Kenenisa Bekele leads list of all-stars in London

Four of the five fastest marathon men in history go head-to-head in mouth-watering race in London on April 23

The TCS London Marathon has pulled out all the stops to put together one of the greatest men’s line-ups of all time. When it comes to the best marathon runners on the planet, only Eliud Kipchoge, is missing.

Kipchoge is racing in Boston instead but he would have his work cut out if he had chosen to race in London as the field includes:

» Kenenisa Bekele – No.2 on the all-time rankings with 2:01:41, former world 5000m and 10,000m record-holder and multiple winner of Olympic and world titles on the track and country.

» Kelvin Kiptum – the fastest debutant in history with a best of 2:01:53 from Valencia in December.

» Amos Kipruto – defending London Marathon winner from last October.

» Tamirat Tola – reigning world champion from Eugene last summer.

» Mo Farah – British record-holder and 10-time global track champion.

In addition to this the field boasts Ethiopians Birhanu Legese and Mosinet Geremew, who have both run 2:02 marathons, plus last year’s London runner-up Leul Gebresilase, the 2020 and 2021 runner-up Vincent Kipchumba and two-time New York City Marathon winner Geoffrey Kamworor.

Kipruto, the Kenyan who won last October, said: “I am now preparing hard for this year’s race and I can’t wait to return to London as the champion.

“London always has a really strong field and this year is the same so I know I will face a battle to defend my title, but I’m confident and looking forward to it.”

Amos Kipruto (Mark Shearman)

Brett Robinson, the Australian who ran an Oceania record of 2:07:31 in Fukuoka late last year, will hope to improve on his eighth place from London last October. Sean Tobin, who earned headlines recently for his Antarctic marathon exploits, makes his road marathon debut in London.

READ MORE: Farah and McColgan lead domestic line-ups in London

Yuki Kawauchi, the Japanese runner who prevailed in terrible weather to win the 2018 Boston Marathon, is also in the line-up.

TCS London Marathon – elite men’s field

• Amos Kipruto (KEN, PB 2:03:13)
• Kenenisa Bekele (ETH, 2:01:41)
• Kelvin Kiptum (KEN, 2:01:53)
• Birhanu Legese (ETH, 2:02:48)
• Mosinet Geremew (ETH, 2:02:55)
• Tamirat Tola (ETH, 2:03:39)
• Kinde Atanaw (ETH, 2:03:51)
• Leul Gebresilase (ETH, 2:04:02)
• Vincent Kipchumba (KEN, 2:04:28)
• Seifu Tura (ETH, 2:04:29)
• Sir Mo Farah (GBR, 2:05:11)
• Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN, 2:05:23)
• Yuki Kawauchi (JPN,…