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 10:31 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Switzerland’s Marcel Hug closing in on wheelchair win

Marcel Hug is now a long way clear of America’s Daniel Romanchuk and set to claim a fourth successive men’s wheelchair London Marathon title. He set a course record in each of his previous wins but won’t be doing that this time, however.

Wheelchair competitors cross Tower Bridge (Aaron Chown/PA Wire)

[21 April 2024 10:28 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Kelvin Kiptum ‘would have broken’ two-hour marathon barrier, claims Lord Coe

There is no doubt about the quality that Kelvin Kiptum could have brought to this sport over the coming years:

[21 April 2024 10:12 · Lawrence Ostlere]

London Marathon 2024: Full race under way

Here is a look back at that starting moment...

[21 April 2024 10:06 · Lawrence Ostlere]

London Marathon 2024: Women’s race is flying

The elite women’s field, stacked full of talent, is on course for something special...

[21 April 2024 10:01 · Lawrence Ostlere]

London Marathon 2024: Elite men and mass start begins

And they’re off! The elite group of men lead out the masses, with 50,000 people in tow. Those aiming for sub-three-hour marathons are stationed near the front and those looking at a much longer day are at the back of the pack, and will cross the start line in five minutes or so...

[21 April 2024 09:58 · Lawrence Ostlere]

London Marathon to remember last year’s winner Kelvin Kiptum

Kelvin Kiptum will always hold a special place in the hearts of all marathon runners, according to veteran three-time Olympic track champion Kenenisa Bekele.

Kenyan long-distance runner Kiptum won last year’s London Marathon for the third time, but was killed in a car accident in February at the age of 24.

The death of Kiptum, who had gone on to become the first man to run the marathon under two hours and one minute in Chicago, sent shockwaves through the sport.

In winning last year, Kiptum set a new London Marathon record time of two hours, one minute and 25 seconds. He is to be remembered before Sunday’s race with 30 seconds of applause.

Kelvin Kiptum set a new course record when he won the London Marathon in 2023 (John Walton/PA) (PA Wire)

[21 April 2024 09:54 · Lawrence Ostlere]

London Marathon 2024

Just a few minutes until the men’s elite race and the mass start which will follow it...

[21 April 2024 09:45 · Lawrence Ostlere]

London Marathon 2024: Mass start nears

As ever, fancy dress is out in force at the London Marathon. A few spotted out at Greenwich Park:

A competitor dressed as a fire engine (Zac Goodwin/PA Wire)

An aeroplane prepares for take-off (Zac Goodwin/PA Wire)

‘George the Giraffe’ arrives at Blackheath (Zac Goodwin/PA Wire)

[21 April 2024 09:31 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Swiss duo leading wheelchair races

Reigning champion Marcel Hug is already in the lead through 5km of the men’s wheelchair race, while fellow Swiss Manuela Schar – three times a winner before – leads the women’s race.

(Zac Goodwin/PA Wire)

[21 April 2024 09:27 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Elite women’s race under way

The women’s race is off!

The elite women’s marathon is headlined by Tigst Assefa, who smashed the world record in Berlin last September. Previous record holder Brigid Kosgei will look to challenge her. The field in full is:

• Tigst ASSEFA (ETH, 2:11:53 WR)
• Brigid KOSGEI (KEN, 2:14:04)
• Ruth CHEPNGETICH (KEN, 2:14:18)
• Tigist KETEMA (ETH, 2:16:07)
• Almaz AYANA (ETH, 2:16:22)
• Megertu ALEMU (ETH, 2:17:09)
• Peres JEPCHIRCHIR (KEN, 2:17:16)
• Joyciline JEPKOSGEI (KEN, 2:17:23)
• Yalemzerf YEHUALAW (ETH, 2:17:23)
• Sheila CHEPKIRUI (KEN, 2:17:29)
• Tsige HAILESLASE (ETH, 2:22:10)
• Susanna SULLIVAN (USA, 2:24:27)
• Manon TRAPP (FRA, 2:25:48)
• Becky BRIGGS (GBR, 2:29:04)
• Alice WRIGHT (GBR, 2:29:08)
• Anya CULLING (GBR, 2:34:45)
• Rachel HODGKINSON (GBR, 2:34:46)
• Helen GAUNT (GBR, 2:35:38)
• Mhairi MACLENNAN (GBR, Debut)
• Lucy REID (GBR, Debut)