World record holder Ruth Chepngetich and reigning London champion Peres Jepchirchir have withdrawn from the 2025 TCS London Marathon on Sunday 27 April while Vivian Cheruiyot, champion in 2018 and former Olympic track gold medallist, is a late addition to the elite women’s field.
Chepngetich (KEN), who shattered the world record and became the first woman in history to run sub 2:10 when she clocked 2:09:56 to win the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, withdrew today (Friday 18 April) saying she was not ready to race in London.
The world record holder said: “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.”
Jepchirchir (KEN) has sustained an ankle injury which will prevent her from defending the title she won in stunning fashion last year when she set a new women’s only world record time of 2:16:16.
Jepchirchir, the 2020 Olympic Games marathon champion, said: “Winning last year’s TCS London Marathon was one of the highlights of my career and I was very much looking forward to returning this year to defend my title. 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 fully fit.”
In a late addition to the 2025 TCS London Marathon elite women’s field, 2018 London Marathon champion Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) is returning to the race for the first time in five years.
Cheruiyot, the 2016 Olympic Games 5,000m champion and four-time World Championships gold medallist, has run the London Marathon three times, winning in 2018 and finishing runner-up in 2019. She last competed in October 2020 when she did not finish the elite-only race in very wet and cold conditions around St James’s Park during the Covid-19 pandemic. She finished third at last year’s TCS New York City Marathon.
Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events, said: “It is a great shame that Ruth and Peres, two of the greatest women marathon runners in history, will not be at this year’s TCS London Marathon. We wish them both well and hope to welcome them back to London next year. Meantime, we’re delighted that our 2018 champion Vivian Cheruiyot will be coming to London as a late addition to the elite field.”
2025 TCS London Marathon elite women’s start list
Tigst ASSEFA (ETH, 2:11:53)
Sifan HASSAN (NED, 2:13:44)
Joyciline JEPKOSGEI (KEN, 2:16:24)
Megertu ALEMU (ETH, 2:16:34)
Stella CHESANG (UGA, 2:18:26)
Vivian CHERUIYOT (KEN, 2:18:31)
Haven Hailu DESSE (ETH, 2:19:29)
Susanna SULLIVAN (USA, 2:21:56)
Charlotte PURDUE (GBR, 2:22:17)
Sofiia YAREMCHUK (ITA, 2:23:16)
Rose HARVEY (GBR, 2:23:21)
Phily BOWDEN (GBR, 2:25:47)
Molly BOOKMYER (USA, 2:28:52)
Eilish MCCOLGAN (GBR, Debut)
Holly ARCHER (GBR, Debut)