The main highlights from the 2025 London Marathon

The main highlights from the 2025 London Marathon

What an incredible 2025 London Marathon! Record-breaking, scintillating, and inspiring performances marked the 45^th edition of the marathon on Sunday, April 27.

One would be at a loss for what story to write about after such an event. But here are some of the highlights to remember for a long time

1. The new women-only world record by Tigst Assefa

Given the depth of the elite women, it was expected to happen, and the former world record holder for the women’s marathon at 2:11:53, which she ran at the 2023 Berlin Marathon, took the opportunity to show that she was indeed a world record performer when she set a new women-only world record of 2:15:50.

The women’s race started at a fast pace, with the leading pack passing through the first 5K in 15:34. They crossed the half-marathon distance in 1:06:40, and soon the relentless pace reduced the lead pack considerably, until only three runners remained. Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan would lose contact with the two leaders, close the gap again before falling back. Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei and Assefa exchanged the lead for most of the last quarter of the race before the Ethiopian began to break away at around 40 K.

Jepkosgei faded towards the end and finished 2^nd in 2:18:44 with Hassan following in 2:19:00 for third place.

It is worth mentioning that Catherine Reline is the same pacesetter who paced Peres Jepchirchir to the previous world record of 2:16:16 last year.

2. The obliterating surge by Sebastian Sawe at 30K

At a drinks station around the 30K mark, Sawe intentionally skipped his bottle and surprised the rest of the leading pack. He bolted away, never to look back, while the rest had their drinks already in their throats and needed to gulp them down before running after him.

He made it a long sprint, registering 13:56 for the 30–35 km split. While he had already created a significant and safe gap against his chasers, he enjoyed a drink at the next aid station while the rest battled for the remaining positions behind him.

Sawe crossed the finish line in the second-fastest winning time ever at the London Marathon of 2:02:27, more than a minute ahead of Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo (2:03:37) and fellow countryman Alexander Mutiso Munyau (2:04:20).

3. The…