Voice of People, Sports Desk, 26 April:  The London Marathon 2026 delivered a dramatic and record-breaking spectacle across the streets of London, with a stunning world record in the women’s race and a thrilling battle for historic times in the men’s event.

Assefa dominates with a new world record

Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa successfully defended her title unequivocally, crossing the finish line in 2h 15m 41s to set a new women ’s-only world record (without male pacemakers).

She improved her own 2025 mark by nine seconds, underlining her dominance in elite marathon running.

Kenya’s Hellen Obiri finished second, followed by Joyceline Jepkosgei in third. Remarkably, all three athletes completed the race in under 2:16, making it one of the fastest podium finishes in women’s marathon history.

Strong showing from British runners

Britain’s Eilish McColgan secured seventh place in the women’s race, finishing in 2h 24m 51s, just a few seconds slower than her time last year, and emerging as the top British finisher.

In the men’s race, Mahamed Mahamed, Patrick Dever, and Ireland’s Peter Lynch pushed forward together, overtaking rivals. At the 35km mark, they were on course to finish under 2:07.

Men’s race hints at record-breaking finish

The men’s contest narrowed into a two-man race between defending champion Sabastian Sawe and Ethiopia’s track star Yomif Kejelcha. As they entered the final three miles, the pair had clearly broken away from the rest of the field.

Observers suggested they could come very close to, or even surpass, the 2h 1m 25s world record set in 2023 by Kelvin Kiptum. Kejelcha’s performance was particularly eye-catching, raising the possibility of a sensational victory on his marathon debut.

A day of records and relentless competition

Overall, the London Marathon 2026 proved to be more than just a race—it was a showcase of endurance, speed, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

With a women’s world record already secured and the men’s race pushing the limits of what is possible, this year’s edition is set to be remembered as one of the most remarkable in marathon history.