Defending champion Sebastian of Kenya comes up against a star-studded field featuring Uganda’s long-distance runner Jacob Kiplimo in a potentially-explosive men’s 42km race in the London Marathon from the 42km distance.
The women’s race will start at 11 am (Kenyan time), while the men’s race will begin at 11.35 am.
Both Sawe and Kiplimo head to the men’s race in top shape. Last year, Sawe won ahead of Kiplimo, who was competing in London Marathon for the first time. Sawe took control of the race shortly after the halfway mark and held on to win in 2:02:27, with Kiplimo coming second in 2:03:37. Another Kenyan runner, Alexander Mutiso, was third in 2:04:20.
Kenya's Sabastian Sawe celebrates after winning the men's Berlin Marathon on September 21, 2025.
Photo credit: Reuters
Kiplimo, the reigning world cross country champion, won the 2025 Chicago Marathon in 2:02:23.
With his sights set on retaining the title he won in London last year, Sawe has not competed in a major race since the season started. He was oozing confidence when he left Nairobi for London last week.
Kiplimo started his season with a victory in the Lisbon Half Marathon on March 2, clocking a world record of 57 minutes and 20 seconds. The Ugandan runner lowered the previous record held by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha by 10 seconds. He also won the 2025 Chicago Marathon.
Known for its fast course that yields record-breaking performances, the stage is perfectly set for another contest in the World Marathon Majors event.
The two will come up against Ethiopia’s Deresa Geleta (2:02:38), the 2021 London Marathon champion Amos Kipruto (2:03:13), reigning Olympics marathon champion Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola (2:03:39), World marathon silver medallist Germany’s Amanal Petros (2:04:03), Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor (2:04:03), Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei (2:04:23), among others.
Despite the withdrawal from Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir and Netherland’s Sifan Hassan, the women’s field still remains strong, with Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei and New York Marathon champion Hellen Obiri in the mix.
They come up against the second fastest female marathoner, Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa, who is also the defending champion. Assefa won last year in 2:15:50, which is also the women-only world record time, with Jepkosgei finishing second in 2:18:44. Hassan was third in 2:19:00.
Netherlands' Sifan Hassan, Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa, Britain's Phily Bowden, Kenya's Joyciline Jepkosgei and Vivian Cheruiyot in action during the women's elite race at the London Marathon on April 27, 2025
Photo credit: Reuters
Jepkosgei, who is the fastest this season after clocking 2:14:00, her personal best time, will be up against the New York Marathon champion Hellen Obiri, who is competing in a fast course for the first time as she seeks to run her personal best.
In an interview at the Press Conference ahead of the race, Obiri said that she is excited to race in London for the first time, where they will be guided by pacemakers, and her target is to run her personal best.
“I’m excited to run in Europe and I will be looking forward to running with a pacemaker because I have been competing in the US where we don’t have pacemakers and I’m looking forward to a good race,” said Obiri.
Obiri added that her preparations went on well, where she added that the most important thing was to stay strong and be in good health, as she looks forward to racing on Sunday against her competitors.
Jepkosgei, on the other hand, said that she is excited to be back in London and her target is to finish on the podium after a good show in Valencia Marathon last December.
“It was amazing to run my personal best in Valencia and I went back to training immediately and I’m looking forward to racing once again with some of the best in the distance. When you are named against such a field, it gives you more reasons to train harder because it shall be competitive,” said Jepkosgei.
