Tigst Assefa has won the 2026 TCS London Marathon in 2:15:41, breaking her own women’s-only world record by nine seconds and taking back-to-back London titles. Her record from this same course in 2025 was 2:15:50.
Hellen Obiri finished second in 2:15:53, the fastest marathon of her career. Joyciline Jepkosgei was third in 2:15:55.
How the race unfolded
The race was a three-woman race from the gun. Assefa, Obiri and Jepkosgei cleared 5K in 15:39, 10K in 31:03, and 15K in 46:59 — running on each other’s shoulders the whole way, never more than a single second between the three of them.
Through Tower Bridge at the half they were locked at 1:06:12, on pace for a sub-2:13 finish. The pace eased through the Canary Wharf loop. They came through 30K in 1:35:21, 35K in 1:51:38, and 40K in 2:08:27 — still side-by-side, still untouched, with a 2:14-flat projection.
The traditional London record-attempt move from the Highway never came. Assefa, who had attacked alone from this exact stretch in 2025 to win in 2:15:50, never broke. Obiri stayed on her shoulder. Jepkosgei stayed level with both. Three women, one time, all the way to the 40K mark.
It came in the final two kilometers. Assefa pushed the pace down Birdcage Walk, opened a gap on Obiri, and held it down The Mall. She crossed the line in 2:15:41 — nine seconds faster than the world record she set on this course a year ago. Obiri came home twelve seconds later in 2:15:53. Jepkosgei was two seconds further back in 2:15:55.
The depth behind the trio was the second story of the race. Degitu Azimeraw held fourth in 2:19:13, projecting clear of the next chase pack throughout the second half. Catherine Reline Amanang’ole, who had been with the leaders to 5K before slipping away, finished fifth.
In the British race, Eilish McColgan finished seventh in 2:24:40, in line with her 2:24:25 personal best from London 2024. Rose Harvey was ninth in 2:25:58. Jessica Warner-Judd ran inside the top ten through 35K in her marathon debut.
Julia Paternain of Uruguay finished eighth in 2:25:40 in only her third career marathon. Marta Galimany of Spain rounded out the top ten in 2:27:38 — a remarkable result given she races in the 40-44 age group.
The top ten
- Tigst Assefa (ETH) — 2:15:41 (women’s-only world record)
- Hellen Obiri (KEN) — 2:15:53
- Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) — 2:15:55
- Degitu Azimeraw (ETH) — 2:19:13
- Catherine Reline Amanang’ole (KEN) — 2:20:38
- Eunice Chebichii Chumba (BRN) — 2:23:11
- Eilish McColgan (GBR) — 2:24:40
- Julia Paternain (URU) — 2:25:40
- Rose Harvey (GBR) — 2:25:58
- Marta Galimany (ESP) — 2:27:38
