Despite the withdrawal of Dutch runner Sifan Hassan from next month’s London Marathon, the women’s field remains exceptionally strong, setting up a compelling clash between world marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir, New York Marathon champion Hellen Obiri, consistent performer Joyciline Jepkosgei, and Ethiopia’s world record holder Tigst Assefa.
Hassan announced her withdrawal from the race on March 26, stating that she had sustained an Achilles injury while training on a treadmill as she prepared for this year’s race, scheduled for April 26.
Jepchirchir’s championship bravery, Obiri’s finishing speed, Jepkosgei’s consistency, and Assefa’s record-breaking pace; the absence of Hassan does little to lower the quality of the field.
It focuses attention on the quartet whose rivalry has come to define the modern era of women’s marathon running, and London now offers the perfect stage for another thrilling chapter.
Kenya's Peres Jepchirchir (right) competes with Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa during the women's marathon final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on September 14, 2025.
Photo credit: Reuters
Jepchirchir and Assefa kept athletics fans on the edge of their seats when they changed leads at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, on September 14 last year. At the sight of the gates of Japan National Stadium on their way to the finish line, Jepchirchir and Assefa engaged in a sprint finish. Jepchirchir, 32, engaged a higher gear and out-sprinted Assefa and crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 24 minutes and 43 seconds. Assefa timed 2:24:45 for second place.
Jepchirchir and Assefa will meet for the first time on April 26 in the London Marathon, adding a major sub-lot to the rivalry between the top athletes.
Assefa is the fastest in the women’s field with a personal best time of 2:11:53. She is also the defending champion of the London Marathon. Jepkosgei, 33, is the second fastest woman in the field, with a personal best time of 2:14:00. Jepchirchir (2:14:43) and Obiri (2:17:41) come in as the third and fourth fastest athletes in the field.
The four athletes are not strangers to one another, having developed a complex rivalry over the course of major races and championships in recent years.
At the 2024 London Marathon, Jepchirchir beat a quality field to win the race in women-only world record time, with Assefa finishing second in a tightly contested race that went down to the final stages.
Jepchirchir told Nation Sport that Hassan’s withdrawal doesn’t make the race less competitive. She has predicted a highly tactical race.
Assefa smashed the women-only world record by 26 seconds at the 2025 London Marathon, running 2:15:50 to lower the earlier record of 2:16:16. held by Jepchirchir.
“The field is rich, and when everyone is good, sometimes it might lower what we are targeting, or we may end up running slower times because of fearing one another,” Jepchirchir said in an earlier interview.
Elite women marathoners (from left) Sifan Hassan (The Netherlands), Peres Chepchirchir (Kenya), Tigst Assefa (Ethiopia) and Hellen Obiri of Kenya.
Photo credit: File
Jepchirchir and Assefa also met at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, where Jepchirchir showcased her tactics in championship races, winning an Olympic gold medal.
At the 2025 Valencia Marathon, Jepkosgei got the better of Jepchirchir, crossing the line in a meet record of 2:14:00. Jepchirchir was second in a personal best of 2:14:43.
Jepkosgei, who is also the 2021 London Marathon champion, finished second in last year’s race behind Assefa. She will be seeking to reclaim the title she won four years ago.
Obiri, 36, claimed victory on her debut in the New York Marathon in 2023, holding off a strong challenge from Letesenbet Gidey. With the victory, she announced her arrival on the big stage and has been a regular finisher on the podium in her races.
Obiri competed against Jepchirchir at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where she won the bronze medal. On that occasion, her compatriot Jepchirchir, who was seeking to retain the title she won in Tokyo in 2020, finished in 15th place.
Obiri, who also won the 2025 New York Marathon in a course record of 2:17:41, will be seeking to clock a faster time given that she is running in a fast course compared to the Boston Marathon and New York Marathon races, which have tough courses.
