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
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Your support makes all the difference.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.
Rosie Jones says she’s overcome ‘internalised ableism’ to take on London Marathon
Comedian Rosie Jones has admitted that “internalised ableism” has previously stopped her from using mobility aids, as she prepares to take part in the TCS London Marathon.
The popular comic and TV panel member, who has ataxic cerebral palsy, is completing the long-distance race this Sunday (21 April) with fellow stand-up Ivo Graham, who will be pushing her in a Delta Buggy.
Full report:
Rosie Jones says she’s overcome ‘internalised ableism’ to take on London Marathon
Comic is completing the long-distance race with fellow stand-up Ivo Graham
Runner reaches Grenfell Tower after 227-mile challenge to help disaster victims
A runner who completed more than a marathon a day in support of a law change to help victims of major scandals has crossed the finish line of his charity trek at Grenfell Tower with a bereaved family member by his side.
Mik Parkin completed his 227-mile journey to west London on Saturday, joined by the uncle of a 12 year-old girl who died in the 2017 Grenfell fire.
The eight-day run had begun at Anfield in Liverpool and took in the Hillsborough memorial in Sheffield on the 35th anniversary of that disaster.
The charity trek aimed to raise awareness of the Hillsborough Law, which campaigners have said could make a difference to victims who often endure long-running fights for justice in the wake of major disasters.
Manfred Ruiz, known as Manny, took part in the first and last stages of the run, in memory of his niece Jessica Urbano Ramirez, and said it was “a pleasure” to be able to support Mr Parkin, praising him for his efforts.
Mr Ruiz told the PA news agency: “What he’s done this week has just been amazing.”
Actor Christopher Eccleston will be happy to ‘just get round’ course
Actor Christopher Eccleston says he will be “happy just to get round” the marathon course.
Mr Eccleston is running for the Big Issue, which helps homeless people.
“I’ve just turned 60 and my plan is to run the London Marathon for the Big Issue,” he told the publication
“The last one I ran was when I was 50. So my plan is to run at 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100. And then I’ll retire!”
Centrepoint wishes runners good luck
Homelessness charity Centrepoint has wished its runners good luck ahead of tomorrow’s marathon.
“Good luck to our awesome #TeamCentrepoint taking on the #LondonMarathon tomorrow,” the charity wrote on X.
“The team have spent countless hours training for this moment and have now raised over £40,000!
“Thank you for all your hard work!”
Father says daughter’s cancer treatment ‘million times harder’ than marathon
A father running the TCS London Marathon to support Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity said his young daughter’s cancer treatment was “a million times harder” than tackling 26.2 miles.
Sky, now aged four, was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a tumour in her brain, in April 2021 after her parents noticed she lost her balance frequently and was not meeting some developmental milestones.
Full report:
Father says daughter’s cancer treatment ‘million times harder’ than marathon
Benedict Barton is running the London Marathon for Great Ormond Street Hospital which treated his daughter Sky, now four, with targeted chemotherapy.
Romesh Ranganathan given ‘shameless’ gift by Rob Beckett to wear in marathon
Comedian Romesh Ranganathan was presented with a giraffe costume to wear during the London Marathon on his new BBC Radio 2 show.
Mr Ranganathan, 46, who is running on Sunday, told his first celebrity guest Rob Beckett that the fellow comedian was “shameless” in his choice of gift.
Mr Beckett’s upcoming stand-up tour is called Giraffe and to promote it he wore an inflatable giraffe costume to the Brit Awards last month.
The 38-year-old told Ranganathan: “I’ve got you a present Rom, to say well done on your new show and it’s just nice to get someone a present.”
Ranganathan responded: “It’s a giant giraffe adult costume.
“Let’s get to the bottom of that. I mean, it’s just absolutely shameless by you. You knew you’re gonna get a plug for your tour.”
Prostate Cancer UK wishes runners good luck
Prostate Cancer UK has wished its marathon runners good luck ahead of tomorrow’s race.
“Wishing all our wonderful @LondonMarathon runners a massive GOOD LUCK for tomorrow,” the charity wrote on X.
“Over 190 of you are helping us make huge strides, by raising vital funds which we can invest in lifesaving research and services to support men living with prostate cancer.”
ICYMI: Man training for London Marathon with fridge on his back stopped by police
A man who hopes to break the world record for running the London Marathon with a fridge-in-tow was stopped by the police whilst training for his challenge.
According to the runner, Daniel Fairbrother, 34, was stopped by police officers in Stevenage after they accused him of stealing the fridge.
Full report:
Man training for London Marathon with fridge on his back stopped by police
The fridge is named Tallulah after the bobsleigh in Cool Runnings
ICYMI: Kelvin Kiptum’s story had barely started – his tragic death robs athletics of an extraordinary talent
In the hunt to find sporting meaning during the strange supporter absence of the 2020 Covid pandemic summer, the Brussels Diamond League opted to stage a rare assault on the one-hour world record.
Although 13 men lined up on the King Baudouin Stadium startline, the race was little more than a one-man time trial geared solely around Britain’s four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah. Everyone else was there to aid his cause.
Among the faceless dozen was an unknown Kenyan. At that point in his career, Kelvin Kiptum’s international pedigree was almost non-existent.
Full report:
Kelvin Kiptum: Tragic death robs athletics of an extraordinary talent
At 24, the athletics world was only starting to understand how gifted a talent it held in Kiptum. He was destined to go on to claim further marathon records but tragedy has denied sport of one of its brightest young stars
London Marathon 2024 travel guide: Start times, route and celebration spots
Since the inaugural 26.2 mile event in 1981, the fundraising race has raised millions for charities each year, and, with sunshine on the forecast for now, celebrations of the charitable and physical feat will take place across the city.
Here’s everything you need to know to plan the day if you’re running or supporting this year’s London Marathon.
Full report:
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