- Peres Jepchirchir’s women’s only world record of 2:16.16 is likely to be broken at the 2025 London Marathon because of the strong elite field that the organizers have assembled.
- Some of the athletes who are the favorites to lower Peres Jepchirchir’s world record are Sifan Hassan and Ruth Chepngetich.
- Athletes who set a new world record at the 2025 London Marathon shall receive a bonus of $125,000 (approximately Ksh 16, 187, 500) as per the current exchange rate.
The atmosphere is already building up with excitement ahead of one of the biggest road races of the year – the London Marathon 2025.
The upcoming London Marathon which will be the third Abbott World Marathon Majors event of the year is set to take place on Sunday, April 27.
The organizers of the 2025 London Marathon have assembled very strong entries in both the men’s and women’s categories.
In the men’s elite field, the likes of former world record holder Eliud Kipchoge, 2024 Paris Olympic Games champion Tamirat Tola and the recently crowned half marathon world record holder Jacob Kiplimo will square it out for the top prize.
Although the men’s field is so deep, it is highly unlikely that someone will smash the current world record of 2:00.35 that was set by the late Kenyan runner Kelvin Kiptum in 2023.
However, unlike the men’s mark, the current women’s only half marathon world record of 2:16.16 that was set by Peres Chepchirchir in the streets of London last year is under threat.
Why fans should expect a new women’s only world record at 2025 London Marathon
The main reason we may witness a new women’s only world record at the 2025 London Marathon is because of the caliber of athletes who are expected to feature.
The women’s field is made up of some of the best road race runners in the universe at the moment.
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From Jepchirchir herself to her compatriot Ruth Chepngetich, who recently became the only woman to run a sub 2:10.00 marathon when she clocked 2:09.56 in Chicago, the entries are amazing.
Others include the reigning Olympic Champion Sifan Hassan, former mixed marathon world record holder Tigist Assefa and Joyciline Jepkosgei.
Nearly all of these runners head to London with faster lifetime bests than Jepchirchir’s women’s only world record of 2:16.16.
Therefore, this is likely to be the year that we may witness the first women’s only world record of under 2:16.00.
Favorites to lower the women’s only world marathon world record
Although most of these runners have what it takes to lower the women’s world record, the ones who have a higher chance of doing so at the 2025 London Marathon are Ruth Chepngetich and Sifan Hassan based on the recent stats.
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Hassan has had enough time to rest since the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and is training at the moment in Iten, hence she will have enough energy to attack the mark. In addition, the Dutch runner has previously won the London Marathon.
On the other hand, Chepngetich has won the London Marathon before and she is the reigning mixed marathon world record holder. Therefore, most people will bet on her to smash Jepchirchir’s women’s only mark.
The bonus athletes will receive for breaking world record at 2025 London Marathon
According to the organizers of the 2025 London Marathon, any athlete who will manage to set a new world record is expected to receive an appetizing bonus of $150,000 (approximately Ksh 12,000,000 as per the current exchange rate).
Apart from the world record bonus, the runner will pocket an additional $55,000 (approximately Ksh 7,122,500) for winning the race.
In total, each athlete, who will lower the current world records at the 2025 London Marathon, will return home with $125,000 (approximately Ksh 16, 187, 500) with the prize money being subject to the usual tax procedures among other deductions.
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