Hellen Obiri Opts to Chase History at London Marathon But Faces Strongest Field Ever Assembled

Two-time Boston Marathon champion Hellen Obiri opted against signing up for a possible hat-trick in the American city and is instead set to make his London Marathon debut this April.

Obiri, also a winner in New York twice, was among star names who were announced for the London race set to take place on April 26, making it the most formidable women's fields ever assembled, with four of the five fastest female marathoners in history scheduled to compete.

The star-studded lineup includes reigning London champion Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia, 2025 world champion Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya, and 2025 Valencia Marathon winner Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya and Dutch Olympic champion Sifan Hassan who won in London in 2023.

PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Google News, Stay informed with Latest Sport News

This historic field boasts four women with personal bests under 2:15:00. Assefa holds the world record with a stunning 2:11:53, followed by Hassan (2:13:44), Jepkosgei (2:14:00), and Jepchirchir (2:14:43). The only athlete missing from the all-time top five is Brigid Kosgei, who is slated to run the Tokyo Marathon.

In total, the race will feature the reigning champions from four of the eight Abbott World Marathon Majors held in 2025: London (Assefa), Sydney (Hassan), the World Championships (Jepchirchir), and New York (Obiri).

Obiri's decorated marathon career includes four wins, two runner-up finishes, and an Olympic bronze medal. Yet, all eight of her marathons have been on challenging, unpaced courses in Boston, New York, and the Paris Olympics. Consequently, her official personal best of 2:19:51 ranks her 88th on the all-time list.

The flat and fast London course presents a new challenge and a significant opportunity for Obiri. While the women's-only start in London, which uses female pacemakers, makes a sub-2:12 time unlikely, she is widely expected to shatter her previous bests.

Her coach, Dathan Ritzenhein, has previously stated he believes she is capable of a 2:11 performance on a course like Berlin or Valencia. Given her recent course-record victory in New York, Obiri is in prime form to prove how fast she can truly run.

The London race could settle the debate over who was the top female marathoner of 2025. Last year, Assefa, Jepchirchir, and Jepkosgei engaged in a fierce rivalry, with each securing one victory and one loss against the others.

Assefa won London but was second at the World Championships; Jepchirchir won the World title but finished second in Valencia; and Jepkosgei claimed victory in Valencia after placing second in London. Their showdown on the streets of London promises to be a decisive chapter in their ongoing contest.

However, victory is far from guaranteed for any of them as Hassan is also returning while Obiri has dominated the hilly courses of Boston and New York in recent years.