold,” Assefa said, as quoted in USA Today. “My hamstring tightened up towards the end of the race. This year, the weather suited me really well, and that’s why I’m really pleased with the way the race went.”
In the men’s division, Sawe employed clever tactics to pull away from the competition, winning the race in 2:02:27. This achievement marked the second-fastest time in London history, according to World Athletics. Sawe made his strategic move with about 10K to go, pulling ahead when others in the lead pack reached for water bottles. Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda, who holds the world record in the half marathon, finished second in his debut marathon, clocking 2:03:37.
The London Marathon, often referred to as “the most popular marathon on the planet,” attracted a field of over 56,000 runners. According to Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events, a staggering 840,000 people applied to run this year’s event. The marathon is not only a premier athletic event but also a significant fundraiser, with over £1.3 billion raised for charity since 1981.
In the wheelchair events, Switzerland’s Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner dominated the competition, winning their respective titles. Hug secured his sixth London Marathon title in 1:25:25, while Debrunner claimed her third women’s title in four years in 1:34:18.
Other notable performances included Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya, who finished second in the women’s division with a time of 2:18:44. Jepkosgei has consistently demonstrated her strength in London, having won in 2021 and placed second in 2022 and third last year. Eliud Kipchoge, a four-time London Marathon winner, finished sixth in the men’s division with a time of 2:05:25.
The 2025 London Marathon also saw the return of several top athletes, including Sifan Hassan and Alexander Mutiso Munyao. Despite a strong performance, Hassan couldn’t keep up with Assefa’s blistering pace, finishing third in 2:19:00. Munyao edged out Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands in a photo finish for third place, with both crossing the line in 2:04:20.
For those who missed the event, the London Marathon can be streamed on Flotrack in the United States, with start times including the elite wheelchair races at 3:50 a.m. ET, the elite women at 4:05 a.m. ET, and the elite men at 4:35 a.m. ET.
As the world’s largest single-day fundraiser, the London Marathon continues to be a premier event in the athletic calendar. The current world record for a marathon is 55,646, set in New York last year. The London Marathon course record is held by Kelvin Kiptum, who set a men’s record of 2:01:25 in 2023, and Peres Jepchirchir, who set the women’s record last year in 2:16:16.
USA Today provided comprehensive coverage of the event, including live updates, results, and analysis. For more information on the London Marathon and its results, visit USA Today for the latest news and updates.
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