Kosgei, Jepchirchir to come up against top guns in London Marathon
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Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 02.02.23. | 13:25
Olympic 10,000m and 5000m champion Sifan Hassan (NED) will be making her marathon debut.
Reigning Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir and world record holder Brigid Kosgei will come up against decent field in the 2023 London Marathon slated for Sunday 23 April.
The star-studded race in the history of marathon running will see the two Kenyans battle it out with the defending champion and world 10K record holder Yalemzerf Yehualaw (ETH).
In addition to that stellar trio, the reigning Olympic 10,000m and 5000m champion Sifan Hassan (NED) will be making her marathon debut.
Also on the Start Line will be the 1500m world record holder Genzebe Dibaba (ETH), the 2016 Olympic 10,000m champion Almaz Ayana (ETH) and the reigning Berlin Marathon champion Tigist Assefa (ETH), the fifth-fastest women’s marathoner in history.
The field will also include Britain's Eilish McColgan the reigning Commonwealth Games 10000m champion making her marathon debut, as well as three national record holders: Emily Sisson (USA), Sinead Diver (AUS) and Natasha Wodak (CAN).
American record holder Sisson will have a fascinating duel with compatriot Keira D’Amato, who held the US record for 10 months, from January to October last year, with a time of 2:19:12 set at the 2022 Houston Marathon.
Sisson reduced the US record even further at last October’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon when she ran 2:18:29 to finish second overall. She has since gone on to become the USA’s half marathon record holder as well, running 66:52 in Houston on 15 January.
Hugh Brasher, Event Director of the TCS London Marathon, said: “This is quite simply the greatest women’s field ever assembled for a marathon – arguably the greatest field ever assembled for a women’s distance race. We have two reigning Olympic champions, three world record holders and multiple national record holders, in addition to an incredibly strong British contingent led by Eilish McColgan," he said.
“It’s going to be a race the whole world will be anticipating and I can’t wait to see what happens on Sunday 23 April. We’ve had such a rich pedigree of incredible women’s results here in London. We have had world records and unforgettable performances from the likes of Grete Weitz, Ingrid Kristiansen, Paula Radcliffe and Mary Keitany. I am sure this amazing 2023 women’s field will provide another extraordinary chapter in the London Marathon’s rich and proud history of stunning races.” he added
Reigning champion Yehualaw said: “My victory at last year’s TCS London Marathon was a day I will never forget. I am very much looking forward to returning to London and being part of this amazing field,” she told the organizers.
Hassan, the double Olympic champion, said: “Moving up to the marathon distance has always been a plan of mine and I’m really excited to be making my debut at the TCS London Marathon. It will be a step into the unknown in many ways for me but I’m looking forward to it,” she said.
In total, the 2023 TCS London Marathon elite women’s field will feature 10 women who have run inside 2:19 and five who have gone under 2:18.
• Yalemzerf Yehualaw (ETH, personal best 2:17:23)
• Brigid Kosgei (KEN, 2:14:04 WR)
• Tigist Assefa (ETH, 2:15:37)
• Peres Jepchirchir (KEN, 2:17:16)
• Almaz Ayana (ETH, 2:17:20)
• Genzebe Dibaba (ETH, 2:18:05)
• Sutume Asefa Kebede (2:18:12)
• Judith Jeptum Korir (KEN, 2:18:20)
• Emily Sisson (USA, 2:18:29 NR)
• Alemu Megertu (ETH, 2:18:32)
• Keira D'Amato (USA, 2:19:12)
• Sinead Diver (AUS, 2:21:34 NR)
• Jess Piasecki (GBR, 2:22:27)
• Natasha Wodak (CAN, 2:23:12 NR)
• Charlotte Purdue (GBR, 2:23:26)
• Susanna Sullivan (USA, 2:25:14)
• Ellie Pashley (AUS, 2:26:21)
• Stephanie Davis (GBR, 2:27:16)
• Maor Tiyouri (ISR, 2:29:04)
• Rosie Edwards (GBR, 2:31:56)
• Samantha Harrison (GBR, 2:32:22)
• Eilish McColgan (GBR, debut)
• Sifan Hassan (NED, debut)
• Girmawit Gebrzihair (ETH, debut)
• Dominique Scott (RSA, debut)
Reporting by London Marathon
