Peres Jepchirchir Defeats World Record Holder Tigist Assefa to Win Women's 2024 London Marathon

• Peres Jepchirchir is the 2024 London Marathon champion
• The Kenyan set a new women-only world record on Sunday
• Jepchirchir defeated world record holder, Ethiopia's Tigist Assefa

Peres Jepchirchir is the women's 2024 London marathon champion.

The Olympic champion outsprinted world record holder Tigist Assefa and her compatriot Joyciline Jepkosgei to secure the title.

Jepchirchir clocked 2:16:16, which is the new women's only world record (2:17:01), previously held by her compatriot Mary Keitany.

Four women were locked into an intriguing battle with only a few metres left in the race, but it was Jepchirchir who outsprinted her opponents to secure another major title.

Megertu Alemu was the first to be dropped. As Jepchirchir took a commanding lead in the final stretch, Jepkosgei and Assefa had to battle for the second spot. The world record holder narrowly edged the Kenyan to finish second in 2:16:23. Jepkosgei finished third in 2:16:24, per NBC Sports.

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She was recently named in Kenya's provisional team for the 2024 Paris Olympics, and she will be one of the favourites to win it.

“I was not expecting to run that time,” Jepchirchir said via AP. “I was trying to work extra hard to defend my title in the Olympics.”

The 30-year-old finished third in the 2023 London Marathon. She has won the New York City and Boston Marathons.

Jepchirchir named in Olympic team

Sports Brief earlier reported on Jepchirchir headlining the Kenyan women's Olympic team.

Jepchirchir won the Olympic gold medal in the women's marathon in Tokyo in 2021 and will be looking to defend her title in Paris later this year. Boston Marathon champion Hellen Obiri was also named in the team.

Kenyan women with Olympic gold medals

Sports Brief earlier reported on Kenyan women who have won gold medals at the Olympic Games.

Pamela Jelimo (800m) was the first one at the 2008 Games in Beijing. Nancy Langat also won gold in the 2008 games. A total of six women have won gold at the Olympics for the athletics giants.