The London Marathon was electrifying this Sunday as Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa, a 28-year-old powerhouse, skyrocketed to a new women's-only world record with a blazing time of 2:15:50.
In a race filled with adrenaline and determination, Assefa—who had finished just seven seconds behind last year’s record set by Kenya's Peres Jepchirchir—held her position in a leading pack of four before surging ahead in the final stretch. Her relentless drive left competitors in the dust!
Kenyan runner Joyciline Jepkosgei put up an impressive fight, clocking 2:18:43 after keeping pace with Assefa until midway, while Olympic champion Sifan Hassan from the Netherlands secured third in 2:18:59.
The men's race was equally thrilling. A pack of nine athletes ran side-by-side for nearly 30 kilometers before Kenya's Sabastian Sawe broke away to clinch the win in 2:02:27. Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo and defending champion Alexander Mutiso Munyao of Kenya followed closely. Legendary runner Eliud Kipchoge, now 40, finished sixth with a time of 2:05:25 and remarked, "I'm 40 so it was no problem at all, that's sport. I don't need to prove anything to anyone." 😊
Not to be overlooked, wheelchair competitors also stole the spotlight as Swiss athletes Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner won the men’s (1:25:25) and women’s (1:34:18) events respectively.
This landmark day at the London Marathon is a tribute to passion, perseverance, and breaking boundaries. For our dynamic youth in South and Southeast Asia—who juggle tech trends and cultural vibes—this record is a reminder that with determination, every achievement is within reach! 🚀
Reference(s):
Ethiopia's Assefa breaks women's-only world record at London Marathon
cgtn.com
