Jepchirchir Targets Assefa as London Sets Stage for a Titanic Women’s Marathon Showdown
When the elite women charge off the start line at the London Marathon on April 26, all eyes will be fixed on a compelling duel between world champion Peres Jepchirchir and defending London Marathon champion Tigst Assefa, a clash that promises to define one of the most fiercely contested races in the event’s storied history.
Jepchirchir returns to the British capital on a mission: to reclaim the crown she once ruled and to wrest back the women’s-only world record that Assefa shattered last year. Standing in her path is the Ethiopian powerhouse Assefa, fresh from a historic London triumph that rewrote the record books and announced her dominance on the marathon stage.
London’s race organisers have unveiled a glittering start list that guarantees fireworks, headlined by Jepchirchir and Assefa, and bolstered by a formidable supporting cast including Kenyan stars Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei, as well as Dutch icon Sifan Hassan.
Jepchirchir: World Champion Returns to Beloved Ground
Jepchirchir’s London exploits began in 2023 when she marked her debut with a podium finish in 2:18:38. in third beahind the winner behind Hassan (2:18:33) and Ethiopia’s Megertu Alemu (2:18:37).A year later, she returned to the race , producing a devastating kick to storm to victory in a then women’s-only world record of 2:16:16.
She is going back to the capital owing to her outstanding 2025 campaign that saw her clinch her maiden World Marathon title in Tokyo in 2:24:43, before finishing second at the Valencia Marathon in a blistering 2:14:43.
Forced to miss last year’s London Marathon through injury, Jepchirchir watched from the sidelines as Assefa seized the moment beaking the women's only record.
Assefa: The Champion Who Rewrote History
Assefa arrives in London as the woman to beat. The Ethiopian boasts an imposing résumé that includes back-to-back Berlin Marathon titles in 2022 and 2023, before delivering a career-defining performance in London last year.
Depth of Talent Raises the Stakes
While the spotlight shines brightest on the Jepchirchir, Assefa rivalry, the depth of competition ensures no margin for error.
Two-time Boston and New York Marathon champion Hellen Obiri will make her highly anticipated London debut. Obiri enjoyed an explosive 2025 season, finishing second in Boston (2:17:41) and fourth at the Great Manchester Run 10K (31:16), before ending the year in imperious fashion with four straight victories at the New York 10K (30:44), Atlanta 10K (31:29), Dam tot Damloop 10 Miles (50:51) and the New York City Marathon in 2:19:51.
Joyciline Jepkosgei, meanwhile, brings impressive London experience among the Kenyans. She debuted in 2021 with victory in 2:17:43, finished second in 2022 (2:18:07), claimed third in 2024 (2:16:24), and returned last year to finish second in 2:18:44.
She capped her 2025 season by edging out Jepchirchir in Valencia to win in a lifetime best of 2:14:00, underlining her threat once again.
Sifan Hassan, too, looms large, having finished third in London two years ago in 2:18:33 behind Assefa and Ethiopia’s Megertu Alemu (2:18:37), and boasting major marathon victories in Chicago and London in 2023, followed by Sydney last year.
A Battle for Supremacy
Despite the depth of Kenyan firepower, the narrative is unmistakable: world champion versus defending champion, record-holder versus record-chaser, Jepchirchir versus Assefa.
On the streets of London, crowns will be defended, reclaimed, or lost — and when the dust settles, one woman will stand above a field stacked with champions in what promises to be a marathon for the ages.