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Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir has given reasons why Mary Keitany’s seven-year-old world record is under serious threat at Sunday’s London Marathon.
Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir is confident that seven-year old women’s-only world record held by compatriot Mary Keitany will be broken in Sunday’s London Marathon.
Keitany has held the women's-only world record of 2:17:01 since 2017 but with an elite field that features seven women who have run under 2:17:30, including three of the top four fastest women ever, Jepchichir believes the record is under great threat.
"For myself when I see the field it's strong, I see the (all-women's) world record on Sunday. May the best win,” Jepchirchir said during the pre-race press conference on Thursday.
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11:00 - 18.04.2024
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London Marathon organisers have disclosed why they feel the women’s race at the 2024 edition will surpass what will be witnessed at the Paris Olympics later this year.
"I know this won't be easy and we are running with strong ladies. There will be tension. It could be a historic race."
Jepchirchir is among the strong cast that includes world record holder Tigst Assefa, the fastest female marathoner in the world, who ran an astonishing 2:11:53 in Berlin last year, to set the new mark.
The Ethiopian headlines the list which also has Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei, the former world record holder, whose mark of 2:14:04 set in 2019 she broke in Berlin, former world champion Ruth Chepngetich (2:14:18) and 2022 London winner Yehualaw of Ethiopia.
Add to this Tigist Ketema, the Ethiopian who ran the world’s fastest debut marathon with 2:16:07 in Dubai last year, together with 2:17 runners Megertu Alemu of Ethiopia and Joyciline Jepkosgei and Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya and the line-up is amazingly strong.
For Jepchirchir, just like the other Kenyans, the aim is to do well and seal an Olympics place with Hellen Obiri the only one who looks assured of making the final three following her Boston Marathon win on Monday.
"To defend my Olympic title in Paris won't be easy but I want to represent my country and I'd be proud to do so,” added Jepchirchir.
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15:35 - 18.04.2024
Kelvin Kiptum: London Marathon to honour departed champion after last year’s heroics
The London Marathon will pay special tributes to the late Kelvin Kiptum who won last year’s race in emphatic fashion.
The Olympic champion also used the occasion to congratulate Obiri for her victory at Boston after fending off a strong challenge from compatriot Sharon Lokedi in the final metres of the race.
"I send my congratulations to Hellen Obiri on her win in Boston. She's strong. The last 5km she produced was incredible,” she said.
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