- Ruth Chepngetich and Peres Jepchirchir pulled out of the 2025 London Marathon on Friday because of lack of readiness and an ankle injury respectively.
- Fans should look out for Kenyan runners Joyciline Jepkosgei and Vivian Cheruiyot at the 2025 London Marathon after the withdrawal of their compatriots.
- The 2025 London Marathon will take place on Sunday, April 27 in England.
The athletics world has been shocked after the last minute withdrawal of Kenyan superstars Peres Jepchirchir and Ruth Chepngetich from the 2025 London Marathon.
The organizers of the 2025 London Marathon broke the news of the exit of Chepngetich and Jepchirchir from the event that is scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 27 at the same time.
According to the 2025 London Marathon website, Chepngetich, who was one of the favorites to win this year’s title, was forced to pull out because she was not fully prepared.
“I’m not in the right place mentally or physically to race my best in London and I am therefore withdrawing.
I am very sad to miss the race and I hope to be back next year,” the statement from the reigning mixed marathon world record holder read.
Chepngetich is a big miss for the 2025 London Marathon
The 2025 London Marathon was expected to be Chepngetich’s first Abbott World Marathon Majors race of the year after her scintillating performance in the 2024 Chicago Marathon where she set a novel world record.
Chepngetich, who trains in Ngong, produced an epic display in the streets of Chicago to set an impressive world record of 2:09.56.
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The time that she clocked in the race where she defeated some of the male competitors made her become the only woman in the history of the sport to register a sub 2:10.00 performance.
Therefore, Chepngetich’s absence in the 2025 London Marathon has made the women’s field less competitive.
Jepchirchir pulls out of the 2025 London Marathon after picking up an injury
On the other hand, her compatriot Jepchirchir withdrew from the 2025 London Marathon due to an ankle problem.
“Unfortunately, my injury has made this impossible but I am focused on getting healthy again and hope to return to London again in the future when I’m full fit,” she was quoted by the organizers.
The Tokyo Olympic Games champion was expected to defend her title in London and perhaps lower the women’s only world record of 2:16.16 that she set last year.
Vivian Cheruiyot and Joyciline Jepkosgei set to light up the 2025 London Marathon
The exit of Chepngetich and Jepchirchir has made the 2025 London Marathon less competitive with the likes of Dutch speedster Sifan Hassan and Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa being some of the favorites to escape with this year’s title.
Nonetheless, that will not be easy for them since they are expected to face stiff competition from the Kenyan duo of Joyciline Jepkosgei and Vivian Cheruiyot.
Cheruiyot, whose participation in the 2025 London Marathon was confirmed yesterday, heads to London with a lot of experience having won the title in 2018.
On the other hand, Jepkosgei has already won several high profile marathon titles in her career including the 2020 New York Marathon title, thus, she has what it takes to deliver.
Although the withdrawal of Chepngetich and Jepchirchir has made the 2025 London Marathon less attractive, athletics fans should get ready for a hotly contested battle where Cheruiyot and Jepkosgei may stun the pre-race favorites.
Some of the 2025 London Marathon women elite entries
- Sifan Hassan (Netherlands)
- Tigist Assefa (Ethiopia)
- Vivian Cheruiyot (Kenya)
- Joyciline Jepkosgei (Kenya)
- Stella Chesang (Uganda)
- Haven Desse (Ethiopia)
- Rose Harvey (Great Britain)
- Eilish McColgan (Great Britain)
ALSO READ: Four Kenyan athletes set to light up 2025 London Marathon