London Marathon 2024 LIVE: Peres Jepchirchir breaks women’s-only world record as 50,000 run 26-mile race

A world record 578,000 people entered the ballot for this year’s event in the capital

Related video: Three stretches to aid marathon recovery

Reigning Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir crushed the women’s-only world record in winning the 44th London Marathon on Sunday, while Kenyan compatriot Alexander Mutiso Munyao raced to victory in the men’s race.

The 30-year-old Jepchirchir pulled away over the final 300m in a sprint finish, crossing the finish line in front of Buckingham Palace in two hours 16 minutes 16 seconds to break Mary Keitany’s mark of 2:17:01 set in a women-only race at the 2017 London event.

Munyao, 27, pumped his fist several times en route to the biggest victory of his career, pulling away from distance running great Kenenisa Bekele to cross in 2:04.01. Ethiopia’s 41-year-old Bekele – who has raced to three Olympic titles on the track and a remarkable 17 world titles in outdoor and indoor track and cross-country – was second in 2:04.15, while Britain’s Emile Cairess took third in 2:06.46.

Marcel Hug won the men’s wheelchair race, while Swiss team mate Catherine Debrunner won the women’s event.

More than 50,000 elite and charitable runners are taking to the streets of the capital on what is forecast to be a dry and bright Sunday with cool temperatures of 12C. A world record 578,000 people entered the ballot for this event, making it the most popular marathon in the world.

Follow all the latest updates from the London Marathon below.

London Marathon 2024

• More than 50,000 taking part in this year’s London Marathon
• Peres Jepchirchir wins women’s race and breaks world record
• Alexander Mutiso Munyao wins men’s race ahead of British duo
• Race pays tribute to men’s champion Kelvin Kiptum who died in Kenya
• Wheelchair and non-disabled athletes to receive same prize money for first time
• ‘Hardest Geezer’ Russ Cook among runners involved

[21 April 2024 12:02 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Alexander Mutiso Munyao closes in on men’s marathon victory

In the men’s edition, Kenya’s Alexander Mutiso Munyao and the great Kenenisa Bekele pulled clear to make it a two-horse race, and now Munyao has left Bekele behind on Victoria Embankment and is nearing victory...

[21 April 2024 11:50 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Peres Jepchirchir wins London Marathon and breaks world record

Jepchirchir collapses in a heap with emotion. Her time is confirmed as 2hr 16min 16sec, breaking the women’s-only world record by 45 seconds.

[21 April 2024 11:46 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Peres Jepchirchir wins London Marathon and breaks world record!

Peres Jepchirchir storms away from her fellow leaders in the front quartet! She clinches victory in a world record time, which will be confirmed shortly. The Kenyan is the reigning Olympic champion and will go down as one of the greatest marathon runners of all time – and this is another special moment.

Tigst Assefa was the favourite, but can only make the podium in a stunning race.

[21 April 2024 11:31 · Lawrence Ostlere]

David Weir: 'I just wanted to be on the podium’

Here’s the great David Weir reflecting on a third-placed finish in his 25th London Marathon:

[21 April 2024 11:26 · Lawrence Ostlere]

London Marathon 2024

Behind the elite runners, the masses are well into their race today...

The men’s elite race crosses Tower Bridge (REUTERS)

Masses of runners leaving the start (Zac Goodwin/PA Wire)

‘Hardest Geezer’ Russ Cook during the marathon (Zac Goodwin/PA Wire)

[21 April 2024 11:23 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Women’s race set for world record

The lead quartet in the women’s elite race – Tigst Assefa, Peres Jepchirchir, Joyciline Jepkosgei and Megertu Alemu – are under world record pace. One of the four is almost certainly going to make history today.

[21 April 2024 11:17 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Eden Rainbow-Cooper takes sixth in women’s wheelchair race

A tough race for Britain’s Eden Rainbow-Cooper, and a decent result following her Boston win.

[21 April 2024 11:10 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Tigst Assefa pushing hard for women’s world record

Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa has moved back to the front of the women’s elite race in order to keep the pace high. Ideally she’d nestle in behind some of her rivals to shelter from the wind in a race where every second counts, but she can’t afford to have any slow (used advisedly) kilometres. Her goal? To break 2hr 17min 01sec.

Tigst Assefa, second left, is looking to clinch another landmark win (Yui Mok/PA Wire)

[21 April 2024 10:53 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Catherine Debrunner wins women’s wheelchair race!

It’s a Swiss double in the wheelchair races as Debrunner dominates the women’s field, bursting away after only two miles and staying well clear of her rivals.

[21 April 2024 10:37 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Marcel Hug wins men’s wheelchair race!

Hug clinches victory, his sixth in total, as Britain’s David Weir comes in third to a big applause. They congratulate each other over the line and collapse over their chairs with exhaustion.

David Weir in action during the men’s wheelchair race (Getty Images)