media guide - London-marathon

2018

VIRGIN

MONEY

LONDON

MARATHON

MEDIA GUIDE w w w.v i r g i n m o n e y l o n d o n m a r a t h o n . c o m

VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018

Message from Hugh Brasher, Event Director Welcome to the 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon We are honoured that Her Majesty The Queen will start the race from Windsor Castle as we welcome an incredible line-up of the world’s best elite runners and para athletes to contest the 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon. The location of the start marks the 110th anniversary of the 1908 Olympic Games marathon, the first marathon to be held over the classic 26.2 mile distance, which was also started at Windsor Castle by the then Princess Mary, grandmother to The Queen. This year we are celebrating the unique spirit of the world’s greatest marathon, showcasing the extraordinary stories of its runners, champions, volunteers and supporters through our celebration of the Spirit of London. On Race Day last year, millions of people around the world were moved by the sight of Swansea Harrier Matthew Rees halting his own race to help David Wyeth (Chorlton Runners) down The Mall to the Finish Line. For us, that moment encapsulated the unique spirit of the London Marathon and inspired our theme for 2018. Running the Virgin Money London Marathon is described by so many as a life-changing experience with extraordinary camaraderie among the runners, volunteers, spectators and everyone involved in the world’s greatest marathon. Our Spirit of London campaign unites everyone running on Sunday and the greater London Marathon family of more than one million finishers – and it also has a wider connection with the response of Londoners to this sometimes troubled world. In the last 12 months, London’s values have come under attack from people trying to destroy our way of life and our freedom. The Westminster Bridge and London Bridge atrocities are two such examples.

Sunday 22 April is the 25th anniversary of the murder of Stephen Lawrence. Stephen was a keen runner who took part in the Mini Marathon in 1988. His mother, Baroness Lawrence, is the non-running captain of Stephen’s Team, comprising 10 runners who will be raising funds for the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust Sport has an extraordinary power to unify people. One of the London Marathon’s founding pillars, created by my father Chris and John Disley, is ‘To have fun and provide some happiness and a sense of achievement in a troubled world’. Time and time again, we have seen how the London Marathon has done this every year since it was created in 1981 and it will do so again this year. In January we announced that Matthew and David (who worked with medical experts to find out what went wrong last year after his meticulous preparations and shared that research with all runners) are the first winners of our new Spirit of London awards. Up to 26 runners will be presented with a special commemorative coin at an awards ceremony in May. In 2017, the Virgin Money London Marathon raised an incredible £61.5 million for charity, setting a world record for an annual one-day fundraising event for the 11th successive year. It brings the total raised for charity since 1981 to a staggering £890 million. We are very proud of all that we do for charity and that the profits from the event, and all events organised by London Marathon Events, go to The London Marathon Charitable Trust to fund sports and recreational projects in London, Surrey and beyond. Thank you for joining us for the 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon and celebrating the Spirit of London.

We are therefore proud to welcome Charlie Guenigault, the off-duty police officer seriously injured in the London Bridge terrorist attack when he went to help victims, who is running to raise funds for Kings College Hospital Charity, the hospital that saved his life. Also running are two teams of nine firefighters, one from Paddington and one from North Kensington fire stations, who were among the first responders to the Grenfell Tower fire, raising money for Grenfell associated causes.

Hugh Brasher Event Director


02 THE SPIRIT OF LONDON CAMPAIGN The 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon will celebrate the unique spirit of the world’s greatest marathon, showcasing the extraordinary stories of its runners, champions, volunteers, supporters and spectators through the new Spirit of London campaign. Hugh Brasher, Event Director, explains: “On Race day last year, millions of people around the world were moved by the sight of Swansea Harrier Matt Rees helping David Wyeth down The Mall to the Finish Line. For us, that moment encapsulated the unique spirit of the London Marathon and inspired our theme for 2018. “Running the Virgin Money London Marathon is described by so many as a life-changing experience with extraordinary camaraderie among the runners, volunteers, spectators and everyone involved in the world’s greatest marathon. Our #SpiritOfLondon campaign will unite everyone running on Sunday 22 April and the greater London Marathon family of more than one million finishers – and it also has a wider connection with the response of Londoners to troubled times. “Sport has an extraordinary power to unify people. One of the London Marathon’s founding pillars, created by my father Chris and John Disley, is ‘to have fun and provide some happiness and a sense of achievement in a troubled world’. We have seen how the London Marathon does this every year since 1981. “In the last 12 months London’s values have come under attack from people trying to destroy our way of life, our freedom. Never have the words of our founders rung truer. In 2018 we particularly welcome PC Charlie Guenigault, the teams of Grenfell firefighters and the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust runners who are taking part in this year’s event. “The unity and camaraderie that running a marathon can bring was embodied by our inaugural winners, Dick Beardsley and Inge Simonsen, who crossed the line hand in hand after duelling it out for 26.2 miles. Matt and David carried on that spirit and we know that on 22 April hundreds of thousands of Londoners will be out on the streets of the capital to celebrate the Spirit of London.”

Matt Rees (left) and David Wyeth

Spirit of London Runners in 2018 include: • Matt Rees and David Wyeth (pictured below) The Spirit of London theme was inspired by the moment in the 2017 race when Matt stopped on The Mall to help David finish. The footage went viral and that moment was recognised at the National Television Awards. Following his experience last year, David worked with medical experts to find out what went so wrong after his meticulous preparations and he has made that research available to all runners. • Charlie Guenigault The off-duty police officer who was seriously injured in the London Bridge terrorist attack when he went to help victims. (Full story on page 18.) • Kathrine Switzer A trailblazer for women’s sport who became the first woman to enter and officially finish the Boston Marathon in 1967. (See page 18.) • Grenfell Tower Firefighters Two teams of nine firefighters, one from Paddington and one from North Kensington fire stations, who were among the first responders to the Grenfell Tower fire. (See page 19.) • #StephensTeam Sunday 22 April is the 25th anniversary of the murder of Stephen Lawrence, a keen runner who took part in the Mini Marathon in 1988. His mother, Baroness Lawrence, is the non-running captain of a team of 10 raising funds for the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust. (See page 20.)

The Spirit of London Award

As part of the campaign, a new Spirit of London award has been introduced to recognise runners who personify what makes the London Marathon unique. Up to 26 runners will be presented with a special commemorative coin at an awards ceremony in May. The first winners will be David Wyeth and Matt Rees. The coin shows Dick Beardsley and Inge Simonsen, the joint winners of the first London Marathon who crossed the finish line hand-in-hand. The coin is engraved with the words: ‘To have fun and provide some happiness and a sense of achievement in a troubled world.’ Brasher said: “Every year since 1981 we have marvelled at the incredible stories of our runners and the way they have triumphed over adversity, raised extraordinary sums for charity and personified what makes the London Marathon unique. Behind every runner is a story and a support network, while thousands of people work so hard to deliver the event. We have volunteers who have been with us since 1981 doing everything from sorting registration packs to staffing drinks stations. These people live the Spirit of London and the new award provides the opportunity to celebrate that.”

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Some #SpiritofLondon Stories Charlie Guenigault

Met Police officer Charlie Guenigault was off duty and enjoying a night out with friends when terrorists struck on London Bridge on 3 June last year. Guenigault, 26, was walking back towards London Bridge railway station late in the evening unaware that terrorists had driven a van deliberately into passing pedestrians before running into Borough Market, stabbing people who were enjoying their night out. Guenigault spotted two police officers being attacked and rushed to help. “I didn’t know it was a terrorist attack,” said Guenigault who is a PC in the Southwark borough of London which includes London Bridge. “I just saw the officers being attacked and went to help.” He ended up being stabbed five times himself, in the head, back, stomach and leg, and was rushed to nearby King’s College Hospital in a critical condition where he underwent an emergency three-hour operation to remove his spleen. The Chelsea fan and keen sportsman then spent three months in hospital slowly but surely working his way back to full fitness under the guidance of the hospital’s medics and physio team. Guenigault had run the London Marathon in 2017, finishing in four hours 23 minutes and 56 seconds, and when he was eventually discharged, one of his first thoughts was to get back into running. Soon those thoughts turned to running the marathon again and raising money for The King’s College Hospital Charity as a thank you for saving his life. “As soon as I came out, I wanted to get back into running again, then I was given the opportunity to run the marathon again,” Guenigault said. “It’s important for me this year because I’m running for The King’s College Hospital Charity and obviously I want to show what they did for me in saving my life and getting me back on my feet again.” Last year, he was awarded a Pride of Britain Outstanding Bravery Award for his actions. Craig Mackey, deputy commissioner of the Met Police Force said: “For PC Charlie Guenigault there was no such thing as ‘off duty’. That summer night in Borough Market, Charlie ran towards the terrorists, putting himself in danger to protect the public. Without a thought for himself, his bravery undoubtedly helped others. “Helping, supporting, running to the aid of the public or an injured colleague, putting others before ourselves, showing courage and compassion –these we humbly call our values, values that the men and women of the Met show every day.” Guenigault wants to use his experience to show others who have come through adversity that life can go on. “I just want to show people that you don’t have to be afraid,” he said. “You don’t have to stop your life for

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something that has happened to you or something that you have seen or something that you have dealt with.” Eight people were killed in the London Bridge terrorist attack and 48 were injured.

Kathrine Switzer

Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to challenge the all-male tradition of marathon running when she became the first woman to enter and officially race the Boston Marathon in 1967. Women were barred from running the 26.2-mile distance at the time and Switzer, who entered using just her initials, became known worldwide when a race official tried, but failed, to forcibly remove her from the competition. Switzer finished the race and in doing so proved to the world that women could run the 26.2-mile distance and paved the way for every woman who has run a marathon since. Now 71, she will run the London Marathon for the first time this year when the UK is celebrating the100th anniversary of some women first winning the right to vote. Switzer, who won the 1974 New York City Marathon, has been a tireless advocate for women’s distance running and, after organising a global series of 400 women’s races in 27 countries, was instrumental in getting the women’s marathon added to the programme of the Olympic Games for the first time in Los Angeles in 1984. She has also advocated for women’s sports participation throughout the world and has created ‘261 Fearless’, a global non-profit movement that empowers women through running (see 261fearless.org). 261 was the number Switzer wore during her famous first Boston Marathon in 1967 and has become synonymous with women’s equality in sport. Switzer will wear that iconic number again in the 2018 London Marathon. “The streets of London have been an important part of women’s running history as well as women’s rights,” said Switzer. “In 1980, a year before the first London Marathon, we staged the Avon International Women’s Marathon here and successfully showed the Olympic Committee that we had the talent and international representation to be included in the Olympic Games. Ever since then I’ve wanted to run it, but have been too busy. Now, I am so honoured and excited to be out there.” Switzer is well-known in the USA as a commentator and author. She was also inducted into the USA National Women’s Hall of Fame, not just for her running but for changing millions of women’s lives through running.


Grenfell Tower Firefighters

A group of 18 firefighters who attended the Grenfell Tower blaze will run the London Marathon to raise funds for groups supporting local people affected by the fire. The firefighters were among the first to arrive at the scene soon after the blaze started on 14 June last year and experienced sights and sounds that they will never forget. In total, 71 people died in the worst residential fire the London Fire Brigade has ever dealt with. Nine firefighters from North Kensington Fire Station’s Red Watch and nine from Red Watch at Paddington Fire Station will be taking on the marathon, the Paddington crew in full firefighting gear, including breathing apparatus which weighs an extra 30kg. The North Kensington firefighters are raising money for Kids on the Green, a project designed to provide a calm space for families, teens and children affected by the blaze. It provides arts and crafts, sports, entertainment and psychological support for the children. The firefighters from Paddington are fundraising for three charities helping those affected: the Harrow Club W10, which works with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds; the Rugby Portobello Trust, which provides space for activities for local children and young people; and the Fire Fighters Charity, which provides health and wellbeing support to firefighters who have suffered with injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the Grenfell fire. Firefighter Martin Gillam from Paddington station said: “This was a hugely traumatic event for everyone involved, both physically and emotionally. We are fundraising for the Fire Fighters Charity which has provided ongoing support to firefighters who attended the Grenfell fire and supports thousands of firefighters across the UK each year.”

Tom Abell, from North Kensington station, said: “We arrived on the scene of the fire at Grenfell Tower within minutes and were faced with a blaze of unimaginable scale and intensity. We battled to save lives as one of the worst British tragedies of modern times unfolded within our own community. “In the weeks and months since the fire we have grieved with, and stood in solidarity with the survivors and community of Grenfell. Now, in 2018, we would like to help heal and re-build. “We’re fundraising for Kids on the Green which was set up in the aftermath to provide free counselling to the children who survived, or were affected by the fire. It also provides free entertainment such as discos, art therapy and parties. This fantastic organisation allows children who have seen and experienced the unthinkable to regain a sense of normality and do what kids do best, have fun. “We would love the children of our community to grow up with their lives defined by happy times and achievements, not by tragedy.” London Fire Commissioner, Dany Cotton, said: “I stood alongside firefighters as the fire took hold at Grenfell Tower, so I know all too well the absolute horror they dealt with last June. It takes some courage to do what they are doing, to yet again face this tragedy and to try make some good come out of it. “I am very proud of these firefighters who represent the true essence of what it is to be a London firefighter – grit, determination and a sheer drive to help other people in the face of adversity.”

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VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 #StephensTeam

The 2018 London Marathon takes place 25 years to the day since Stephen Lawrence was murdered in a racist attack in Eltham, south east London. To mark the anniversary, 10 runners from the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust – the charity set up 20 years ago by his family – will be taking part in the marathon with Stephen’s mum, Baroness Lawrence, acting as a non-running team captain. Stephen was a keen runner himself, who took part in the 1988 Mini Marathon. His ambition was to become an architect before his life was tragically cut short. The Trust set up in his name seeks to inspire and enable young people from disadvantaged backgrounds by offering them life-changing opportunities, such as mentoring, training and work placements. The Trust also provides bursaries to students who would otherwise struggle to stay in education. Among the 10 runners in #StephensTeam are some of the thousands who have benefited from these opportunities over the last two decades as well as some who have mentored the young people. Baroness Lawrence said: “I’m really proud to know that we have a wonderful team of 10 runners doing the marathon in Stephen’s name. Stephen loved running, although he was a sprinter rather than a long-distance runner, so only placed 100-something in the Mini Marathon. We were just proud he actually finished!”

Baroness Lawrence (centre, in white) with members of #StephensTeam

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Baroness Lawrence believes raising money for the Trust at the London Marathon is a fitting way to mark the 25th anniversary of Stephen’s death. She said: “Over the last 20 years we’ve worked with thousands of young people, ranging from 13 year olds getting their first taste of what different careers might entail, to people in their 20s building the skills they need to get a job. “But we want to help thousands more to access careers, not just in architecture but across all the professions, which is why we’re hoping to raise much-needed funds in this important anniversary year through events such as the London Marathon. “The fact that this is happening in London – the city where I live and where Stephen was born and brought up – and that it is the London Marathon, an amazing event where thousands of people run for dozens of different charities, makes it special. I think this year will be very memorable. “We hope everyone gets behind #StephensTeam and helps us raise the funds we need to continue the good work we’re doing in Stephen’s name.” The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust fundraising page can be found at: https://uk.virginmoneygiving. com/fund/25thanniversaryappeal. More #SpiritofLondon stories and quotes can be found on the @LondonMarathon Twitter channel.


03 THE TRUST, CHARITIES & FUNDRAISING

The London Marathon Charitable Trust The London Marathon Charitable Trust was created in 1981, the inaugural year of the London Marathon, to meet one of the six objectives established by race founders Chris Brasher and John Disley ‘to raise money for the provision of recreational facilities in London’. Their vision enabled the surplus from the London Marathon, and other events organised by London Marathon Events Limited, to go to The Trust in perpetuity. Every year, the surplus is transferred under Gift Aid from the trading company to The Trust. The mission of The Trust is to make available highquality, accessible and affordable opportunities for sport, physical activity and play primarily in the areas in which London Marathon Events Limited organises massparticipation sporting events. It primarily awards grants for capital projects that increase participation in sport, physical activity and play among those who are physically inactive or have low levels of activity. It accepts applications for facilities in these areas: • the 32 London boroughs and the City of London • Surrey • South Northamptonshire • Aylesbury Vale.

The current funding priorities The Trust’s current priorities are to fund capital projects that encourage and support increased participation in sport, play and physical activity, especially among: • • •

individuals who are currently physically inactive or who have low levels of activity groups that are currently physically inactive or who have low levels of activity children and young people out of school hours.

An ‘inactive person’ is defined as someone who, over the course of a week, does not achieve a total of 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity.

The Trust Board Patron HRH Prince Henry of Wales Vice President John Bryant Independent Trustees Sir Rodney Walker (Chairman) Dawn Austwick Rosie Chapman Gillian McKay Alan Pascoe MBE Clare Shepherd Nominee of Chairman of County Sports Partnership Network Lee Mason Chairman of England Federation of Disability Sport Charles Reed Nominee of Local Government Association Councillor Terry O’Neill Nominee of London Councils John Austin Councillor Robert Rigby Chairman of London Marathon Events Limited Sir John Spurling KCVO OBE Nominee of Mayor of London Simon Cooper Nominee of Chairman Sport England Charles Johnston Nominee of President of UK Athletics Donna Fraser Chief Grants Officer / Company Secretary Sarah Ridley The Trust is a registered charity, number 283813, and registered company number 1550741. The London Marathon Events Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Trust. More details at: www.lmct.org.uk

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What has The Trust Done? The Trust has awarded more than £67 million to more than 1,200 projects in London and beyond. Here are some milestones in The Trust’s history: 1981

The London Marathon Charitable Trust is created by London Marathon founders Chris Brasher and John Disley ‘to raise money for the provision of recreational facilities in London’.

1991

The charity’s total awards to sports and recreation projects reaches more than £1 million.

1998

The Trust establishes a fund to support the purchase of public sports grounds and facilities to preserve them from developers.

2001

The charity’s total funding of sports and recreation projects reaches £10 million.

2011

Prince Harry becomes Patron of The London Marathon Charitable Trust.

2012

The Trustees pledge to provide £6.9 million to support community legacy facilities of the London 2012 Olympic Games, including contributions to the London Marathon Community Track, the VeloPark and the Olympic Park’s North Hub Playground.

2012

The Trust donates £1 million to the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge which has subsequently benefited 105 fields in London and Surrey.

2012

The Trust sponsors the design of PoolPod, a submersible and mobile platform to help people with impaired mobility to enter swimming pools.

2013

2013

Projects in Surrey become eligible for Trust grants for the first time thanks to London Marathon Events Limited’s involvement in the Prudential RideLondon cycling festival. The total value of grants made by The Trust passes the £50 million mark, supporting more than 1,000 projects.

2015

The London Marathon Charitable Trust celebrates its 35th anniversary.

2017

The London Marathon Community Track opens in 3Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park thanks to a grant of £3.45 million from The Trust, the largest single award in its history.

2017

The Active Spaces partnership between The Trust and Fields in Trust is established to create a legacy of 50 permanently protected outdoor spaces across the UK.

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The Trust in numbers £1,500: The amount awarded in 1981 to each of the first seven projects supported by The Trust, which included the creation of a trim trail, purchase of gym equipment and provision of 5-a-side football equipment for people with disabilities. 1,200:

Number of projects receiving funding from The Trust since 1981.

£67m:

Total amount of money awarded by The Trust since 1981.

33:

Number of London boroughs that are eligible for, and have received grants, including the City of London.

£7.7m

Total amount of The Trust grants to athletics projects in London.

£6.9m

Total of legacy grants from The Trust following the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

£3.45m Grant awarded by The Trust to fund the London Marathon Community Track in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the largest in The Trust’s history.

Current facilities named for the London Marathon • • • • • • • • • • •

London Marathon Pavilion Barn Elms London Marathon Redbridge Cycling Centre London Marathon Playing Field Avery Hill London Marathon Playing Field Chase Lodge London Marathon Playing Field Earlsfield London Marathon Playing Field Greenford London Marathon Playing Field Greenwich (Shooters Hill) London Marathon Playing Field Mottingham London Marathon Playing Field Redbridge London Marathon Community Track (Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park) London Marathon Athletics Track, Finsbury Park

VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Case Study 1: London Marathon Community Track – £3.45 million

Case Study 2: Active Spaces Partnership with Fields in Trust – £675,000

The London Marathon Community Track was officially opened at the London Stadium in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on 18 October 2017 after The Trust had awarded the biggest single grant in its history to construct the facility. The grant of £3.45 million was the final part of £6.9 million given towards the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games legacy facilities. These have included the Lee Valley VeloPark and Tumbling Bay Playground in the Olympic Park, and PoolPods used at the Aquatics Centre. The Community Track was used as a warm-up facility at the 2017 IAAF World Athletics Championships and World Para Athletics Championships and will be managed by the London Stadium. It is available for community use throughout the year with designated sessions for schools and community groups as well as pay and run sessions for local residents. The Community Track will also have a new clubhouse area and gym. Other groups to benefit from the new facility include Newham Athletics Network and England Athletics, and the West Ham Foundation, which are part of the park’s Active People Active Park programme. It will also be the home ground for London football team Altis FC and West Ham Ladies, providing a real multi-purpose community use. The Track features a 200-seat stand named after Chris Brasher and John Disley, co-founders of the London Marathon, which was opened by their youngest grandchildren, Frances Disley (aged eight) and Rosie Brasher (aged four), in the presence of other family members.

The London Marathon Charitable Trust announced its first UK-wide funding programme in May 2017 with an innovative Active Spaces partnership with Fields in Trust to safeguard the future of green spaces across the UK and encourage people, particularly the most inactive communities, to participate in physical activity, sport and play. The Trust has set aside £675,000 in 2017/18 to safeguard 50 green spaces in perpetuity and to fund activation programmes on those sites. Through its partnership with Fields in Trust, the green spaces will be protected from development by funding from The Trust. Each site will also be awarded a grant of up to £5,000 to fund programmes that inspire the local community to get active. Programmes can include any activity, including walking, cycling or coaching, or the use of outdoor gym equipment. One chosen site in each home nation (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales), which demonstrates the most significant impact, will receive a major grant of £25,000 for its activation programme. Landowners and communities across the UK can apply online to protect a site and to secure funding for activation programmes at www.fieldsintrust.org. Sites are selected for support following an assessment of the proposed activation programme.

Pupils from the nearby Bobby Moore Academy school were also at the opening where they enjoyed a training session with Britain’s World Championship medallists, Asha Philip and Rabah Yousif, plus coaches from Newham & Essex Beagles Athletic Club, which is now based at the track.

Sir Rodney Walker said: “Participants in London Marathon events come from all over the UK and we feel now is the right time to make funding available to every community to safeguard much-loved local parks and green spaces and inspire more people to lead a more active lifestyle.”

Sir Rodney Walker, chair of The London Marathon Charitable Trust, said: “This is a fantastic moment for The Trust. We have invested the biggest grant in our history to create this amazing facility in the shadow of such an iconic stadium. The Trust is all about inspiring people to be active and I have no doubt this track will do that.”

Applications have already been received from across the UK and the first six selected included sites from as far afield as Belfast, Cornwall, Norfolk and Edinburgh.

www.london-stadium.com/community-track More case studies and a full list of projects awarded grants by The London Marathon Charitable Trust can be found on The Trust’s website: www.lmct.org.uk

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Charities & Fundraising Three quarters of all London Marathon competitors run for a charity and a third of all places in the race are offered by charitable organisations with guaranteed entries. But charities weren’t always so prominent or well organised. In the early years, it was runners themselves who raised money for good causes. In 1984, the London Marathon named the Sports Aid Foundation as its first official charity of the year and granted the organisation some places to help it raise funds. As charity involvement grew the organisers decided to offer more places to a wider range of charities and in 1993 they introduced the Golden Bond scheme to enable other charities to gain places. Under this scheme, charities buy guaranteed entries which they then offer to runners who miss out on a place in the ballot. Runners who take one of these places do so in return for a commitment to raise an agreed sum for their cause, known as a ‘pledge’. A Silver Bond scheme followed which guarantees a charity one place in the London Marathon every five years. With continued huge demand for places from charities, a new annual charity ballot was opened in May 2014, offering an additional 500 places each year to charities which do not already have guaranteed entries. Each charity can apply for one place. Such has been the growth of charity involvement in the London Marathon that the event itself has entered the record books. In 2007 £46.5 million was raised for good causes by runners, making the London Marathon a Guinness World Record breaker as the largest single annual fundraising event in the world. The event has broken that record every year since, including in 2017 when £61.5m was raised. 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

£46.5 million £46.7 million £47.2 million £50.6 million £51.8 million £52.8 million £53.0 million £53.2 million £54.1 million £59.4 million £61.5 million

In total, more than £890m has been raised for hundreds of charitable causes by London Marathon runners. The highest total raised by an official charity was £3.6 million by Cancer Research UK, the London Marathon’s Charity of the Year in 2015.

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Official charities of the London Marathon: 1984 Sports Aid Foundation 1985 Jimmy Savile’s Marathon Appeal 1986 Middlesex Hospital Research Fund British Sports Association for the Disabled 1987 St Thomas’s Hospital (heart research) Farnham Park Trust British Sports Association for the Disabled 1988 Wishing Well Appeal Sports Aid Foundation 1989 Community Action Trust The Evelina Children’s Family Trust Special Olympics 1990 Battle of Britain Appeal Community Action Trust 1991 Action on Addiction Royal Marsden Cancer Research 1992 Guys Hospital, Evelina Children’s Hospital Tuskforce 1993 St John Ambulance; Snowden Award Scheme 1994 British Heart Foundation; Childline 1995 Leonard Cheshire Disability Cancer Relief Macmillan 1996 British Heart Foundation National Asthma Campaign 1997 British Heart Foundation; NSPCC 1998 Age Concern Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund 1999 Whizz Kidz; Leukaemia Research 2000 Mencap 2001 MS Society 2002 Outward Bound; FCWL 2003 Shelter 2004 Sense; British Heart Foundation 2005 Help the Hospices 2006 The Stroke Association Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust 2007 WellChild 2008 Heart UK; Spinal Injuries Association 2009 The Children’s Trust 2010 CLIC Sargent 2011 Oxfam 2012 TeamPB (Prostate Cancer Charity & Breast Cancer Care) 2013 YouthNet & Age UK 2014 Anthony Nolan 2015 Cancer Research UK 2016 NSPCC 2017 Heads Together 2018 Teenage Cancer Trust


Charity of the Year

Teenage Cancer Trust

Official charity of the 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon Cancer sucks. At Teenage Cancer Trust, we make sure young people don’t face it alone. Every day, seven young people are diagnosed with cancer. It’s a uniquely difficult experience to have cancer when you’re young, often meaning you miss out on aspects of ‘normal’ teenage life, such as school, parties and playing sports. At the same time, you’re facing cancer treatment and uncertainty over your future. It can be a lonely and frightening experience, but the Teenage Cancer Trust team is there to make sure young people with cancer carry on being young people. Our incredible team of specialist staff support young people at every stage of their cancer journey, whether that’s in one of our 28 state-of-the-art, teenage-friendly cancer units in NHS hospitals, at our amazing events, or by taking our services to local hospitals or young people’s homes. We also support young people’s families and friends, keeping life as normal as possible and providing a listening ear in challenging times. And after treatment, when it’s often assumed you’ll just carry on as if a cancer diagnosis never happened, our teams are there, offering support and bringing young people together to help them find a new normal. Over nearly three decades, we’ve refined the expertise we’ve gained from working with – and listening to – young people with cancer and their families. Our service is seen as the global gold standard in cancer care for young people. But for every young person we currently support, there’s another one we can’t reach. #TeamLegend, our incredible Virgin Money London Marathon team, will help us grow our team of legendary specialist staff, so we can reach every young person who needs us, wherever they live. Running for Teenage Cancer Trust in 2018 Rochelle Humes Singer and TV presenter Rochelle Humes is taking on her first ever marathon as part of Team Legend. In November Rochelle visited the Teenage Cancer Trust unit at University College Hospital, where she got to know the young people and their families, and saw first-hand the difference she’ll be making in supporting the charity.

Joel Dommett Joel is a comedian, actor and TV presenter, known to the nation for his role in Skins and for participating in (and then presenting) I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! Joel’s marathon training began immediately after the most recent series of I’m A Celebrity: Extra Camp, and we can’t wait to cheer him on as part of Team Legend. Jane Sutton Jane is the mother of Stephen Sutton, a young person diagnosed with incurable cancer who captured the nation’s attention with his positivity and determination. To date Stephen’s Story has raised over £5.5 million for young people facing cancer. Jane said: “I’m thrilled to be returning to participate in my second Virgin Money London Marathon in April 2018. My son Stephen Sutton’s cancer journey may have ended in May 2014 but the treatment, care and support offered by Teenage Cancer Trust enabled Stephen to maximise the time he had available once his cancer was diagnosed as incurable and crucially to share his experience with people of his own age.” Charlie Watson Charlie Watson is a marathon runner and fitness junkie from London, whose blog The Runner Beans is one of the most popular fitness blogs in the UK. With 13,000 Twitter followers and 39,000 Instagram followers, Charlie is highly influential in the fitness world. In Charlie’s words: “My goal is to champion the journey to a healthy, more active life where honest fitness and food makes wellbeing more accessible to all – without losing sight of the real lives we lead. Making fitness and healthy eating simple, approachable, realistic and without missing out on any of the good things in life.” Media enquiries to: Email: [email protected] Tel. 020 7612 0380

Rochelle said: “I’m doing it for Teenage Cancer Trust because I’ve seen first-hand where the money goes and I’m really chuffed to be doing it for them.”

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04 ELITE WOMEN Entries Bib no. 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 116 117

Name Mary Keitany Tirunesh Dibaba Gladys Cherono Mare Dibaba Brigid Kosgei Tigist Tufa Tadelech Bekele Rose Chelimo Vivian Cheruiyot Charlotte Purdue Stephanie Bruce Rebecca Wade Tracy Barlow Lily Partridge Liz Costello Rebecca Murray

Nation KEN ETH KEN ETH KEN ETH ETH BRN KEN GBR USA USA GBR GBR USA GBR

PB 2:17:01 2:17:56 2:19:25 2:19:52 2:20:22 2:21:52 2:21:54 2:22:51 2:23:35 2:29:23 2:29:35 2:30:41 2:30:42 2:32:10 2:38:21 Debut

Bib name KEITANY T. DIBABA CHERONO M. DIBABA KOSGEI TUFA BEKELE CHELIMO CHERUIYOT PURDUE BRUCE WADE BARLOW PARTRIDGE COSTELLO MURRAY

Awards & Bonuses for Elite Women Awards for place

Time & Record Bonuses

Women 1 $55,000 2 $30,000 3 $22,500 4 $15,000 5 $10,000 6 $7,500 7 $5,000 8 $4,000 9 $3,000 10 $2,000 11 $1,500 12 $1,000 $156,500

Women Any runner recording sub-: (not cumulative) 2:18:00 $100,000 2:20:00 $75,000 2:22:00 $50,000 2:23:00 $25,000 2:24:00 $15,000 2:25:00 $10,000 2:26:00 $5,000 2:27:00 $3,000 2:28:00 $1,000

In addition to the above, any runner achieving the following will receive: • first and women’s course record (2:17:01) - $25,000 • first in race and women only world record (2:17:01) - $125,000

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Preview: Keitany versus Dibaba in hunt for historic record

Mary Keitany (left) and Tirunesh Dibaba after the 2017 London Marathon

After her brilliant women-only world record of 2:17:01 last year, Mary Keitany will start as favourite to win the women’s race for a fourth time, a feat only the great Norwegian Ingrid Kristiansen has ever achieved.

12 months ago to become the third fastest woman in history with 2:17:56. The triple Olympic track champion went on to win the Chicago Marathon last autumn in another brilliant time and will provide stern opposition.

In doing so, the 36-year-old Kenyan will attempt to smash Paula Radcliffe’s outright marathon world record, set 15 years ago on the London course. Like Radcliffe, Keitany will run with male pacemakers in her bid to finish inside the Briton’s iconic mark of 2:15:25.

With those two at the top of the line-up, this will be the first marathon in history to include two women who have run quicker than 2:18 while four of the field have broken the 2:20 barrier and seven have finished inside 2:22. In all there are two world champions and six winners of World Marathon Majors races among this year’s elite women, making it one of the greatest fields in marathon history.

Keitany went through the half-way point last April more than a minute faster than Radcliffe in 2003 but soon fell behind the Briton’s searing pace after her pacemaker dropped out in the second half. The three-time London Marathon champion, said: “The marathon world record is something I have been working towards for several years and now I feel I can really attack the time of 2:15:25. “At last year’s London Marathon, I was feeling good but it was hard to run nearly half the race on my own. By having male pacemakers, I will be able to have support throughout the race. “Obviously, any world record is contingent on everything being right on the day. London has shown it has the course for world records to be broken and I hope my form and health stay strong and that the weather is kind on the day. “I know the record was set by Paula Radcliffe on this course in 2003 and that she is a very popular person in Great Britain but I really hope the London crowds get behind my challenge and can help drive me on to achieve something incredible.” Keitany won’t only be racing against the clock, however, for she will again go head-to-head with Tirunesh Dibaba, the irrepressible Ethiopian who chased her to the line

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Keitany will be joined by three fellow Kenyans: Gladys Cherono, who has won the Berlin Marathon twice in the last two years; Olympic 5000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot, who was fourth last year and won the Frankfurt Marathon in October; and Brigid Kosgei, who placed second behind Dibaba in Chicago. Tirunesh’s namesake, Mare Dibaba, also competes in London again. The 2015 world champion and Olympic bronze medallist was eighth on her London debut in 2017. Another Ethiopian, Tigist Tufa, returns to London for a fourth time, the 2015 champion going for a rare second victory. She just missed out on retaining her crown when she was runner-up by five seconds in 2016. The current world champion, Rose Chelimo of Bahrain, will be hoping for another win in London as she returns to the city where she clinched gold last August. Charlotte Purdue leads the domestic women’s challenge after breaking 2:30 for the first time in last year’s race and representing Britain at the IAAF World Championships. Tracy Barlow and Lily Partridge will be hot on her heels in pursuit of European Championship places.


MARY KEITANY (KENYA) Born: 18 January 1982 Kisok, Baringo District Marathon best: 2:17:01 London 2017 London Marathon record: 2011- 1st 2:19:19, 2012- 1st 2:18:37, 2015- 2nd 2:23:40, 2016- 9th 2:28:30, 2017- 1st 2:17:01 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors New York: 2010- 3rd 2:29:01, 2011- 3rd 2:23:38, 2014- 1st 2:25:07, 2015- 1st 2:24:25, 2016- 1st 2:24:26, 2017- 2nd 2:27:54 Other major city marathons: None Marathons in major championships Olympics: 2012- 4th 2:23:56 Career notes Mary Keitany returns to the British capital for the sixth time aiming to become only the second woman to win the London title four times. A year after breaking Paula Radcliffe’s women-only world record when claiming her third victory in an African record 2:17:01, the 36-yearold will run with male pacemakers in an attempt to lower the Briton’s 15-year-old ‘mixed race’ record of 2:15:25. Keitany was more than a minute up on Radcliffe’s 2003 time at half way last year, but slowed in the last five miles after her pacemaker dropped out. She won the New York Marathon for a third time in November 2016 but had to settle for second in the Big Apple last November when she was beaten by USA’s Shalane Flanagan. Keitany has a superb record in London, placing first three times, second once and ninth in 2016 when she was sick before the start and a faller during the race. It was her slowest ever marathon and meant she missed out on a shot at Olympic gold in Rio. Her first appearance in London came in 2011 when she produced a brilliant victory in a time only Paula Radcliffe had ever beaten on the London course. The then 29-year-old strode home in 2:19:19 to move alongside Irina Mikitenko as the fourth fastest in history. She defended her title 12 months later in even more impressive style, leading five Kenyans home – the first medal sweep in the women’s race – in 2:18:37 to take Catherine Ndereba’s Kenyan and African record and rise to second on the all-time list. She relinquished her 100% record on the London course in 2015 when she lost touch with Tigist Tufa over the last three miles. Keitany first announced herself on the world stage when she was second to Lornah Kiplagat at the 2007 World Half Marathon Championships, running 66:48 as Kiplagat broke the world record. She had her first child in 2008, and returned to action in 2009 to win the World Half Marathon Championships in Birmingham with an African record of 66:36, improving Elana Meyer’s 1999 time of 66:44. Keitany was third on her marathon debut in New York in 2010 in 2:29:01 and in February 2011 broke Kiplagat’s half marathon world record when she won the Ra’s Al-Khaymah race in 65:50. En route to the first ever sub-66 minute time, she went through 8km in 24:30 (a

‘world best’), 15km in 46:40, 10 miles in 50:05 (another world best) and 20km in 62:36 (a world record). The half marathon and 20km records have since fallen. She returned to the New York Marathon in November 2011 seemingly in pursuit of the world record. She swept through half way up on Radcliffe’s pace only to fade over the final 10km and finish third for a second time. She won the RAK again in 2012 before her second stunning London Marathon victory. But there was disappointment for Keitany in the British capital that summer when she missed out on an Olympic medal by less than half a minute. She finished fourth in 2:23:56. She skipped the 2013 season to have her second child but made a spectacular return to competition in 2014 winning the Great North Run half marathon in a PB of 65:39. She finally clinched the New York title that November in 2:25:07 and retained the title in 2015 and 2016 with virtually identical times. She was a firm favourite to win her fourth in a row last November and looked set to achieve that feat until Flanagan broke clear with just two miles to go. She has won six of her 10 marathons to date and has only once placed lower than fourth. She was World Marathon Majors champion in 2011/12 and 2015/16 and leads this year’s standings alongside Tirunesh Dibaba. She ran her fastest ever half marathon at the RAK race this February, clocking 64:55 to finish second, three seconds behind Fancy Chemutai, and go to third on the all-time list. Personal notes Her full name is Mary Jepkosgei Keitany. She married Kenyan athlete Charles Koech on 31 December 2011. Her husband has run 61:27 for the half marathon. They have a son Jared Kipchumba, born in June 2008, and a daughter, Samantha, born in April 2013. She trains in Iten and is coached by Gabriele Nicola.

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TIRUNESH DIBABA (ETHIOPIA) Born: 1 October 1985 Bekoji, Arsi region Marathon best: 2:17:56 London 2017 London Marathon record: 2014- 3rd 2:20:35, 2017- 2nd 2:17:56 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Chicago: 2017- 1st 2:18:31 Other major city marathons: None Marathons in major championships: None Career notes Tirunesh Dibaba is one of the greatest women distance runners of all time with three world records, five world titles and five Olympic medals on the track, not to mention five world cross country titles (and a record 21 world cross country medals). She retained her Olympic 10,000m title at the London 2012 Games, beating world champion Vivian Cheruyiot with a trademark blistering finish, having stunned the world by winning the 5000m and 10,000m double at the Beijing Olympics four years earlier. She won world 5000m titles in 2003 and 2005, and the world 10,000m crown in 2005, 2007 and 2013, not to mention the African titles in 2008 and 2010. After the London Olympics she turned her attention to the roads and won her first half marathon, the Great North Run, in 67:35, beating then world marathon champion Edna Kiplagat. Her full marathon debut came in London in 2014 when she was third behind the Kiplagats despite dropping a drinks bottle at 30km. Dibaba then took a break to become a mother, returning in 2016 in a bid to retain her Olympic 10,000m title. She ran the fastest race of her life in the Rio final but it was only good enough for bronze as compatriot Almaz Ayana took her title and broke the world record. She ran her second marathon in London last year when she chased the flying Mary Keitany for 26.2 miles and clocked an Ethiopian record, the fifth quickest time in history, to go third on the all-time list, despite stopping to relieve stomach cramps with just two miles to go. She went on to win her first World Marathon Majors title in Chicago last October with another brilliant time and now shares first place in the Series XI standings with Keitany. Dibaba first emerged on the international scene in 2001 when she was fifth in the junior race at the World Cross Country Championships, improving to runner-up in 2002 when she went on to win silver at 5000m at the World Junior Championships. The following year she won the world junior cross country title and senior world 5000m crown in Paris at 17 years 333 days, making her the youngest ever world champion in an individual event and earning the nickname ‘the baby-faced assassin’. In 2004 she broke world junior records indoors for 3000m and 5000m and outdoors for 5000m, but minor injuries meant she wasn’t at her best at the Athens Olympics and had to be satisfied with a 5000m bronze behind Meseret Defar and Isabella Ochichi.

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Dibaba broke her first world senior record (for 5000m indoors) in 2005, and won both long and short course titles at the World Cross Country Championships. She also equalled Paula Radcliffe’s world 5km best and won the distance double at the Helsinki World Championships. She retained one of her world cross titles in 2006 and her world 10,000m crown in 2007, despite a mid-race tumble and abdominal pains. In 2008, she won another world cross title in Edinburgh after watching her younger sister Genzebe win the junior race, and that summer in Oslo sliced more than five seconds from Defar’s world 5000m record. She then ran the second quickest 10,000m ever seen to win the Olympic title in Beijing. The 5000m gold duly followed. Injuries hampered her in 2009 and from 2010 onwards she missed 16 months of competition, returning in 2012 to become the first woman to defend the Olympic 10,000m gold, although a hamstring injury meant she had to settle for bronze in the 5000m. She regained the world 10,000m title in Moscow the following year and was silver medallist at the London 2017 championships. She won 11 out of 11 10,000m track races until May 2016 when she was third at the Olympic trial in Hengelo. Personal notes Her full name is Tirunesh Dibaba Kenene. She married 2004 and 2008 Olympic 10,000m silver medallist Sileshi Sihine in October 2008. Their son, Natan Sileshi, was born in March 2015. She is the third of five children, younger sister to Ejegayehu and older to Genzebe. Ejegayehu was Olympic 10,000m silver medallist in 2004 while Genzebe is the 1500m world record holder indoors and out. Derartu Tulu, two-time Olympic 10,000m gold medallist and 2001 London Marathon champion, is their aunt. After the Beijing Olympics Dibaba received a car from the Ethiopian President, was promoted to chief superintendent in the prisons police administration, and a hospital in Addis Ababa was named Tirunesh-Beijing.


GLADYS CHERONO (KENYA) Born: 12 May 1983 Marathon best: 2:19:25 Berlin 2015 London Marathon record: None Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2015- 1st 2:19:25, 2017- 1st 2:20:23 Boston: 2017- 5th 2:27:20 Other major city marathons Dubai: 2015- 2nd 2:20:03 Marathons in major championships: None Career notes Gladys Cherono is the reigning Berlin Marathon champion after winning the title for a second time last September when she won by 18 seconds from Ethiopia’s Ruti Aga. Her first Berlin victory came in 2015 when she clocked 2:19:25 to rank number one in the world for the year and become the eighth quickest of all time. She made her marathon debut in Dubai that January when she was second in 2:20:03. The 2014 world half marathon champion, Cherono set her half marathon best of 66:07 placing second in the 2016 Ra’s Al-Khaymah race, making her the fifth fastest half marathoner in history. She now ranks in the world’s top 10 for both the half and full marathon. A prolific half marathon runner, Cherono has won races at that distance in Istanbul and Prague in recent years, while she was second in the New Delhi half in 2014. She returned to the marathon last April when she was fifth in Boston in 2:27:20, her slowest time so far, before reclaiming the Berlin title last September. On the track, she was African 5000m and 10,000m champion in 2012 –the first woman ever to win the African distance double – and world 10,000m silver medallist behind Tirunesh Dibaba in Moscow in 2013. She has a 5000m best of 14:47.12 and 10,000m PB of 30:29.23, both from 2013. She ran 67:13 to place eighth at this year’s Ra’s AlKhaymah half marathon. Personal notes Her full name is Gladys Kiprono Cherono. She is married to Joseph Bwambok who ran 62:25 for the half marathon in 2010. She is managed by Gianni Demadonna.

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MARE DIBABA (ETHIOPIA) Born: 20 October 1989 Sululta, Oromia region Marathon best: 2:19:52 Dubai 2012 & Xiamen 2015 London Marathon record: 2016- 6th 2:24:09, 2017- dnf Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Boston: 2014- 2nd 2:20:35, 2015- 2nd 2:24:59 Chicago: 2014- 1st 2:25:37 Other major city marathons Dubai: 2012- 3rd 2:19:52, 2018- dnf Frankfurt: 2010- 5th 2:25:27 Los Angeles: 2011- 3rd 2:30:25 Rome: 2010- 3rd 2:25:38 Toronto: 2011- 2nd 2:23:25 Xiamen: 2014- 1st 2:21:36, 2015- 1st 2:19:52 Marathons in major championships Olympics: 2012- 22nd 2:28:48, 2016- 3rd 2:24:30 Worlds: 2015- 1st 2:27:35, 2017- 8th 2:28:49 Career notes Mare Dibaba became Ethiopia’s first ever World Championships marathon gold medallist in Beijing three years ago when she outbattled three other women inside the Bird’s Nest stadium to claim gold for her country. In a thrilling finish, Dibaba defeated Helah Kiprop by one second in 2:27:35 with Eunice Kirwa another three seconds back in third and Jemima Sumgong fourth – just seven seconds separating the top four in what was the closest marathon in World Championship history. Dibaba may have had to fight for the title but her victory was not a surprise. She had started the race as the fastest entrant after winning the Xiamen Marathon in China early in 2015 in 2:19:52 – equalling her own personal best from Dubai three years before. Dibaba confirmed her good form in Boston that April when she was second to Caroline Rotich, before going on to claim the world title with her second victory on Chinese soil. She made her London Marathon debut in 2016 and was on course for a podium place with three miles to go before fading to sixth as Jemima Sumgong went on to win. She battled Sumgong again in Rio and this time held on to place third. She defended her world marathon title in London last summer but could only finish eighth, almost two minutes behind the winner, Rose Chelimo. She started the 2018 Dubai Marathon this January but dropped out after going through half way in 66:26. Dibaba made her marathon debut in 2010 when she was third in Rome in 2:25:38. She improved slightly when fifth in Frankfurt that October and took her best down to 2:23:25 finishing second in Toronto in 2011.

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Her breakthrough came the following January when she was third in Dubai in 2:19:52 winning selection for the 2012 Olympics that summer. The rainy London weather didn’t suit Dibaba, however, for she was 22nd in the Olympic race, nine minutes outside her best. That remained her only global championship race until the Beijing Worlds, although she did win the All Africa Games half marathon title in 2011 in a Games record of 70:47. She didn’t compete in 2013, then finished third at the Boston Marathon in 2014 before going on to finish second in Chicago that October. Both races were won by Rita Jeptoo who has since been disqualified for doping violations, making Dibaba the 2014 Boston runner-up and Chicago champion. She competed for Azerbaijan from February until December 2009 under the name Mare Ibrahimova and set Azerbaijani records for 3000m and 5000m on the track as well as for the half marathon when third in New Delhi in 68:45. She lowered that time to 67:13 when second in Ra’s Al-Khaymah in 2010 after reverting to run for Ethiopia. That remains her personal best. She won the Lisbon half marathon last March. Personal notes Her full name is Mare Dibaba Hurssa. She is not related to the sisters, Tirunesh and Genzebe Dibaba. She competed for Azerbaijan from February until December 2009 under the name Mare Ibrahimova but was revealed to be over age when entered for the European junior cross country championships.


BRIGID KOSGEI (KENYA) Born: 20 February 1994 Kapsait Marathon best: 2:20:22 Chicago 2017 London Marathon record: None Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Boston: 2017- 8th 2:31:48 Chicago: 2017- 2nd 2:20:22 Other major city marathons Honolulu: 2016- 1st 2:31:11, 2017- 1st 2:22:15 Lisbon: 2016- 2nd 2:24:45 Milan: 2016- 1st 2:27:45 Porto: 2015- 1st 2:47:59 Marathons in major championships: None Career notes Brigid Kosgei is the reigning Honolulu Marathon champion, a title she retained last December just two months after placing second in the Chicago Marathon behind Tirunesh Dibaba. Kosgei knocked four minutes from her personal best when she chased Dibaba home to cross the line in 2:20:22, making her the fourth fastest woman in the world last year. The 24-year-old has built up a formidable marathon record since she made her debut in Porto in 2015, with four first places and two runner-up spots from her seven races. She won the Porto race in 2:47:59 and broke 2:30 to win her second, in Milan, the following year. She was second in the Lisbon Marathon that October before winning the first of her two Honolulu titles two months later. Her only finish outside the top two came in Boston last April when she was eighth in 2:31:48. She has a half marathon best of 66:35 from Copenhagen last September having won the Bogotà half in July and the Seoul half in May 2016. She ran 66:49 to finish seventh in the Ra’s Al-Khaymah half marathon this February. Personal notes Full name is Brigid Jepcheschir Kosgei. She is married to Mathew Mitei and they have a three-year-old daughter called Faith Jepchumba.

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TIGIST TUFA (ETHIOPIA) Born: 26 January 1987 Marathon best: 2:21:52 Shanghai 2014 London Marathon record: 2015- 1st 2:23:22, 2016- 2nd 2:23:03, 2017- 8th 2:25:52 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors New York: 2013- 8th 2:29:24, 2015- 3rd 2:25:50 Other major city marathons Dubai: 2015- dnf Honolulu: 2013- dnf Houston: 2011- 8th 2:41:50 Jacksonville: 2013- 2nd 2:40:45 Ottawa: 2014- 1st 2:24:31 Santa Monica: 2014- 2nd 2:28:04 Shanghai: 2014- 1st 2:21:52 Marathons in major championships Olympics: 2016- dnf Worlds: 2015- 6th 2:29:12 Career notes Tigist Tufa made a mockery of the pre-race predictions on her London Marathon debut three years ago when she burst from the lead pack with three miles to go and opened a winning gap to secure her first World Marathon Majors victory. Tufa’s 18-second triumph over defending champion Mary Keitany was only the third for Ethiopia in the women’s race following Derartu Tulu’s win in 2001 and Aselefech Mergia’s elevation to become the 2010 champion. She came close to retaining her title in 2016 when she was runner-up to Jemima Sumgong. Tufa finished just five seconds behind the Kenyan who recovered from a fall and a bang on the head to win the race.

She tackled her first World Marathon Majors race that November and finished eighth in New York after sharing a three-and-a-half minute lead with her compatriot Buzunesh Deba at mile 15. Despite fading in the last 10km she reduced her PB again by 11 minutes to break the 2:30 barrier for the first time. Tufa was back in the United States in spring 2014 to contest the Santa Monica Marathon. She was second in the west coast race, taking another 80 seconds from her best. Her first marathon victory came in Ottawa that May when she clocked 2:24:31, another 3:27 improvement and a course record.

Tufa was sixth at the Beijing World Championships in 2015 – her first championships race – and was third behind Keitany and Mergia at the New York Marathon that November, her fourth marathon start of the year. She failed to finish the 2016 Olympic marathon in Rio.

She continued her winning habit in Shanghai on 2 November where a time of 2:21:52 removed more than a minute from that event’s course record, set by Feyse Tadese in 2012. She was the fifth successive Ethiopian winner of the race.

Tufa’s London victory in 2015 was the culmination of a four-year sequence of improving performances, from her 2:41:50 marathon debut in Houston six years ago to her victory in Shanghai in November 2014 when she clocked one of the quickest times of that year.

A familiar figure on the US road racing scene, she ran a 15km PB of 51:05 in 2014 finishing fourth in the Utica Boilermaker race in New York State.

She raced three marathons in 2014, winning two in course record times and finishing second in the other. She also reduced her PB each time, a big improvement of eight minutes in the year, and a huge 19 minutes in the space of 20 months. She also led the 2015 Dubai Marathon by a minute at 20km only to pay the price in the second half, losing the lead and later dropping out. After placing eighth on her debut in Houston in 2011, she left it two years before attempting another marathon. She fared a little better, finishing second in Jacksonville in 2:40:45.

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Her half marathon best of 70:03 was set in Lisbon in 2008. She hasn’t raced since placing eighth in London last year when she was blown away by the surging Keitany. Personal notes Tufa lived and trained with Buzunesh Deba in the Bronx in New York for 11 months to prepare for the 2013 New York Marathon. She moved back to Addis Ababa in December 2013 when she joined the training group led by coach Haji Adilo but is often still based in the USA.


TADELECH BEKELE (ETHIOPIA) Born: 11 April 1991 Debre Birhan Marathon best: 2:21:54 Amsterdam 2017 London Marathon record: None Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2014- 4th 2:23:02, 2015- 4th 2:25:01 Boston: 2016- 15th 2:44:20 Other major city marathons Amsterdam: 2017- 1st 2:21:54 Dingguan: 2016- 7th 2:52:20 Dubai: 2015- 7th 2:22:51, 2017- 4th 2:24:04 Prague: 2015- dnf, 2017- 3rd 2:22:23 Toronto: 2016- 2nd 2:26:31 Marathons in major championships: None Career notes Tadelech Bekele won the Amsterdam Marathon last October with a personal best of 2:21:54. It was her first marathon victory in her 10th race, and her second PB of the year. She made her debut in Berlin in 2014 when she was fourth in a remarkable 2:23:02, one of the fastest debuts of all time. She was fourth again when she returned to the German capital the following year, having placed seventh in the swift Dubai Marathon that January in 2:22:51. She ran her third World Marathon Majors race in 2016 when she was 15th in Boston. She placed second in Toronto that October and went on to finish fourth in Dubai and third in Prague last year before her Amsterdam victory. She has a half marathon best of 68:38 from Valencia in 2013. She won the Berlin half in 2014 and was third in the Egmond aan Zee race in the Netherlands on 14 January this year. She was fifth in the African Cross Country Championships in 2014, her only international to date. Personal notes Her full name is Tadelech Bekele Alemu. She is married and lives in Addis Ababa. She trains with Betelhem Moges, Ashete Bekere and Aberu Mekuria. Her nickname is Tadu. She is managed by Jos Hermens.

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ROSE CHELIMO (BAHRAIN) Born: 12 July 1989 Kenya Marathon best: 2:22:51 Boston 2017 London Marathon record: None Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Boston: 2017- 2nd 2:22:51 Other major city marathons Seoul: 2016- 1st 2:24:14 Marathons in major championships Olympics: 2016- 8th 2:27:36 Worlds: 2017- 1st 2:27:11 Career notes Rose Chelimo became the marathon world champion in London last August when she held off the determined challenge of Edna Kiplagat on Tower Bridge to claim the gold medal and deny her rival a third world title. Kiplagat had beaten Chelimo to win the Boston Marathon a few months earlier, a victory which secured the Kenyan the Abbott World Marathon Majors Series X crown, but Chelimo turned the tables as they battled for top honours in the London sunshine. The former Kenyan, who switched to Bahrain in August 2015, won her debut marathon in Seoul in March 2016 and went on to place eighth at the Rio Olympics. A prolific half marathon runner, she has finished among the top 10 three times at the Ra’s Al-Khaymah half, setting her personal best of 68:08 there in 2016. She represented Bahrain at the 2017 World Cross Country Championships in Kampala, finishing ninth. She was Lisbon half marathon champion in 2015 and placed third there last October. She was fourth in the Safi half on 7 January this year in 73:30. Chelimo ran a 10,000m track PB (31:37.81) last May and a 15km road PB (49:08) last November. Personal notes Chelimo is a former Kenyan who switched to Bahrain in August 2015. She is managed by Marc Corstjens.

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VIVIAN CHERUIYOT (KENYA) Born: 11 September 1983 Logosho, Rift Valley Marathon best: 2:23:35 Frankfurt 2017 London Marathon record: 2017: 4th 2:23:50 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: None Other major city marathons Frankfurt: 2017- 1st 2:23:35 Marathons in major championships: None Career notes Vivian Cheruiyot made her marathon debut in London last April at 33 after a glittering career on the track that yielded four World Championship titles and Olympic medals of every colour, not to mention a world cross country title and gold at the Commonwealth Games. Cheruiyot ran impressively in last year’s race to place fourth in 2:23:50 and went on to claim her first marathon victory when she won the Frankfurt Marathon last October in 2:23:35. Cheruiyot defied the winds in Frankfurt when she broke clear of a group of five at 25km running at course record pace. She ran out of gas in the last 10km but still lowered her personal best by 25 seconds. One of the most experienced athletes on the circuit, Cheruiyot’s international career goes back to 1999 when she won World Youth and All Africa Games bronze medals at 3000m and 5000m respectively. She won the African junior 5000m title in 2001 and world junior bronze at the same distance in 2002. She went on to win two senior world 5000m titles (in 2009 and 2011), two at 10,000m (2011 and 2015) and in Rio two years ago finally clinched Olympic gold when she held off the much-fancied 10,000m champion and world record breaker Almaz Ayana to claim the 5000m crown. It was a sweet moment for Cheruiyot at her fourth Games as she had been pipped for gold in London four years previously by half a second. She was fifth in the 5000m final in Beijing 2008 and 14th in 2000. She was world junior cross country champion in 2000 and senior world cross champion in 2011.

She has also broken national indoor records for 3000m and two miles. Personal notes Her full name is Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot. Her surname means ‘one born during bedtime’ in her native dialect. Nicknamed ‘Pocket Rocket’, she started running at school and broke into the national junior team in 1998 aged 15. She was educated at Sing’ore Girls’ High School from 2002, an institution famed for its athletics prowess. She is managed by Ricky Simms as part of the Pace Management group and is a member of the Panellinios Athletics Club in Athens. She is married to Moses Kiplagat, a former runner who is also her coach. Their son, Allan Kiprono Kiplagat, was born in October 2013. They live in Kaptagat and have interests in real estate, farming and transport in Eldoret and Nairobi. She holds the rank of inspector in the Kenya Police Force and was named as Laureus Female Athlete of the Year in 2012.

On the roads she has won the prestigious World’s Best 10km race in San Juan three times, setting her PB of 30:47 there in 2012. She beat Tirunesh Dibaba and former London Marathon champion Priscah Jeptoo to win her debut half marathon at the Great North Run in September 2016 and ran a PB of 67:44 there last October placing second to Mary Keitany. Cheruiyot is the third fastest woman ever at 5000m and 10,000m and holds Kenyan records for both distances – 14:20.87 for 5000m and 29:32.53 for 10,000m, the latter run in the Rio Olympic final.

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CHARLOTTE PURDUE (GREAT BRITAIN & NI) Born: 10 June 1991 Windsor Marathon best: 2:29:23 London 2017 London Marathon record: 2016- 16th 2:32:48, 2017- 15th 2:29:23 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2016- dnf Other major city marathons Frankfurt: 2016- 5th 2:30:04 Saitama: 2017- 4th 2:30:34 Marathons in major championships Worlds: 2017- 13th 2:29:48 Career notes Charlotte Purdue broke 2:30 for the first time when she was 15th in last year’s London Marathon, the second Briton home after Alyson Dixon in a time which makes her the 17th quickest British woman ever. She went on to run for Britain at the 2017 World Championships in London where she dipped under 2:30 again to finish 13th. Purdue made her marathon debut in London two years ago after winning four individual medals at junior and under-23 level at European Cross Country Championships. At 24, she was very much the baby of the British pack chasing Rio Olympic places but produced an impressive debut to finish third Briton behind Dixon and Sonia Samuels. She went on to finish sixth at the Great North Run before improving her marathon best by nearly three minutes in Frankfurt that October. Her time of 2:30:04 made her the quickest British female marathon runner of 2016 by nearly two minutes. Purdue moved up to marathon running after a successful junior career on the track that included a 5000m silver at the 2009 European Junior Championships. She was a dominant winner of the European junior cross country title in 2010 having won silver in 2008 and bronze in 2007. She went on to win bronze in the under 23 race in 2013. As a senior she was 14th for Britain at the 2011 World Cross Country Championships after finishing sixth at 5000m and fourth at 10,000m for England at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, despite missing much of that year with a knee stress fracture. On the roads, she won the Great Ireland Run 10km race in Dublin in 2011 and ran her PB for the distance there in 2012 when she was second to Gemma Steel. She made her half marathon debut at the 2014 Great North Run, finishing eighth in 71:43, which remained her best until she lowered it to 71:29 in Okayama last December. She improved it again when she won the inaugural Big Half in London on 4 March this year in 70:29.

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She ran half marathons for Britain at the 2016 World Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff, where she was 33rd, and the 2016 European Championships in Amsterdam where she did not finish. She has won numerous English, English schools, British universities and national titles at track and cross country in the junior and senior age groups. She has track bests of 15:23.4 for 5000m (2010) and 32:03.55 for 10,000m (2012). Personal notes She runs for Aldershot, Farnham & District and is coached by Nic Bideau. She is a grade five level ballet dancer.


STEPHANIE BRUCE (UNITED STATES)

REBECCA WADE (UNITED STATES)

Born: 14 January 1984 née Rothstein Marathon best: 2:29:35 Houston 2011 London Marathon record: None Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Boston: 2013- 14th 2:35:31 New York: 2017- 10th 2:31:44 Other major city marathons Honolulu: 2012- 3rd 2:32:47 Houston: 2011- 3rd 2:29:35 Sacramento: 2016- 2nd 2:32:37 St Paul: 2008- 5th 2:40:07 Marathons in major championships: None

Born: 9 February 1989 Dallas, Texas Marathon best: 2:30:41 Sacramento 2013 London Marathon record: None Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Chicago: 2017- 10th 2:35:46 Other major city marathons Houston: 2017- 3rd 2:35:57 Los Angeles: 2015- 8th 2:37:30 Sacramento: 2013- 1st 2:30:41 Marathons in major championships: None

Career notes Stephanie Bruce was just two minutes outside her personal best when finishing 10th in the New York Marathon last November in 2:31:44. It was her second World Marathon Majors appearance after placing 14th in Boston in 2013. The 34-year-old made her marathon debut in 2008 when she was fifth in St Paul. She made the podium in Houston three years later when she was third in 2:29:35 which remains her best time. She was third in Honolulu in 2012 and runner-up in Sacramento in December 2016. She has never run more than one marathon in a calendar year but has a number of half marathon victories behind her, including the Big Sur race in Monterey in 2012, Tempe, Arizona, in 2013 and again this January, and Tampa, Florida, last February. Her PB is 70:53 from 2013. She ran for USA at the 2010 World Half Marathon Championships, finishing 19th and was 22nd in last year’s World Cross Country Championships in Kampala. Personal notes She lives in Flagstaff, Arizona, with her husband, Ben. They have two sons and run a personal coaching and training programme for runners. She was diagnosed with Coeliac disease in 2010.

Career notes Rebecca Wade was 10th in Chicago last October on her World Marathon Majors debut having placed third in Houston last January behind two Ethiopians, Meskerem Assefa and Biruktayit Degefa. She won her debut marathon at the California International in Sacramento in 2013 in 2:30:41 having never previously raced longer than 10km on the roads. She beat Kenya’s Sarah Kiptoo in the process, but that remains her best time to date. Her second marathon was in Los Angeles in March 2015 when she was eighth but she was a disappointing 85th in the 2016 Olympic trials in the same city a year later. She ran a half marathon best of 71:15 when finishing 12th in Houston this January. She set PBs at 5km, 12km, 20km and 7 miles on the roads last year. A former steeplechaser, she represented USA at the 2008 World Junior Championships. Personal notes Usually known as Becky Wade, she comes from Dallas, Texas, and trains in Boulder, Colorado. She is coached by Jim Bevan and studied at Rice University. She wrote a book called Run the World, about running cultures around the world, published by Harper Collins in 2016.

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TRACY BARLOW (GREAT BRITAIN & NI)

LILY PARTRIDGE (GREAT BRITAIN & NI)

Born: 18 June 1985 Blackpool Marathon best: 2:30:42 London 2017 London Marathon record: 2013- 48th 2:59:58, 2014- 26th 2:54:15, 2015- 23rd 2:40:02, 2016- 17th 2:33:20, 2017- 16th 2:30:42 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2014- 18th 2:51:29 Other major city marathons Amsterdam: 2012- 53rd 3:19:28 Frankfurt: 2016- 9th 2:32:05 Toronto: 2015- 13th 2:38:52 Marathons in major championships Worlds: 2017- 43rd 2:41:03

Born: 9 March 1991 Marathon best: 2:32:10 Seville 2017 London Marathon record: None Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2017- dnf Other major city marathons Seville: 2017- 4th 2:32:10 Marathons in major championships: None

Career notes Having run the London Marathon six times from the British championship start line, Tracy Barlow earned an elite start place for the first time last year. She made the most of it by finishing 16th in a personal best and was selected for Britain’s 2017 World Championships team.

Her Seville time ranked her fifth in the UK last year.

She claimed a place among last year’s international runners after finishing as the first female club runner in 2016, 125th overall, in 2:33:20. Her first London Marathon was just seven years ago when she finished in 3:52:59, the 7,597th runner across the line. She has steadily improved ever since, breaking the three hour barrier in 2013, and lowering the Thames Valley Harriers record in 2015. She has made a 25-minute improvement in three years, an 80-minute progression in seven, and last year ranked fourth in the UK.

She was ninth in the junior race at the 2010 European Cross Country Championships and fifth in the under-23 contest in 2013. She was 11th in 2014 and 15th in the senior race last December.

She also lowered her half marathon time in Barcelona last February when she was 10th in 72:48 and her 10km time to 34:01 at the Vitality London 10,000 last May. She was 16th in the Barcelona half this February and seventh at The Big Half this March in 73:36. Personal notes Born in Blackpool, she now lives in Winchester and runs for Thames Valley Harriers. She is coached by Nick Anderson. She is a qualified nurse.

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Career notes Lily Partridge placed fourth at her debut marathon in Seville last February but dropped out of the Berlin Marathon last September.

She has represented Britain on a number of occasions as a junior and senior, notably running the half marathon event at the 2016 European Championships in Amsterdam, where she was 53rd.

Her half marathon best of 70:32 was set when winning the Reading half in 2015. She was seventh in the Great North Run last September and ran 71:08 to win the Seville half this January in a course record. She clocked 71:06 to place second behind Charlotte Purdue at The Big Half on 4 March this year. Personal notes Coached by Mick Woods, she competes for Aldershot, Farnham & District. She trains near her home around Frensham, Farnham and Aldershot and is studying to become a primary school teacher.


LIZ COSTELLO (UNITED STATES)

REBECCA MURRAY (GREAT BRITAIN & NI)

Born: 23 February 1988 Marathon best: 2:38:21 Boston 2017 London Marathon record: None Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Boston: 2017- 18th 2:38:21 Other major city marathons: None Marathons in major championships: None

Born: 26 September 1994 Marathon best: Debut London Marathon record: None Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: None Other major city marathons: None Marathons in major championships: None

Career notes Liz Costello will run her second marathon in London this year after placing 18th on her debut in Boston 12 months ago, when she clocked 2:38:21.

Career notes Rebecca Murray makes her marathon debut after finishing 10th at last September’s Great North Run. She ran a half marathon best of 72:59 in Manchester in 2016.

She won the Brooklyn half marathon in 2014 and was ninth in the New York half in 2016 when she ran her best time of 72:35.

As an under 23, she ran for Britain at three European Cross Country Championships, finishing sixth in 2016, and last March was 42nd in the senior women’s race at the World Cross in Kampala having won the British universities title the previous month.

She ran for USA at the 2015 Pan American Games, finishing fourth in the 10,000m. She was seventh in the 10,000m at the US championships last June. Personal notes After taking a break from running for a couple of years, Costello revived her career in 2014 when she moved to Boston and joined Team New Balance Boston. She is coached by Mark Coogan. She also works as a mathematics tutor in the city.

On the track, she was British universities 10,000m champion in 2016 and won the 5000m title in 2017. She won the Great Scottish 10k last year. Personal notes Murray is a member of Bedford & County Athletic Club where she is coached by Alex Stanton, former coach to Paula Radcliffe. She studied at Birmingham University and is now a Masters student at Brunel University.

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05 ELITE MEN Entries Bib no. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Name Daniel Wanjiru Kenenisa Bekele Eliud Kipchoge Guye Adola Stanley Biwott Abel Kirui Lawrence Cherono Tola Shura Kitata Bedan Karoki Ghirmay Ghebreslassie Yohanes Gebregergish Amanuel Mesel Mo Farah Alphonce Simbu Tatsunori Hamasaki Fernando Cabada Ihor Olefirenko Tsegai Tewelde Jonny Mellor Samuel Chelanga Aaron Scott Stephen Scullion Taher Belkorchi Matthew Clowes

Nation KEN ETH KEN ETH KEN KEN KEN ETH KEN ERI ERI ERI GBR TAN JPN USA UKR GBR GBR USA GBR IRL MAR GBR

PB 2:05:21 2:03:03 2:03:05 2:03:46 2:03:51 2:05:04 2:05:09 2:05:50 2:07:41 2:07:46 2:08:14 2:08:17 2:08:21 2:09:10 2:11;26 2:11:36 2:12:04 2:12:23 2:12:57 2:15:02 2:17:50 2:18:04 Debut Debut

Bib name WANJIRU BEKELE KIPCHOGE ADOLA BIWOTT KIRUI CHERONO KITATA KAROKI GHIRMAY YOHANES MESEL FARAH SIMBU HAMASAKI CABADA OLEFIRENKO TEWELDE MELLOR CHELANGA SCOTT SCULLION BELKORCHI CLOWES

Awards & Bonuses for Elite Men Awards for place

Time & Record Bonuses

Men 1 $55,000 2 $30,000 3 $22,500 4 $15,000 5 $10,000 6 $7,500 7 $5,000 8 $4,000 9 $3,000 10 $2,000 11 $1,500 12 $1,000 $156,500

Men Any runner recording sub: (not cumulative) 2:05:00 $100,000 2:06:00 $75,000 2:07:00 $50,000 2:08:00 $25,000 2:08:30 $15,000 2:09:00 $10,000 2:09:30 $5,000 2:10:00 $3,000 2:11:00 $1,000

In addition to the above, any runner achieving the following will receive: • first and men’s course record (2:03:05) - $25,000 • first and men’s world record (2:02:57) - $125,000

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VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Preview: Wanjiru defends against three of the greats

Eliud Kipchoge after winning the 2016 London Marathon

Daniel Wanjiru will face a daunting task when he defends his London Marathon title against three of the greatest distance runners of their generation. Wanjiru was a surprise winner of the 2017 men’s race when he held off the challenge of Ethiopian track legend Kenenisa Bekele to clinch his first Abbott World Marathon Majors victory and succeed Olympic gold medallist Eliud Kipchoge as London Marathon champion. Bekele and Kipchoge, the second and third fastest men in history, will both be on the start line in 2018, alongside Britain’s multiple world and Olympic track champion Mo Farah, who became the second fastest British marathon runner on his debut four years ago. Bekele and Kipchoge will start as the two fastest men in the field, heading a line-up that contains four who have run the 26.2-mile distance under 2 hours 4 minutes and eight who have finished quicker than 2:06. Among them are five World Marathon Majors winners and two former world champions. Kipchoge returns to London looking to make it a hattrick of wins in the British capital after skipping last year’s race for a stab at breaking the two-hour barrier. The Kenyan superstar triumphed in 2015 and was an agonising eight seconds away from the current world record of 2:02:57 when he won again a year later. “The Virgin Money London Marathon is a race that holds very special memories for me,” said the 33-year-old who became the fastest marathoner in history when he clocked 2:00:25 in an unratified race in Monza, Italy, last May. “I won it in 2015 and 2016 and both are days I will never forget. I came close to breaking the world record in 2016 and it is natural for anyone in that situation to think of what might have been. But that race gave me the confidence to go on and win the Olympic title in Rio and run so well throughout 2017.”

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Kipchoge was again close to the world record in Berlin last September when he finished in 2:03:32, 35 seconds off the mark set by his countryman Dennis Kimetto in Berlin in 2014. “I feel like I’m in good form,” said Kipchoge. “Berlin was difficult because the weather was not good but my time showed I was in the right shape. I know I have the world record in me so we will have to wait and see what happens.” With his best of 2:03:03, Bekele is the second quickest man in history and the fastest in the London field. After finishing third on his London debut in 2015, the 35-yearold placed second last year when he came agonisingly close to catching Wanjiru in the closing stages. He is joined by compatriot Guye Adola who ran the fastest debut in history when second behind Kipchoge in Berlin last September. Having led the race until the final few miles, the 27-year-old became the seventh quickest marathoner of all time when he crossed the line in 2:03:46, just 14 seconds after the winner. The Kenyan challenge is boosted by Stanley Biwott, a former New York Marathon champion who was runnerup behind Kipchoge in London two years ago, and the experienced Abel Kirui, a two-time world champion who won the Chicago Marathon in 2016 and was second there last October. Also in the field is Bedan Karoki who clinched third on his debut last year and ran the fourth fastest half marathon in history in the United Arab Emirates just this February. Former world and New York champion, Ghirmay Ghebreslassie, is one of three talented Eritreans in the line-up, while Farah heads a select British cast that includes Rio Olympian Tsegai Tewelde and the fastimproving Jonny Mellor.


DANIEL WANJIRU (KENYA) Born: 25 May 1992 Marathon best: 2:05:21 Amsterdam 2016 London Marathon record: 2017- 1st 2:05:48 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: None Other major city marathons Amsterdam: 2016- 1st 2:05:21 Frankfurt: 2014- 7th 2:08:18 Prague: 2016- 4th 2:09:25 Marathons in major championships Worlds: 2017- 8th 2:12:16 Career notes Daniel Wanjiru lived up to the promise of his famous surname when he shocked the field to win last year’s race in 2:05:48, beating the Ethiopian distance legend, Kenenisa Bekele. The Kenyan made a break just before the 21-mile mark and battled hard over the final five miles to beat the fast-finishing favourite who had fallen behind after suffering with blisters caused by ill-fitting shoes. “I am the happiest man in the world,” he said afterwards. Wanjiru had started as the sixth fastest man in the field, but he was in good form, having broken the course record to win the 2016 Amsterdam Marathon six months earlier. He took nearly three minutes from his personal best when he won in the Dutch city in 2:05:21. The largely unknown 25-year-old may not be related to his late namesake, Sammy, but his performance 12 months ago was worthy of the late 2008 Olympic gold medallist and 2009 London Marathon champion who died tragically young in 2011.

Most recently he was second behind Mo Farah in the Big Half in London in 61:43. Personal notes His full name is Daniel Kinyua Wanjiru. He lives and trains in Embu in Kenya’s Eastern Province on the south eastern slopes of Mount Kenya. He is managed by Volare Sports in the Netherlands where he has done much of his racing. He has two children.

Unlike Sammy, however, he couldn’t add to his London title by winning a global gold – Daniel was eighth at the World Championships when he returned to the British capital last August. Twice a winner of the prestigious Prague half marathon, Wanjiru was nevertheless an outsider for the Amsterdam title in a line-up that included defending champion Bernard Kipyego, sub-2:05 man Sammy Kitwara and course record holder Wilson Chebet. But it was Wanjiru who had the strength at the end to overhaul Kitwara and lead eight men under 2:07. He made his debut in Frankfurt in 2014, when he was seventh in 2:08:18, but seemed certain to improve on that in Amsterdam having set PBs at 5000m, 10,000m, 10km and half marathon earlier in 2016, clocking 27:43 and 59:20 in the latter two disciplines, both in the Czech capital. Wanjiru ran that half marathon time when retaining the Prague title last April. He ran his first half marathon in 2010 and has an impressive record at the distance with five international victories and three sub-60 minute times. He was second in the 2015 Ra’s Al Khaymah half but 12th there last February and 25th in this year’s Houston half in 62:55.

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KENENISA BEKELE (ETHIOPIA) Born: 13 June 1982 Bekoji Marathon best: 2:03:03 Berlin 2016 London Marathon record: 2016- 3rd 2:06:36, 2017- 2nd 2:05:57 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2016- 1st 2:03:03, 2017- dnf Chicago: 2014- 4th 2:05:51 Other major city marathons Dubai: 2015- dnf; 2017- dnf Paris: 2014- 1st- 2:05:04 Marathons in major championships: None Career notes Kenenisa Bekele ran the quickest marathon of 2016 when he won the Berlin Marathon in 2:03:03. It made him the second fastest marathon runner of all time (on record-eligible courses) and smashed Haile Gebrselassie’s Ethiopian record. The performance sent a message to Ethiopia’s selectors who had left him out of the Rio Olympic team after he had finished third in the London Marathon in 2:06:36 behind Eliud Kipchoge and Stanley Biwott. He returned to London last year as race favourite and placed second in 2:05:57, just nine seconds behind Daniel Wanjiru, despite suffering from blisters throughout the race. He dropped out of the top 10 at one stage but closed the gap to six seconds within the last mile before Wanjiru finally found the edge. Bekele made his marathon debut in Paris four years ago and broke the course record with 2:05:04, the sixth fastest marathon debut at the time and quicker than the first-time efforts of former world record holders Gebrselassie and Paul Tergat, plus 2008 Olympic champion Sammy Wanjiru. His second marathon in Chicago that October provided stiffer opposition and although he was under 2:06 again, he faded to fourth as Kipchoge led a Kenyan sweep. His ambitious plan to contest three marathons in nine months foundered in January 2015 when he was forced to drop out of the lucrative Dubai Marathon after 30km suffering with hamstring problems. He returned to Dubai last January for an attempt on the world record but tripped at the start and dropped out at half way with sore calves. He also dropped out of the 2017 Berlin Marathon, a rain-affected race won by Kipchoge. Before moving to the roads, Bekele was already one of the greatest male distance runners of all time, a winner of three Olympic titles, five World Championship gold medals and 12 world cross country titles, plus a world indoor gold. He still holds world and Olympic records for both 5000m and 10,000m and is the most successful runner ever at the World Cross Country Championships with six long and five short course titles (plus one junior title). His four successive World Championship 10,000m titles – from 2003 to 2009 – matched the winning streak of his hero and mentor Gebrselassie, and in 2009 he became the first man to win both 5000m and 10,000m

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at the World Championships. In 2008 he became the sixth man in history to win the 5000m/10,000m double at the same Olympic Games. When he won the 3000m at the 2006 World Indoor Championships he became the first man to hold Olympic, world outdoor, world indoor and world cross country titles at the same time. He finished 2017 in winning form with victory in the 25km road race in Kolkata in 1:13:48. Renowned for his sprint finish, he was recorded running a 52.63-second last lap of a 10,000m in 2003, including a 200m segment of 24s and a 100m of 12s. Personal notes Bekele was born the second of six children in Bekoji, the same town that produced the record-breaking Dibaba sisters, Ejegayehu, Tirunesh and Genzebe, and their aunt, the double Olympic 10,000m champion, Derartu Tulu, plus Olympic marathon champions Gezahegne Abera and Tiki Gelana. He started running in primary school, inspired by Tulu and Gebrselassie. His younger brother Tariku Bekele is also a world class distance runner who beat him to claim the bronze medal in the 10,000m final at the London 2012 Olympics. Tragedy struck Bekele on 4 January 2005 when his fiancée, 18-year-old Alem Techale, a world youth 1500m champion, died of an apparent heart attack while the pair were out on a training run. He married Ethiopian film actress Danawit Gebregziabher on 18 November 2007. In 2012, Bekele built a six-lane all-weather track in Sululta, a town 25 minutes from Addis Ababa. He also built two hotels nearby for visiting athletes to stay in. The track has a softer surface than the notoriously hard circuit at the national stadium in Addis. Bekele’s manager Jos Hermens once said: “He is not Jesus Christ because he can’t walk on water. But on land, no one can beat Kenenisa Bekele.”


ELIUD KIPCHOGE (KENYA) Born: 5 November 1984 Kapsisiywa, Nandi District Marathon best: 2:03:05 London 2016 London Marathon record: 2015- 1st 2:04:42, 2016- 1st 2:03:05 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2013- 2nd 2:04:05, 2015- 1st 2:04:00, 2017- 1st 2:03:32 Chicago: 2014- 1st 2:04:11 Other major city marathons Rotterdam: 2014- 1st 2:05:00 Hamburg: 2013- 1st 2:05:30 Marathons in major championships Olympics: 2016- 1st 2:08:44 Career notes Eliud Kipchoge ran what was then the quickest nonwinning time ever at the 2013 Berlin Marathon when he clocked 2:04:05 to finish second behind Wilson Kipsang’s world record-breaking run. In five years of marathon running, it is the only time the 33-year-old has ever lost at the distance for he’s since produced a remarkable unblemished record of seven wins from seven races from 2014 to 2017. He became Olympic champion in 2016, won the London Marathon in 2015 and 2016, took the Berlin Marathon in 2015 and 2017, and was crowned Series IX and Series X World Marathon Majors champion. A former world 5000m champion, he first moved up to the marathon as recently as April 2013 when he won the Hamburg Marathon in 2:05:30. Five years later, his record reads: eight wins and one second place, all but one run at 2:05:30 or better, six under 2:05 and two under 2:04 … and that does not include the unofficial assisted race he won at Monza race track last May when he clocked 2:00:25, the fastest marathon in history. After winning the Barcelona half marathon in February 2014, his second marathon triumph came at the Rotterdam Marathon that April in 2:05:00. He then produced a magnificent late surge to win that October’s Chicago Marathon in 2:04:11, beating a high-quality field that included Emmanuel Mutai and Kenenisa Bekele. At the London Marathon in 2015 he outsprinted defending champion Kipsang in the final stages, missing his compatriot’s course record by 13 seconds as he clocked 2:04:42. He was quicker still in Berlin that September when he won in 2:04:00, then a personal best despite running almost the entire race with the insole of his shoe flapping around his ankle. That mishap may have cost him the world record but it was his second victory of the year and enough to secure the World Marathon Majors Series IX prize. He claimed the London record as his own the following April when he defended his crown in emphatic style. He crossed the line ahead of Stanley Biwott and Bekele in 2:03:05, missing the world record by just eight seconds. That remains his official PB, placing him third on the world all-time list.

He went on to add Olympic gold to his growing collection when he won a gruelling race in Rio that August. He returned to Berlin last September for a three-way battle with Bekele and Kipsang that failed to materialise when they both dropped out. He was left to fight alone with debutant Guye Adola, a tussle he eventually won in 2:03:32. Previously, Kipchoge was best known for his exploits on the track, not least his upset victory at the 2003 World Championships when, at 19, he won the 5000m gold, defeating Bekele and Hicham El Guerrouj. Earlier that summer he’d broken the world junior record at the Bislett Games in Oslo, and he’d won the junior race at the World Cross Country Championships. He won a world 5000m silver in 2007, plus an Olympic bronze in 2004 and silver in 2008, beaten by Bekele both times. He also has a Commonwealth Games silver from 2010. Aside from occasional 5km and 10km races, Kipchoge made his first appearance on to the roads in 2012 when he was sixth at the Kavarna World Half Marathon Championships. He won the Barcelona half marathon in 2013 and 2014, and the New Delhi half in 2016, but his half marathon PB stems from 2012 when he ran 59:25 in Lille. Personal notes Kipchoge was born in Kapsisiywa in the Nandi District in Kenya where his parents were farmers. He still lives mainly in Kapsisiywa. He trains at the Global Sports camp in Kaptagat but is based in Nijmegen, Netherlands, during the summer season. He has a daughter, Lynne Jebet, born in 2006.

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GUYE ADOLA (ETHIOPIA) Born: 20 October 1990 Adola, Oromiya Region Marathon best: 2:03:46 Berlin 2017 London Marathon record: None Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2017- 2nd 2:03:46 Other major city marathons: None Marathons in major championships: None Career notes Guye Adola almost pulled off one of the biggest shocks in recent marathon history when he came close to beating double London champion Eliud Kipchoge at the Berlin Marathon last September. The 2014 world half marathon bronze medallist was racing the full distance for the first time. But while the former world record holder, Wilson Kipsang, and the world’s second quickest man, Kenenisa Bekele, both dropped out, it was Adola who emerged to open a gap on the Olympic champion. In drenching conditions, the debutant carved out a 25-metre lead that Kipchoge only closed at 40km. Kipchoge finished with his second fastest time while Adola clocked 2:03:46 to become the second quickest Ethiopian behind Bekele and the fastest first-timer ever. It emerged after the race that Adola didn’t even know he was running until four days before the race. He also missed his drinks bottle at one of the feeding stations. He was meant to start with the second group but changed his mind on the start line, telling a friend that he’d decided: “I want to taste what it is like to run with the leaders, and maybe I can help Bekele.” Adola first emerged on the world scene as a half marathon runner in 2014 when he was third at World Half Marathon Championships in Copenhagen, Ethiopia’s best performer. He also won prestigious races in Marrakech and New Delhi that year, the latter in 59:06, his personal best. He won the Ethiopian half marathon championships in 2015 and was 16th at that year’s World Half in Cardiff when he fell at the start and struggled in the pouring rain because he had typhoid. He warmed up for his marathon debut with another sub-60 minute performance, running 59:18 in Ostia last March. He has a 10,000m track best of 27:09.78 from 2016 and a 10km road best of 28:22. He was second in this January’s Houston half marathon in 60:15 and fifth in Riyadh on 25 February. Personal notes His full name is Guye Adola Idemo. He was born in Adola in Ethiopia’s Oromiya Region. He started running in 2008 and joined a group managed by Gianni Demadonna in 2014. He is coached by Gemedu Dedefo in Addis Ababa.

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STANLEY BIWOTT (KENYA) Born: 21 April 1986 Marathon best: 2:03:51 London 2016 London Marathon record: (2011- pace), 2013- 8th 2:08:39, 2014- 2nd 2:04:55, 2015- 4th 2:06:41, 2016- 2nd 2:03:51 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Chicago: 2017- dnf New York: 2013- 5th 2:10:41, 2015- 1st 2:10:34, 2016- dnf Other major city marathons Carpi: 2006- 7th 2:14:25 Chunchon: 2011- 1st 2:07:03 Paris: 2012- 1st 2:05:12 Reims: 2010- 2nd 2:09:41 São Paulo: 2010- 1st 2:11:19 Shanghai: 2012- 3rd 2:09:05 Marathons in major championships Olympics: 2016- dnf Career notes The 2015 New York Marathon champion returns to the London Marathon for the fifth time, having twice finished runner-up behind course record-breaking compatriots. After a series of top five finishes, Stanley Biwott finally won a World Marathon Majors race in New York in November 2015 where he outran world half marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor in Central Park. It was his first marathon win since Paris in 2012 and one based, he said, on increased endurance training to cope better with the last five kilometres. He had placed fourth in that April’s London Marathon a year after placing second when he was the surprise package, clocking a personal best to break the 2:05 barrier behind Wilson Kipsang. Despite starting as only the eighth quickest man in the field, he ran stride-for-stride with the then world record holder until the final stages of the race and followed his countryman across the line in 2:04:55 to ensure 2014 was the first year that two men have broken 2:05 in London. Two years later, he made history again, this time tailing Eliud Kipchoge as the two Kenyans dipped under 2:04 having broken the 30km world record with 1:27:13 en route. Kipchoge took Kipsang’s London Marathon record, while Biwott moved to number seven in the world all-time list. Biwott took nearly two minutes from his PB to win the 2012 Paris Marathon, crossing the line in 2:05:12, a course record. It was a significant move into world class for the Kenyan whose marathon career began six years earlier in Carpi, where he was seventh. He didn’t run a marathon again until 2010 when he won the São Paulo Marathon in 2:11:19, the fastest ever in South America. He dipped under 2:10 for the first time at the 2010 Reims to Toutes Jambes where he was three seconds behind winner Stephen Chebogut in 2:09:41.

At the Chunchon Marathon in 2011 he outran his training partner Jonathan Kosgei Kipkorir and took another two and a half minutes from his PB with a course record of 2:07:03. After his course record win in Paris 2012, he placed third in Shanghai before making his London debut in April 2013. He led that race with less than five miles to go but Emmanuel Mutai swept past him and he fell back to finish eighth in 2:08:39. He was among the leaders in the New York Marathon that November too, sticking with eventual winner Geoffrey Mutai until mile 23 before eventually finishing fifth in 2:10:41. Two years later he ran just seven seconds faster to win the race. Recent form has been less impressive, however, for he dropped out of the Rio Olympic marathon and failed to finish in Chicago last October. He ran his half marathon best of 58:56 when he was second at the Ra’s Al Khaymah race in 2013. He has broken 60 minutes six times including at the Great North Run in 2015 when was second. He won the Rock ‘n’ Roll half in San Antonio in December last year. Personal notes His full name is Stanley Kipleting Biwott. He is married to Nancy Cherop Biwott and they have a son, Alan Kipchumba. His brother Norris Biwott ran 2:11:29 in 2013. He worked on his family’s dairy farm before becoming a runner in 2006. He still owns 10 cows. He began working with Italian coach Claudio Berardelli in 2006.

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ABEL KIRUI (KENYA) Born: 4 June 1982 Bornet, Rift Valley Marathon best: 2:05:04 Rotterdam 2009 London Marathon record: 2010- 5th 2:08:04, 2011- dnf, 2012- 5th 2:07:56, 2017- 4th 2:07:45 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2006- 9th 2:17:47, 2007- 2nd 2:06:51 Chicago: 2016- 1st 2:11:23, 2017- 2nd 2:09:48 New York: 2008- dnf, 2010- 9th 2:13:01 Tokyo: 2008- dnf, 2014- 10th 2:09:04, 2016- 5th 2:08:06 Other major city marathons Amsterdam: 2014- 6th 2:09:45, 2015- 10th 2:10:55 Rotterdam: 2009- 3rd 2:05:04 Singapore: 2006- 3rd 2:15:22 Tokyo: 2008- dnf Vienna: 2007- 3rd 2:10:41, 2008- 1st 2:07:38 Marathons in major championships Olympics: 2012- 2nd 2:08:27 Worlds: 2009- 1st 2:06:54, 2011- 1st 2:07:38 Career notes The two-time world champion and 2012 Olympic silver medallist, Abel Kirui, races the London Marathon for a fifth time seeking his first podium finish. Kirui’s best result in London was 12 months ago when he placed fourth in 2:07:45. That followed his surprise victory at the Chicago Marathon the previous October, his first major marathon win for half a decade. He had hinted at a return to form when placing fifth in Tokyo that year and in Chicago he outkicked defending champion Dickson Chumba to win by three seconds. He returned to defend his Chicago crown last October, eventually finishing runner-up to USA’s Galen Rupp. Kirui became the third man to retain the world marathon title with his victory in Daegu seven years ago, a dominant performance that left his nearest rival nearly two and a half minutes behind, the widest margin in World Championships history. The Kenyan had dropped out in the latter stages of the 2011 London race, but his victory in Daegu secured his place on Kenya’s 2012 Olympic team. After placing fifth at that year’s London Marathon he won an Olympic silver in the British capital where he was beaten by Uganda’s Stephen Kiprotich. Until Chicago 2016, that was the last time he appeared on a marathon podium. Kirui started his first marathon as a pacemaker for Haile Gebrselassie in Berlin in 2006. He completed his pacing duties then kept going, clocking 2:17:47. Ten weeks later, running under challenging heat and humidity in Singapore, he took more than two minutes off that time. He made an even bigger improvement in Vienna in April 2007 when he was third, and he was back in Berlin that September pacing Gebrselassie to his first world marathon record. Taking advantage of ideal running conditions and the fast course, he finished second to the Ethiopian and smashed his PB by almost four minutes with 2:06:51.

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After pacing Gebrselassie in Dubai in January 2008, he dropped out of the Tokyo Marathon that February, but won in Vienna two months later when he set a course record. Pacing Gebrselassie in Berlin again that September, he sped through 30km in 1:28:25, a couple of seconds ahead of the world record holder who went on to run the first ever sub-2:04 marathon. Kirui’s own breakthrough came the following spring in Rotterdam when he clocked 2:05:04 finishing third behind Duncan Kibet and James Kwambai. Still his PB, that time was then the sixth fastest ever. It’s now the 34th. He returned to Berlin that August as the fastest entrant in the 2009 World Championships. He was in control throughout, passed half way in 63:03 and pulled clear of his Kenyan teammate Emmanuel Mutai with 5km left to break the tape in 2:06:54, a championship record by 97 seconds. His half marathon PB of 60:11 was set in Rotterdam in 2007. Personal notes A child of the Rift Valley, Kirui did not have to look far for inspiration. His uncle, Mike Rotich, has a marathon best of 2:06:33 (2003), although Kirui claims his family’s running history goes back to his great grandfather who “used to chase an antelope and catch it”. He started running seriously after he won a race he’d entered as part of a police recruitment exercise. He eventually moved to Kapsabet and began professional racing in Poland.


LAWRENCE CHERONO (KENYA) Born: 7 August 1988 Marathon best: 2:05:09 Amsterdam 2017 London Marathon record: None Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: None Other major city marathons Alger: 2014- 2nd 2:10:16 Amsterdam: 2017- 1st 2:05:09 Hengshui: 2016- 2nd 2:11:13 Hong Kong: 2016- 2nd 2:12:14 Honolulu: 2016- 1st 2:09:39, 2017- 1st 2:08:27 Lanzhou: 2015- 2nd 2:12:33 Prague: 2016- 1st 2:07:24 Rotterdam: 2017- 2nd 2:06:21 Seville: 2015- 1st 2:09:39 Shanghai: 2015- 7th 2:14:22 Marathons in major championships: None Career notes Lawrence Cherono is the reigning Amsterdam Marathon champion who broke Daniel Wanjiru’s course record and took more than a minute from his personal best in the Dutch city last October. It was the highest point yet in a marathon career that has seen the 29-year-old finish first or second in all but one of his 11 races to date, with notable victories in Seville, Prague and twice in Honolulu as well as Amsterdam. He made his debut in 2014 when he was second in Algiers and three months later ran sub-2:10 for the first time when he won the Seville Marathon in February 2015. He went on to place second in Lanzhou that June before finishing seventh in Shanghai later in the year, his only non-podium finish. He ran four marathons in 2016, finishing second in Hong Kong, first in Prague with a big PB of 2:07:24, second in Hengshui and first in Honolulu where he broke the course record with 2:09:39. He was slightly less prolific last year but still raced three times. He began by lowering his best by more than a minute in Rotterdam, coming second behind Marious Kimutai in 2:06:21. He returned to the Netherlands in October and outbattled his compatriots Abraham Kiptum and Norbert Kigen in Amsterdam’s Olympic Stadium for the biggest victory of his life. Two months later he defended his Honolulu title, winning with another course record, 2:08:27. Personal notes Cherono is managed by Federico Rosa and trains in Kaptagat.

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TOLA SHURA KITATA (ETHIOPIA) Born: 9 June 1996 Marathon best: 2:05:50 Frankfurt 2017 London Marathon record: None Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: None Other major city marathons Frankfurt: 2017- 1st 2:05:50 Istanbul: 2016- 2nd 2:14:08 Otsu: 2016- 16th 2:16:09 Ottawa: 2016- 2nd 2:10:04 Rome: 2017- 1st 2:07:28 Shanghai: 2015- 3rd 2:08:53 Xiamen: 2016- 2nd 2:10:20, 2017- 3rd 2:10:36 Marathons in major championships: None Career notes Tola Shura Kitata won the Frankfurt Marathon last October by more than a minute from Kelkile Gezhegn in 2:05:50, lowering his personal best by more than 90 seconds in difficult conditions and leading an Ethiopian sweep of the medals. It was the highlight of the 21-year-old’s brief career that took off in 2017. He started the year placing third in Xiamen before slicing two minutes from his best time to win the Rome Marathon last April in 2:07:28. With his first sub-2:06 clocking in Frankfurt, Kitata had lowered his pre-2017 best by more than three minutes by the end of the year. He made his marathon debut in Shanghai in 2015, finishing third in 2:08:53 and ran four times in 2016, finishing runner-up in Xiamen, Ottawa and Istanbul with a below par 16th in Otsu sandwiched in between. The real improvements began in Rome last year, however, where Kitata beat Dominic Ruto by a full two minutes with the second quickest time on that famous city’s course. That victory set him up for his breakthrough to world elite level in Frankfurt. He also lowered his half marathon best in 2017, running 65:04 at altitude in Bogota and 60:10 in Copenhagen last September. He was close to that time in Houston this January when he was fourth in 60:20. Personal notes He is sometimes listed as Shura Kitata Tola. He is managed by Hussein Makké.

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BEDAN KAROKI (KENYA) Born: 21 August 1990 Nyandarua Marathon best: 2:07:41 London 2017 London Marathon record: 2017- 3rd 2:07:41 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: None Other major city marathons Fukuoka: 2012- dnf, 2017- 4th 2:08:44 Marathons in major championships: None Career notes The 2016 world half marathon silver medallist, Bedan Karoki, stepped up to the full distance last April when he clinched the last place on the London Marathon podium by just four seconds from Abel Kirui. Karoki arrived in London with high expectations after claiming the biggest win of his career at the 2017 Ra’s Al Khaymah half less than three months earlier. Karoki ran the quickest race of his life to win the prestigious event in the United Arab Emirates by nine seconds in 59:10, the fourth quickest half in the world last year and good enough to rank in the top 30 all-time. It was the 26-year-old’s fifth victory in seven career half marathons, all but one of which have been run under the one hour mark. He returned to Ra’s Al Khaymah this February and went even quicker, lowering his PB to 58:42 to retain his title with a course record and move to fourth on the world all-time list. He was the 2014 Lisbon and 2015 Copenhagen champion before finishing second to Geoffrey Kamworor at the 2016 World Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff, beating Britain’s Mo Farah among others. Karoki made his full marathon debut in Fukuoka in 2012 but did not finish. He returned to the Japanese city last December and placed fourth in 2:08:44. He won a silver medal for Kenya over 10,000m at the 2011 All Africa Games and has finished fifth and seventh at the same distance at the last two Olympics. He was also sixth at the 2011 World Championships, fourth in Beijing in 2015 and again in London last summer. He won a silver medal at the 2015 World Cross Country Championships, again finishing behind Kamworor. Personal notes His full name is Bedan Karoki Muchiri. He went to high school in Japan and speaks Japanese at an advanced level. He spent much of his early career running on the Japanese circuit, winning the Chiba International cross country three years in a row, from 2009 to 2011. He also won the Fukuoka International cross country in 2011.

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GHIRMAY GHEBRESLASSIE (ERITREA) Born: 14 November 1995 Kisadeka Marathon best: 2:07:46 London 2016 London Marathon record: 2016- 4th 2:07:46, 2017- 6th 2:09:57 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Chicago: 2014- 6th 2:09:08 New York: 2016- 1st 2:07:51, 2017- dnf Other major city marathons Dubai: 2015- dnf Hamburg: 2015- 2nd 2:07:47 Marathons in major championships Olympics: 2016- 4th 2:11:04 Worlds: 2015- 1st 2:12:28 Career notes Ghirmay Ghebreslassie was just 19 when he became world marathon champion in Beijing three years ago, shocking the world as he claimed a place in the history books as the youngest marathon gold medallist ever. He was also the first Eritrean to win a World Championship title, joining his illustrious compatriot Zersenay Tadese, the 2009 10,000m silver medallist, as only the second athlete from his country to win a medal of any colour. He won his place on the Eritrean team just four months earlier when he was second in Hamburg in 2:07:47 having made his debut in Chicago the previous October. He started the Chicago race as a pacemaker, originally intending to run to 25km as a learning experience. He decided to finish the race and placed sixth in 2:09:08. That audacious attitude has since carried him, not only to the world title, but to fourth and sixth place finishes in London, fourth again at the Rio Olympics where he missed a medal by less than a minute and, most notably, victory at the New York Marathon in 2016 when he dismissed a top-class field to become the first Eritrean to win the prestigious race. Ghebreslassie first competed overseas in 2012, placing ninth in the junior race at the African Cross Country Championships and clocking 28:33.37 for 10,000m at the FBK Games in Hengelo. The following year he was seventh at the 2013 World Junior Cross Country Championships in Poland but injuries persuaded him to give up on track training and prepare for the roads, a switch encouraged by victory on his half marathon debut in Paderborn in 60:09. Despite a bout of sickness during training, Ghebreslassie was just one second slower than that personal best at the 2014 World Half Marathon Championships in Copenhagen where he was seventh, helping Eritrea to take team gold. The one blip in his progress to the world title came at the 2015 Dubai Marathon when he dropped out after 25km having missed 11 days’ training with right leg pain.

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After placing second in Hamburg in April 2015 he increased his training runs to prepare for Beijing where he coped with the heat and humidity of the Chinese capital better than any of his rivals, including Kenya’s world record holder Dennis Kimetto and former world record holder Wilson Kipsang who both withered in the blistering morning sun. Ghebreslassie made his winning bid with 3km left and pushed clear of Ethiopia’s Yemane Tsegay. “It was difficult,” he said afterwards. “But we Eritreans never give up until the finish line.” He displayed the same attitude in New York 15 months later when he won by more than a minute and finished just five seconds outside his PB. He defended his New York title last November but dropped out in the second half. Personal notes Born into a rural farming community in the village of Kisadeka – around 115km south of the capital, Asmara – Ghebreslassie started running 7km to and from school when he heard about distance greats such as Tadese and Haile Gebrselassie who had built their endurance that way. Encouraged by a PE teacher, he first ran competitively in 2009, defying his parents who wanted him to stick to academic pursuits. He is coached now by Dutchman Veron Lust and managed by Jos Hermens who once guided his near namesake Gebrselassie to world and Olympic honours. A big football fan, Ghebreslassie has been supporting Manchester United since Cristiano Ronaldo played for the club.


YOHANES GEBREGERGISH (ERITREA)

Born: 1 January 1994 Marathon best: 2:08:14 Tokyo 2017 London Marathon record: None Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2016- 8th 2:09:48 Tokyo: 2017- 7th 2:08:14 Other major city marathons Asmara: 2016- 1st 2:23:01 Prague: 2016- 7th 2:10:44 Marathons in major championships Worlds: 2017- 7th 2:12:07 Career notes Yohanes Gebregergish was seventh in the World Championship marathon in London last August. He was the first Eritrean across the finish line on Tower Bridge, one place ahead of London Marathon champion Daniel Wanjiru. He made his marathon debut in Prague in 2016 when he finished seventh. He broke 2:10 for the first time at the Berlin Marathon that September and enjoyed his first marathon victory in Asmara three months later. He improved his personal best to 2:08:14 when seventh in the Tokyo Marathon last February, the first non-Kenyan to finish. He made his international debut at the London Worlds last August. He is yet to break 60 minutes for the half marathon but ran 60:21 in Prague in 2016. He was fourth in the Lisbon half marathon last October and ran his best 10km road time to place third in Valencia this January in 28:09.

AMANUEL MESEL (ERITREA)

Born: 29 December 1990 Asmara Marathon best: 2:08:17 Valencia 2013 London Marathon record: 2014- dnf, 2016- dnf, 2017- 8th 2:10:44 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: None Other major city marathons Fukuoka: 2015- dnf, 2016- 5th 2:10:48, 2017- 5th 2:09:22 Prague: 2013- 6th 2:11:51 Valencia: 2013- 2nd 2:08:17, 2014- 5th 2:10:54 Warsaw: 2015- 4th 2:08:18 Marathons in major championships Olympics: 2016- 21st 2:14:37 Worlds: 2015- 9th 2:15:07, 2017- dnf Career notes Amanuel Mesel was eighth at the London Marathon last year after dropping out twice. He dropped out of the World Championship marathon last August too but went on to place fifth in Fukuoka for the second year in a row. A former Eritrean junior record holder at 5000m, Mesel made his senior debut for Eritrea in 2007 and in 2010 placed 13th at the World Half Marathon Championships and eighth in the 5000m at the African Championships He was 11th in the 5000m at the 2011 Worlds. He ran his first marathons in 2013, finishing sixth in Prague and second in Valencia where he clocked his personal best. He returned to the Spanish city in 2014 when he was fifth. Fourth place in Warsaw in April 2015, just one second outside his PB, was enough to win selection for the World Championships in Beijing where he was ninth. He was 21st at the Rio Olympics. Mesel’s half marathon best of 60:10 stems from Prague in 2013 when he was second, outsprinted at the end by teammate Zersenay Tadese. Personal notes He has the same coach as world half marathon record holder Zersenay Tadese, the Spaniard, Jeronimo Bravo.

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MO FARAH (GREAT BRITAIN & NI) Born: 23 March 1983 Mogadishu, Somalia Marathon best: 2:08:21 London 2014 London Marathon record: 2014- 8th 2:08:21 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: None Other major city marathons: None Marathons in major championships: None Career notes The multiple Olympic and world track champion returns to the London Marathon for his second outing over 26.2 miles four years after making his full marathon debut here and eight months after finishing his international track career at the London 2017 World Championships. Farah finished eighth in 2014 in 2:08:21, an English record and the second quickest ever by a Briton behind Steve Jones’s 1985 time of 2:07:13. The previous year he had run to half way as a guest to get a feel for the pace, course, and atmosphere of the marathon. Farah ran alongside the leading elite men before dropping out at a pre-arranged point on the Highway. Farah was no stranger to the London Marathon having won the Mini Marathon three years in a row between 1998 and 2000 when he was a west London schoolboy growing up in Hounslow. He clocked 60:23 to win the New York half marathon in March 2011, faster than Nick Rose’s 1985 British record but not ratified due to the gradient of the course. He claimed the record officially on 24 February 2013 when he won the Rock ‘n’ Roll half in New Orleans in 60:59 and lowered it to 59:32 to win the Lisbon half in 2015, a European record. He has won the Great North Run for the last four years, running his best ever time of 59:22 there in 2015. Farah won the inaugural Big Half in London on 4 March this year, in 61:40, beating defending London Marathon champion Daniel Wanjiru and Callum Hawkins. He twice broke the British record for 10km on the roads at the London 10,000, most recently in 2010 when he finished in 27:44. He also holds the British 5km road best with 13:30 and the European record at 20km – 56:27 in Lisbon, en route to his half marathon victory. Farah ended his track career last summer as one of the most decorated distance runners in history with four Olympic golds and six world titles, all at 5000m and 10,000m. He also has one world silver at each distance while he has won five European golds outdoors and two indoors. He has won double distance gold at two European Championships, two World Championships and two Olympic Games. He holds national track records at 1500m, 3000m, two miles, 5000m and 10,000m, and British road records at 5km, 10km, 20km and half marathon. Those at 1500m, two miles, 5000m (indoors), 10,000m and 20km are also European records. After winning 5000m silver at the 2006 European Championships, Farah achieved the first of his double

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victories at the 2010 Europeans in Barcelona. He clinched the world 5000m title in Daegu the following year when he also won silver in the 10,000m. Then, in August 2012, he became only the sixth man in history to win the distance double at the Olympics. His 10,000m victory at London 2012 on 4 August capped off ‘Super Saturday’ when Britain won three gold medals at the Olympic Stadium within 45 minutes. He added the 5000m title a week later. He smashed the European record for 1500m in Monaco in 2013 before going on to repeat his Olympic double at the Moscow World Championships, so joining Kenenisa Bekele as a holder of both global distance doubles. He repeated the feat two years later in Beijing and retained both his Olympic titles in Rio in 2016. Farah’s dream of finishing off his championship track career with a third world double at the London 2017 championships was thwarted last August when Muktar Edris passed him in the home straight to snatch the 5000m crown. Personal notes Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, Mohamed Muktar Jama Farah moved to London via Djibouti when he was eight. His father, Muktar, was born in Britain but met his mother, Amran, when visiting Somalia. Muktar returned to Britain and his wife followed with Mo but without Mo’s twin brother who remained in Somalia with relatives. Farah grew up in Hounslow, west London, where he was spotted playing football by his school sports teacher, Alan Watkinson, who encouraged him to join his local athletics club. After years being coached by former marathon great Alberto Salazar in Portland, Oregon, he is now being guided by Gary Lough, Paula Radcliffe’s husband. Farah married his school girlfriend Tania Nell in 2010. He has a stepdaughter, Rihanna. The pair’s twin daughters, Aisha and Amani, were born in September 2012, and his son, Hussein was born in 2015. He was awarded a CBE in 2013, was knighted in 2017 and voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year last December.


ALPHONCE SIMBU (TANZANIA) Born: 14 February 1992 Marathon best: 2:09:10 London 2017 London Marathon record: 2017- 5th 2:09:10 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: None Other major city marathons Gold Coast: 2015- 6th 2:12:01 Hofu: 2015- 7th 2:14:15 Mumbai: 2017- 1st 2:09:32 Otsu: 2016- 3rd 2:09:19 Marathons in major championships Olympics: 2016- 5th 2:11:15 Worlds: 2015- 12th 2:16:58, 2017- 3rd 2:09:51 Career notes Alphonce Simbu clinched the World Championship bronze medal in London last August when he was just three seconds behind Tamirat Tola and held off Britain’s Callum Hawkins. It was his second top five finish in the British capital last year after he ran a personal best to place fifth on his London Marathon debut. Nine months earlier, he had been close to ending a 36-year Olympic medal drought for his country when he was fifth in the marathon at the Rio Games. Tanzania’s last Olympic athletics medals came at the 1980 Games in Moscow when steeplechaser Filbert Bayi and Suleiman Nyambui in the 5000m took silvers on the track. Simbu ran with the lead pack in Rio until the 35km point where gold medallist Eliud Kipchoge broke clear. He kept going to place fifth in 2:11:15, just 70 seconds behind bronze medallist Galen Rupp. His half marathon best was set in New Delhi in November 2016 when he was seventh in 61:59. He returned to India last January and won the Mumbai Marathon in 2:09:32, beating 10 Kenyans and Ethiopians to the title. He made his marathon debut in Australia two years ago when he was sixth in the Gold Coast Marathon in 2:12:01, good enough to win a place at that summer’s World Championships in Beijing where he was 12th. He placed seventh in Hofu that December before achieving his first podium finish at the Lake Biwa-Otsu race in Japan in March 2016. He has represented Tanzania on the track, running 10,000m at the 2011 All Africa Games where he was eighth. He was 48th at the 2015 World Cross Country Championships. His 10km PB is 29:42 from Brasilia in 2012. Personal notes His full name is Alphonce Felix Simbu. He comes from the Singida region in Tanzania. After his performance in the marathon he was made the flag bearer for Tanzania at the Closing Ceremony in Rio.

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TATSUNORI HAMASAKI (JAPAN))

FERNANDO CABADA (UNITED STATES)

Born: 4 July 1988 Marathon best: 2:11:26 Hofu 2017 London Marathon record: None Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Tokyo: 2015- 16th 2:12:12, 2016- 16th 2:12:45, 2017- 24th 2:13:57 Other major city marathons Buenos Aires: 2017- 8th 2:19:58 Gold Coast: 2016- 9th 2:15:37 Hofu: 2017- 2nd 2:11:26 Nagano: 2017- 5th 2:15:49 Naha: 2017- 1st 2:20:30 Otsu: 2014- 38th 2:19:16 Sapporo: 2017- 6th 2:16:18 Sydney: 2015- 6th 2:13:54 Marathons in major championships: None

Born: 22 April 1982 Marathon best: 2:11:36 Berlin 2014 London Marathon record: None Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Boston: 2013- 16th 2:18:23, 2015- 25th 2:22:05 Berlin: 2014- 11th 2:11:36 Chicago: 2015- 10th 2:15:36 Other major city marathons Amsterdam: 2016- 17th 2:14:52 Carlsbad: 2016, 1st 2:18:14 Duluth: 2016- 21st 2:27:09 Fukuoka: 2006- 9th 2:12:27 Houston: 2012- 7th 2:11:53 Huntsville: 2011- 2nd 2:22:56 Los Angeles: 2016- 55th 2:27:53 Sacramento: 2017- 20th 2:17:07 St Paul: 2008- 1st 2:16:32, 2010- 3rd 2:15:25 (US champs) Marathons in major championships Worlds: 2007- 50th 2:35:48

Career notes Hamasaki makes his London Marathon debut after running a personal best to place second in Hofu last December, the last of six marathons run by the 29-yearold Japanese athlete in 2017. He made his debut four years ago in Otsu and has twice placed in the top 20 at the Tokyo Marathon. He was 24th there last February before running in Nagano in April, Sapporo in August and Buenos Aires in October, all top 10 finishes. He then won the Naha Marathon on 3 December followed two weeks later by his PB in Hofu. He has a half marathon best of 61:45 from 2012.

Career notes Fernando Cabada has a long marathon record stretching back to 2006 when he was ninth in Fukuoka in 2:12:27. That remained his best time until 2012 when he was seventh in the US Olympic Trials in Houston in 2:11:53. His current best was run at the 2014 Berlin Marathon when he was 11th in 2:11:36. He has contested three World Marathon Majors races in recent years, also placing 16th in Boston in 2013 and 10th in Chicago in 2015. He ran for USA at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, finishing 50th in 2:35:48. His one marathon victory in 15 races was in the Tri-City race in Carlsbad, California, in 2016 when he beat two Ethiopians. Personal notes Cabada will be racing on his 35th birthday. Born in Fresno, California, he lives in Lakewood, Colorado, and trains with the American Distance Project. He ran as a pacemaker for the London Marathon in 2014. He gave up running in the early 2000s after quitting his course at the University of Arkansas.

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IHOR OLEFIRENKO (UKRAINE)

TSEGAI TEWELDE (GREAT BRITAIN & NI)

Born: 14 March 1990 Marathon best: 2:12:04 Bila Tserkva 2015 London Marathon record: None Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: None Other major city marathons Barcelona: 2017- 8th 2:15:52 Bila Tserkva: 2012- 1st 2:14:56, 2013- 1st 2:14:10, 2015- 1st 2:12:04 Macau: 2014- 9th 2:17:39 Milan: 2014- 4th 2:13:10 Oita: 2016- 7th 2:13:33 Paris: 2013- 18th 2:15:10 Rome: 2012- 18th 2:20:47 Xiamen: 2018- 5th 2:12:18 Marathons in major championships Olympics: 2016- 30th 2:15:36 Worlds: 2017- 18th 2:15:34 Europeans: 2014- 29th 2:20:36

Born: 8 December 1989 Eritrea Marathon best: 2:12:23 London 2016 London Marathon record: 2016- 12th 2:12:23, 2017- dnf Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: None Other major city marathons Beirut: 2017- 6th 2:14:45 Marathons in major championships Olympics: 2016- dnf

Career notes Ihor Olefirenko makes his World Marathon Majors debut after a top 20 finish at the London World Championships last summer. Olefirenko finished 18th in 2:15:34, not only the first Ukrainian but one place ahead of the noted Ethiopian Tsegaye Mekonnen. He had placed eighth in Barcelona earlier in the year and ran for his country at the Rio Olympics in 2016 where he was 30th. He was 29th at the 2014 European Championships in Zurich. He ran his best time of 2:12:04 when winning the national championships in Bola Tserkva in 2015 and was just 14 seconds outside that time this January when he was fifth in Xiamen. He was also Ukrainian marathon champion in 2012 and 2013. He ran a half marathon best of 63:36 last October and a 10km best of 30:18 in September.

Career notes Tsegai Tewelde provided the biggest shock of the 2016 race when he emerged from obscurity to finish second Briton behind Callum Hawkins, running 2:12:23 on his debut to claim a place on Britain’s Rio Olympic team. Tewelde was one of six Eritrean runners who requested asylum in Britain after competing in the 2008 World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh. Two years earlier, he had set an Eritrean junior 1500m record of 3:42.10 when finishing fifth at the 2006 World Junior Championships. He also ran for Eritrea at the World Cross Country Championships in 2007 and 2008. He joined Shettleston Harriers in Glasgow and won silver medals on the track at the 2008 and 2009 Scottish Championships. He has a 10km best of 29:07 from 2009 but competed rarely for four years between 2011 and 2015 when he finally received his British passport. His first competition in his new country’s colours was disappointing, however, for he was forced to drop out in Rio well short of the finish. He dropped out of the London Marathon last year too but was sixth in Beirut last November. He ran a half marathon PB of 63:14 when ninth at last year’s Great North Run and followed that with 63:18 for third at the Great Scottish Run. He was fifth in The Big Half this March in 65:11. Personal notes Tewelde ran for Eritrea before claiming asylum in Britain in 2008 along with five fellow athletes. Tewelde received his British passport in 2015.

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JONNY MELLOR (GREAT BRITAIN & NI)

SAMUEL CHELANGA (UNITED STATES)

Born: 27 December 1986 Birkenhead Marathon best: 2:12:57 Berlin 2017 London Marathon record: 2017- 23rd 2:18:48 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2017- 10th 2:12:57 Other major city marathons Frankfurt: 2015- 24th 2:16:52 Marathons in major championships: None

Born: 23 February 1985 Baringo, Kenya Marathon best: 2:15:02 Chicago 2017 London Marathon record: None Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Chicago: 2015- 15th 2:15:02 Other major city marathons: None Marathons in major championships: None

Career notes Jonathan ‘Jonny’ Mellor lowered his marathon best by almost four minutes when he was 10th in Berlin last September in 2:12:57. He ranked third in the UK for 2017. He ran the London Marathon for the first time last April, finishing 23rd in 2:18:48. That came 18 months after his debut in October 2015 when he was 24th in Frankfurt in 2:16:52. He improved his half marathon best to 62:23 when 10th in New York last March. He has twice finished 11th at the Great North Run and was 14th in 2015. A former British champion at 3000m indoors and 10,000m, he ran 3000m for Britain at the 2014 World Indoor Championships and ran in the 10,000m at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, although he did not finish the race. He won the 2016 Leeds Abbey Dash 10km in 29:12, the same time he ran to win the 2015 Great Yorkshire Run 10km in Sheffield. His 10km road PB is 28:50. He ran 63:17 to finish 10th at the Barcelona half this February and placed fourth at The Big Half in London on 4 March this year in 65:03. Personal notes Born in Birkenhead, Mellor lives on the Wirral in Merseyside. He is an online coach and blogger. He is coached by Steve Vernon and runs for Liverpool Harriers.

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Career notes Samuel Chelanga made his marathon debut in Chicago last October when he was 15th in 2:15:02. He ran a personal best for the half marathon in Houston this January, when he was sixth in 60:37, the sixth fastest ever by an American. He was second in the US half marathon championships in Columbus last April and third in the New York half in 2016. He was NCAA 10,000m champion in 2010 and holds the US collegiate record for the distance of 27:08.49. He won the NCAA 5000m title in 2011. He was the first US athlete at last year’s World Cross Country Championships when he was 11th. He was sixth in the 10,000m at the 2016 US Olympic trials. Personal notes Chelanga is a former Kenyan who switched allegiance to USA in 2015 following a five-year process. He grew up as the 10th of 11 children in an isolated village called Kabarsel at the northern end of the Rift Valley. He moved to USA on a sports scholarship after receiving help from Paul Tergat, and competed for Liberty University between 2008 and 2011. He now lives in Colorado Springs and is coached by Scott Simmons. He is married to Marybeth and they have a son, Micah. His brother, Joseph Chelanga, was third in the 2001 Boston Marathon and trained with Tergat.


AARON SCOTT (GREAT BRITAIN & NI)

STEPHEN SCULLION (IRELAND)

Born: 1 October 1990 Marathon best: 2:17:50 London 2017 London Marathon record: 2015- 22nd 2:20:49, 2016- 25th 2:19:22, 2017- 24th 2:17:50 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: None Other major city marathons Frankfurt: 2013- 36th 2:22:34 Manchester: 2014- 5th 2:22:31 (short course) Toronto: 2015- dnf Marathons in major championships: None

Born: 9 November 1988 Marathon best: 2:18:04 London 2017 London Marathon record: 2016- 29th 2:20:39, 2017- 26th 2:18:04 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: None Other major city marathons Belfast: 2012- 12th 2:34:34 Dublin: 2017- 13th 2:19:45 Marathons in major championships: None

Career notes Aaron Scott has run the London Marathon three times, setting personal bests on each occasion. He was 24th overall last year (fourth in the championship race) in 2:17:50, beating his previous best by nearly two minutes. This is his first appearance on the elite start line. He made his marathon debut in Frankfurt in 2013 placing 36th. He was fifth in the Manchester Marathon in 2014 before his London debut in 2015. He ran for England at the Toronto Marathon that October but dropped out. His half marathon best of 65:50 was set in Bath in 2016. He has won the Cambridge half marathon four years in a row to 2017. Personal notes A member of Lincoln Wellington and Nene Valley, he lives in Stamford and works as the online content manager for Rutland Cycling. He is a fan of Ipswich Town FC. He is coached by Nick Anderson.

Career notes Stephen Scullion improved his personal best by nearly three minutes to finish 26th in last year’s London Marathon. He made his marathon debut in Belfast in 2012, placing 12th and made his London debut in 2016 when he was 29th overall. His most recent race over 26.2 miles was in Dublin last October when he was 13th, breaking 2:20 for the second time in 2017. He ran a half marathon best of 63:17 in the Houston half this January after improving his time twice last autumn. He has taken more than six minutes from his PB in five months. He has been running for Ireland since he was a junior. His first international was at the 2006 World Cross Country Championships while he ran as an under 23 at the European Cross in 2009 and as a senior in 2013. He also set a 10,000m track PB last year, running 28:58.28 in Portland last June. Personal notes Scullion comes from Belfast, runs for Clonliffe in Ireland, plus Aldershot, Farnham & District in England. He is coached by Andrew Hobdell and has been training in Flagstaff, Arizona. He almost gave up running to play rugby in 2016.

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TAHER BELKORCHI (MOROCCO)

MATTHEW CLOWES (GREAT BRITAIN & NI)

Born: 1990 Marathon best: Debut London Marathon record: None Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: None Other major city marathons: None Marathons in major championships: None

Born: 29 September 1989 Marathon best: Debut London Marathon record: None Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: None Other major city marathons: None Marathons in major championships: None

Career notes Taher Belkorchi was sixth at 1500m for Morocco at the 2007 World Youth and 2008 World Junior Championships.

Career notes Matthew Clowes makes his marathon debut after running a half marathon best of 64:39 in Granollers this February. His previous best was 66:07.

He ran his first half marathon last year, clocking 62:22 to place fourth in Marrakech. He was close to that time in Meknès on 18 February this year when he ran 62:54.

Two weeks later he ran 65:16 to win at Llenelli.

He has a 10km best of 28:32 from Casablanca last May. Personal notes He was based in Leverkusen, Germany for a number of years.

A sub-four minute miler, with a best of 3:58.96 indoors, and sub-14 minute 5km runner, he also has a 10km road best of 29:38 and placed 11th at the London 10,000 national championships last May after finishing third at the Great Birmingham 10k in April. He won the English national 5000m title in 2012. Personal notes Matt Clowes runs for Cardiff AAC and is coached by James Thie. He was based in the United States at Concordia University from 2012 to 2015. He studied Kinesiology & Exercise Sport Science and has an MSc in Exercise Physiology.

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The British Race The British athletes listed on the following page are those who will line up on the ‘elite’ start lines. To be considered for a place among the elite entries British athletes must satisfy the following criteria: Men: athletes who have run a sub-2:18:00 marathon or sub-67:00 half marathon between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2017. Women: athletes who have run a sub-2:38:00 marathon or sub-1:17:00 half marathon between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2017. These athletes are offered travel expenses and two nights accommodation. Any other athlete achieving these times at the 2018 London Marathon will have their travel expenses reimbursed.

2018 European Championships selection The 2018 London Marathon incorporates the official British Athletics marathon trials for the 2018 European Championships. To be eligible for selection athletes must have run the following qualifying times on an IAAF accredited course between midnight on 1 May 2017 and 16:00 on 22 April 2018: Men: 2:16:00

Women: 2:36:00

The first two British athletes to finish the London Marathon, plus the first two from any of the home country teams to finish the Commonwealth Games marathon races, will be selected automatically provided they have achieved the qualification standard by the end of the qualification period.

UK Championships The 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon is also the 2018 British Athletics men’s and women’s marathon championships. To compete in the championships an athlete must be a member of a UK Athletics affiliated club and have run the following times in 2016 or 2017: Men: 2:45, or 1:15 half marathon Women: 3:15, or 1:30 half marathon

UK Bonuses These bonuses apply to all British athletes eligible to compete for the UK in major championships. These sums are not cumulative. Men Women Sub 2:11:00 - $8,000 Sub 2:31:00 - $8,000 Sub 2:12:00 - $7,000 Sub 2:32:00 - $7,000 Sub 2:13:00 - $6,000 Sub 2:33:00 - $6,000 Sub 2:14:00 - $5,000 Sub 2:34:00 - $5,000 Sub 2:15:00 - $4,000 Sub 2:35:00 - $4,000 Sub 2:16:00 - $2,500 Sub 2:36:00 - $2,500 Sub 2:17:00 - $1,500 Sub 2:37:00 - $1,500 Sub 2:18:00 - $1,000 Sub 2:38:00 - $1,000 Sub 2:19:00 - $500 Sub 2:40:00 - $500

British Athletics can select up to six athletes for the men’s and women’s European Championship marathons. The British marathon competitors for the 2018 European Championships will be announced in the week commencing Monday 23 April 2018. Currently, the following athletes have achieved the British Athletics marathon standards: Men: Dewi Griffiths (2:09:49); Callum Hawkins (2:10:17); Jonny Mellor (2:12:57); Tsegai Tewelde (2:14:45). Women: Sonia Samuels (2:29:34); Charlotte Purdue (2:29:48); Alyson Dixon (2:31:36); Caryl Jones (2:34:16).

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VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 British Elite Runners Men Bib 13 18 19 21 24

Name Mo Farah Tsegai Tewelde Jonny Mellor Aaron Scott Matthew Clowes

Club PB (year) Newham & Essex Beagles 2:08:21 (14) Shettleston / Glasgow City 2:12:23 (16) Liverpool Harriers 2:12:57 (17) Lincoln Wellington / Nene Valley 2:17:50 (17) Cardiff AAC / Cardiff Met Uni Debut

Age 35 28 31 27 28

Bib name FARAH TEWELDE MELLOR SCOTT CLOWES

Name Charlotte Purdue Tracy Barlow Lily Partridge Rebecca Murrray

Club Aldershot, Farnham & District Thames Valley Aldershot, Farnham & District Bedford & County

Age 26 32 27 23

Bib name PURDUE BARLOW PARTRIDGE MURRAY

Women Bib 110 113 114 117

PB (year) 2:29:23 (17) 2:30:42 (17) 2:32:10 (17) Debut

Preview: Farah leads UK charge with Championship places up for grabs

Britain’s Mo Farah running the 2014 London Marathon

All eyes will be on Mo Farah as he tries to end Britain’s 25-year drought in the men’s race and break Steve Jones’s 33-year-old British record. Four years ago Farah made his marathon debut in London amid high expectations and, despite finishing ‘only’ eighth, came home with an English record of 2:08:21 and clocked the second fastest time in British marathon history. Now with his glittering track career behind him, the quadruple Olympic champion will be looking to make his mark on the roads in the company of some of the greatest marathon runners of all time. Whether Farah can live with the likes of the world record-chasing east Africans, Kenenisa Bekele and Eliud Kipchoge, remains to be seen, but the 35-yearold Briton will certainly have Jones’s 1985 UK mark of 2:07:13 in his sights and possibly even the new European all-time best of 2:05:48. “I am thrilled to be starting this new chapter in my career with the London Marathon,” said Farah. “The London Marathon is my home race and it is so special to me. “When I decided to concentrate solely on the roads from 2018 I knew that I wanted this to be my first marathon.

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The London Marathon has been a great supporter of me over the years. It doesn’t feel that long ago that I was running the Mini Marathon and in my early years the London Marathon provided me with crucial funding support.” Farah will not be the only Briton on show, of course, as four other men and four women will set off from Greenwich in pursuit of selection for Britain’s marathon team at this summer’s European Championships. Tsegai Tewelde and Jonny Mellor have both achieved the men’s qualification time of 2:16:00 but will need to be among the top two Britons across the line to guarantee their places in Berlin. Charlotte Purdue ran for Britain in last summer’s World Championships and the ever-improving 26-year-old will be favourite to make the women’s team again after finishing as second Briton behind Alyson Dixon 12 months ago with her first sub-2:30 time. Purdue is the only British woman in the field who holds the qualification standard but she will be pushed hard by Tracy Barlow and Lily Partridge who both showed qualification form in 2017 and will be keen to be among the top two home.


06 WORLD PARA ATHLETICS MARATHON WORLD CUP The World Para Athletics Marathon World Cup returns in 2018 with more events and more athletes than ever, including six of last year’s seven champions. After the huge success of the 2012 Paralympic Games, the first IPC Athletics Marathon World Cup was held in 2013 with events for para-athletes added to a race-day programme that had long included elite wheelchair competitions. Four IPC Athletics world records were broken that year as athletes took part in six events. Another world record went in 2014 when a seventh event, for T51/52 wheelchair athletes, was added to the programme. The Marathon World Cup was not held in 2015 when the London Marathon hosted the IPC Athletics Marathon World Championships, which witnessed four world records from eight races. The World Cup returned in 2016 when China’s Zheng Jin broke the women’s T11 world record. The full name of the 2018 event is the ‘World Para Athletics Marathon World Cup, in association with the Virgin Money London Marathon’.

The Events There will be eight World Para Athletics Marathon World Cup events at the 2018 London Marathon: • T11/T12 – for para-athletes with a severe visual impairment who run with a guide – races for men & women • T13 – for para-athletes with a visual impairment meeting the minimum criteria – men’s race only • T45/46 – for para-athletes with lower and upper arm impairments – men only • T51/52 – wheelchair racers with activity limitation in both lower and upper limbs – men only • T53/54 – wheelchair racers with partial trunk and leg function – men & women • T62-64 – for para-athletes with lower limb impairments – men only. • All World Cup athletes will compete in their national vests, except those in the London Marathon’s traditional T53/54 wheelchair races, who will wear their own racing colours. •

All World Cup medal winners, except those in the T53/54 wheelchair races, will receive prize money from World Para Athletics, as follows: 1st - $2,000 2nd - $1,000 3rd - $750

• In races where there are fewer than four athletes, no medals or prize money will be awarded. • The T51/52 and T53/54 wheelchair races will start at 08:55; the other World Cup events will start at 09:00.

Reigning World Para Athletics Marathon World Cup champions T11/12 Men T11/12 Women T13 Men T45/46 Men T51/52 Men T53/54 Men T53/544 Women

Shinya Wada (JPN) Misato Michishita (JPN) Patryk Lekaszewski (POL) Alex Pires da Silva (BRA) Ray Martin (USA) David Weir (GBR) Manuela Schär (SUI)

2:34:59 3:00:50 2:32:20 2:28:20 1:57:15 1:31:06 1:39:57

Preview

Among this year’s entries are six of last year’s seven winners including David Weir and Manuela Schär in the T53/54 wheelchair races. Japanese pair Shinya Wada and Misato Michishita return to defend their T11/12 titles in the races for athletes with visual impairments, while Poland’s Patryk Lakaszewski, who won the T13 event last year, faces a sixstrong field, the largest for that category in World Cup history. Brazil’s Alex Pires da Silva will go head-to-head with Spain’s world champion Abderrahman Ait Khamouch as he bids to retain the T45/46 crown he won last year. Ait Khamouch broke the world record when he took the title here in 2015, beating Da Silva by less than a minute. Israel’s Eitan Hermon and Brian Reynolds of USA go in the inaugural T62-64 race for athletes with lower limb amputations. Both hold world records for their categories. Three-time winner and six-time Paralympic champion Ray Martin of USA has had to pull out of the T51/52 wheelchair race leaving Britain’s former wheelchair rugby player, Rob Smith, to take on last year’s runner-up, Cristian Torres from Colombia, in what promises to be a close contest.

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Ambulant Athletes T11/12 Women Bib 331

Name Misato Michishita

Guides: Jun Shida / Yuka Aoyama

332 333

Country Class JPN T12

PB 2:56:14

ESP

T12

2:59:22 55

15/01/63 PAREDES

Edneusa de Jesus Santos Dorta BRA

T12

3:03:07

39

28/07/78 SANTOS DORTA

LTU JPN

T12 T12

3:10:21 3:15:42

26 41

18/06/91 GARUNKSNYTE 28/06/76 AOKI

JPN

T12

3:16:51

53

21/09/64 FUJI

JPN

T11

3:18:23

56

17/12/61

Maria Paredes Rodriguez

Age 41

DoB Bib name 19/01/77 MICHISHITA

Lorenzo Sanchez Martin RODRIGUEZ

Luiz Agripino da Silva

334 335

Ausra Garunksnyte Yoko Aoki

Yasuhiro Ukitsu / Haruka Yamaguchi

336

Yumiko Fuji

Gaku Ueshima / Takaaki Nakajima

337

Yumiko Konno

Yukio Matsuura / Hisayo Kakinuma

KONNO

Biographies Misato Michishita: The 2017 champion won last year’s title by almost 10 minutes from Rodriguez, who had beaten her in 2014. Michishita ran 3:00:50 12 months ago then lowered her PB by thee minutes in Hofu City in Yamaguchi in December to rank No.1 in the world for 2017. She was Rio Paralympic silver medallist behind Spain’s Elena Congost and the 2015 World Championship bronze medallist. She lost the vision in her right eye after contracting an illness while at school. She took up running to lose weight in her 20s. She lives in Dazaifu. Maria Paredes Rodriguez: She won the IPC World Cup in both 2013 and 2014, clocking official world records on both occasions. She ran 3:17:10 in 2013 and then became the first T12 female athlete to dip under three hours in 2014 when she finished in 2:59:22. She was second last year in 3:09:41 to rank second in the world for 2017. She was fourth at the 2015 World Championships but did not finish the Rio Paralympic marathon. She won a bronze medal in the T12 5000m at the 2014 European Championships and was fourth in the T13 1500m in 2016. She worked as a nurse in Barcelona for 25 years before losing her vision in 2005 at 42 from a degenerative macular condition. She took up running to overcome depression. Edneusa de Jesus Santos Dorta: She is the Rio Paralympic bronze medallist who ranked second in the world in 2016 after clocking 3:03:07 in Porte Alegre. She ran 3:14:52 in the same race last June to rank third in the world for 2017. She was disqualified in last year’s World Cup. She is a sports teacher and lives in Rio Claro.

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Ausra Garunksnyte: A former tennis player and track runner who took up marathon running 2017. Her aim is to become the first Lithuanian woman to compete in the Paralympic marathon. She is coached by Linas Balsys, a marathon bronze medallist from the 2004 Paralympic Games. She holds the Lithuanian women’s record for athletes with visual impairments. Yoko Aoki: She ran her PB in Hofu City in December last year and ranked fourth in the world for 2017. Yumiko Fuji: She was fourth in the World Cup last year after placing third in 2016, sixth at the 2015 Marathon World Championships and fourth in the 2014 World Cup. She ran a personal best of 3:16:23 in Hofu City last December to rank fourth in the world for 2017. She has been running since 1999. Yumiko Konno: She ran her PB of 3:18:23 in Hofu City in December 2017 to rank second in the world for T11s.


T11/12 Men Bib 291

Name Shinya Wada

Country JPN

Class T11

PB 2:32:11

Age 40

DoB 09/07/77

Bib name WADA

MAR ESP ESP JPN JPN POR

T12 T12 T12 T12 T12 T12

2:21:33 2:21:47 2:26:47 2:27:42 2:31:25 2:37:23

36 40 36 29 31 42

08/06/81 19/12/77 09/03/82 19/07/88 14/02/87 02/10/75

CHENTOUF LASO NIEVES HIROKOSHI KUMAGAI MACCHI

JPN

T11

2:39:04

27

16/07/90

TANIGUCHI

POR

T11

2:39:52

42

24/05/75 ALVES

SLO

T11

2:40:02

44

16/07/73

POR

T11

2:41:53

47

03/04/71 MACHADO

POR

T12

2:42:19

42

11/01/76

PINA

GBR

T11

2:43:30

47

27/06/70

GOODWIN

FRA JPN

T12 T11

2:44:16 2:47:00

36 32

22/01/82 BOMPARD 09/06/85 YONEOKA

JPN

T12

2:47:00

38

21/03/83 YAMASHITA

IRL

T12

2:49:27

38

16/06/79

ALG GER

T12 T12

2:53:54 2:56:20

40 27

0706/77 KERFAS 28/10/90 TIEN-FUNG

GER

T12

3:00:16

52

10/02/66 KLITSCHKA

GER

T11

3:00:56

56

16/04/62

Guides: Takashi Nakata / Yasunori Murakami

292 293 294

295 296 297

El Amin Chentouf Alberto Suarez Laso Gustavo Nieves Tadashi Horikoshi Yutaka Kumagai Gabriel Macchi

Martim Nunes / Jorge Rodrigues

298

Masahiro Taniguchi

Shogo Matsugaki / Toshiyuki Mohara

299

Nuno Alves

Joao Campos / Jose Ferreira

300

Sandi Novak

Roman Kejzar / Anton Kosmac

301

Joaquim Machado

Luis Ginja / Paulo Ramos

302

Jorge Pina

Helio Fumo / Ricardo Abreu

303

Christopher Goodwin

Ryan Henry-Asquith / Chris Clarke

304 305

Nicolas Bompard Satoru Yoneoka Takeomi Yanagisaw / Hiroki Kai

306

Shinji Yamashita

Fuminori Sakanashi / Kazuyuki Urakawa

307

Declan Ryan

Kevin Coleman

308 309

NOVAK

Nacereddine Kerfas Yap Tien-Fung

RYAN

Max Kirschbaum

310

Steffen Klitschka

Holger Stoek

311

Johannes-Reinhard Hupe

Mario Leimbach / Martin Sander

HUPE

Biographies Shinya Wada: He won last year’s title by five minutes in 2:34:59, the fastest by a T11 runner in 2017. He ranked No.1 in the world in 2016 too, thanks to his PB of 2:32:11 from Fukuoka that December. He was the T11 marathon silver medallist at the 2013 Worlds, improving from bronze in 2011. He was fifth in the T12 marathon at the London 2012 Paralympics and again at Rio 2016. He won a 5000m bronze in 2012 and was sixth last summer in London. Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at high school, he began running in 2006. He is married with two children. He is in charge of braille services at the Osaka Visually Impaired Welfare Association. El Amin Chentouf: The T12 world record holder returns to the London Marathon for the first time since 2015 when he won World Championship gold. He initially broke the record to win the World Cup in 2013 in 2:24:00. He retained the title in 2014. He won the T12 5000m title at the London 2012 Paralympics when he smashed the world record by more than 30 seconds. He added three more golds at the 2013 World Championships but dropped out of two track finals at

the London 2017 Worlds last summer. He was second in the 2012 Moroccan able-bodied 10,000m. Born in Ksar Lekbir, he took up the sport in 2008 and now lives in Rabat. Alberto Suarez Laso: The London 2012 Paralympic champion and 2016 silver medallist, was also the world champion in 2011. He dropped out of the 2013 World Championships race but was second behind Chentouf at the 2015 Worlds in London in 2:21:47, one of the quickest times ever. He won the T13 5000m at the 2014 European Championships. He was diagnosed with macular degeneration in 2008 and took up the sport when he began to lose his vision. He is one of the organisers of the Oviedo Half Marathon in Spain, and serves as president of the Club Maraton Oviedo. Gustavo Nieves: The 2013 world 10,000m bronze medallist who collapsed and lost consciousness while leading the Rio Paralympic marathon in 30-degree heat. He won European bronze at 5000m in 2014. Born in Villalba, he lived in Germany until he was five and

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took up running aged 17 after losing his sight suddenly due to an inherited condition, Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy. He previously played football in the Spanish youth game’s top division. He now lives in Madrid. Tadashi Horikoshi: He was fourth at the Rio Paralympics having clinched bronze at the 2015 World Championships in London in a PB 2:27:42. He was third in last year’s World Cup in 2:39:57. He was fifth in the T12 5000m at London 2012 with an Asian record of 14:48.59 having placed eighth at Beijing 2008. He was fifth in the 10,000m at the 2011 Worlds and sixth in the 5000m and 800m. He was sixth at 1500m and seventh at 5000m in 2013. An illness at birth led to the removal of his right eye and loss of vision in his left. He lives in Kyotanabe. Yutaka Kumagai: He won the 2016 World Cup by more than three minutes in 2:33:24 but could only place 10th last year. He was fifth in the 2015 Marathon World Championships in 2:37:48 behind his compatriots Horikoshi and Masahiro Okamura. He ran his PB in Hofu City in 2016 to rank No.2 in the world that year. He won a 5000m bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Para Games and was 10th in the T13 5000m at the 2015 World Championships in Doha. Born without an iris in either eye (a condition known as aniridia), he began running at school and later attended Takaoka University of Law. Gabriel Macchi: He was second in the World Cup last year after placing third in 2013 and 2014 clocking his PB 2:37:23 in 2013. He won another bronze at the 2013 World Championships and was sixth at the 2015 Worlds in 2:38:11. He was sixth in the Rio 2016 marathon after finishing sixth at London 2012 and 14th in Beijing 2008. He ranked fourth in the world last year. Argentine-born, he took up running in 2006 aged 31 after developing juvenile glaucoma. He is married to Paula Ramos and they have a daughter, Patricia, and son, Diego. Masahiro Taniguchi: Seventh in last year’s World Cup, he ran his PB in Hofu City in 2016 to rank world No.2 for T11s that year. He ranked second last year too behind Wada after running 2:42:05 in Hofu. He was fifth in three events at the 2013 Worlds – 1500m, 5000m and marathon – and fourth and fifth in the first two at the 2015 Worlds and sixth at 5000m at London 2017. He took up the sport in his first year at the University of Tsukuba’s special needs school for the blind having had his right eye removed due to retinoblastoma at birth. He lost vision in his left at two. He lives in Kobe. Nuno Alves: The 2014 European T11 5000m champion and 2002 World 1500m bronze medallist, he has competed at the last five Paralympics but is yet to win a medal. He dropped out of the marathon at the 2006 World Championships. Born in Tourém, he lost his sight as a result of an accident with a firearm at age 18. He is married with a son, Lourenco. Sandi Novak: He was eighth in last year’s World Cup as he had been at the Rio Paralympics having finished 14th at the 2015 Worlds. He was seventh in the T11 marathon at the 2013 Worlds and fourth in the 5000m at the 2014 Europeans. He clocked a PB of 2:40:02 in Dubai in January 2016 to rank No.3 in the world for T11s

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that year. He ranked ninth last year. He lost his sight in an accident in 2004 while celebrating the marriage of a friend. He then devoted himself to marathon running while at a rehabilitation centre recovering from the accident. He missed out on the London Paralympics despite having the B qualifying time. Joaquim Machado: The 2013 world bronze medallist in the T11 marathon was fourth in the 2016 World Cup in 2:44:26 to rank fourth in the world for T11s. He ranked fourth last year too. He was fifth in 2014 and seventh in 2013. He was eighth in the T12 marathon at London 2012 in 2:43:17 and ran 2:44:02 to finish eighth in the 2015 Marathon World Championships and rank No.1 in the world for 2015. He worked as a carpenter until he lost his vision at 29. Jorge Pina: The 2016 World Cup bronze medallist was fourth last year in 2:43:11 to rank sixth in the world for T12s in 2017. His PB of 2:42:19 was run in London two years ago. He went on to place seventh in the Rio Paralympic marathon having been disqualified at the end of the London 2012 race when his guide crossed the line ahead of him. He was fourth at the 2013 World Championships, sixth at the 2014 World Cup and 10th at the 2015 Marathon World Championships. He was a national boxing champion several times and became visually impaired aged 30 after suffering retina damage during a sparring bout in 2006. When doctors told him of the diagnosis, the first thing he asked was, “Can I run?” He set up his own club, the Associacao Jorge Pina, to help disadvantaged people. Christopher Goodwin: He ran his PB at the Frankfurt Marathon last October having run 2:47:12 at the Brighton Marathon last April. He ran 2:55:22 at the Valencia Marathon in 2016. He won para-triathlon gold at the 2013 World Championships in London. He is a member of Lordshill club in Hampshire. Married to Sara, he has two children, Beth and Charlie, who have both competed in gymnastics at national junior level. Nicolas Bompard: He ran his PB of 2:44:16 to finish fourth overall at the Orléans Marathon in November 2014 and was close to that time at the 2015 World Championships, when he was ninth in 2:44:27. His previous PB was 2:47:17 from Cheverny in 2011. He was born in Seoul, Korea, and now lives in Chamalières. Satoru Yoneoka: Ran his PB of 2:47:00 in Hofu City in December last year to rank fifth in the world. He was sixth in the World Cup last year and 12th in 2016. Nicknamed ‘Yonechan’, he began the sport at 20 and has also competed in para-triathlon at international level. He sustained retinal detachment aged 10. Shinji Yamashita: Ran PB of 2:47:00 in Hofu City last December to rank seventh in the world for T12s. Declan Ryan: He ran his PB of 2:49:27 at the Dublin City Marathon in October last year having broken three hours there for the first time in 2015. He is coached by Dave Sweeney and guided by Kevin Coleman, a former jockey from Innishannon. He comes from Thurles in County Tipperary where he works as a horse trainer. His visual impairment is a hereditary condition.


Nacereddine Kerfas: The 2006 world 10,000m champion, he also has three silver medals and two bronze on the track from world championships. He dropped out of the London 2012 Paralympic marathon having competed over 1500m and 5000m, and was disqualified from the World Cup race in 2016. Nicknamed Samir, he took up athletics in 2001 and his hero is Algeria’s middle distance legend, Noureddine Morceli. Yap Tien-Fung: He ran 2:57:18 to place ninth in the World Cup last year and ranked ninth in the world for 2017. He lives in Mainz and runs for the Die Laufpartner club. He also competes in ultra-marathons and ran a 50km PB of 3:35:54 in Berlin last year. He works as a physiotherapist.

Steffen Klitschka: He was beaten by JohannesReinhard Hupe in the German disabled marathon championships at last year’s Berlin Marathon, running 3:10:37. A former ultra-marathon runner for East Germany, he claims to have run the marathon in 2:22 at aged 20. He’s also taken part in numerous mountain running contests, multi-day super marathons and in 2008 ran a marathon along the Great Wall of China. His visual impairment is due to an inherited condition. He is married with two children. Johannes-Reinhard Hupe: He ran 3:09:06 to beat his clubmate Klitschka in the German disabled marathon championships at last year’s Berlin Marathon.

T13 Men Bib

Name

Country

Class

PB

Age

DoB

Bib name

351 352 353 354 355 356

Patryk Lukaszewski Toshiharu Takai Lukasz Wietecki Tim Prendergast Harald Josef Lange Matthew Rodjom

POL JPN POL NZL GER USA

T13 T13 T13 T13 T13 T13

2:32:20 2:34:01 2:37:55 2:41:38 2:58:40 2:59:10

28 31 33 39 38 38

29/07/89 27/10/86 29/07/84 01/03/79 05/04/80 24/12/79

LUKASZEWSKI TAKAI WIETECKI PRENDERGAST LANGE RODJOM

Biographies Patryk Lukaszewski: He lowered his PB by 16 seconds to win the World Cup last year from Prendergast and rank No.1 in the world for 2017. He clinched a silver medal in the T13 5000m at the 2016 European Championships. He was also seventh in the 1500m as he was at the 2013 World Championships. He lives in Gniezno and is co-founder and vice-president of Club Gniezno Biega. He has been visually impaired since birth and took up running in 2003. Toshiharu Takai: Ran 2:39:19 in Sapporo City last year to rank second in world. His PB dates from the Hofu Yomiuri Marathon in December 2016. He ran 2:49:29 at the Beppu Oita Marathon last February. Lukasz Wietecki: The reigning European T13 1500m and 5000m champion who won world 800m gold in 2011 and was fourth over 1500m at the London 2017 World Championships last summer. He also holds bronze medals from world and European para-triathlon championships while he has been a middle-distance finalist four times at recent Paralympic Games. He took up the sport in 2000 while at high school where he lives in Poznan. He now works as a physiotherapist. He has a genetic condition called optic nerve atrophy. Tim Prendergast: The Athens 2004 T13 800m champion, he also won silver medals at 800m and 1500m in Sydney 2000. He was 2002 world 800m champion and 2006 silver medallist at both events. At London 2012 he was fifth at 800m in his fastest time, and sixth at 1500m. He ran his PB finishing second in last year’s World Cup to rank world No.3 for 2017.

That run improved his previous best set when runnerup in 2016. He was also third at the Marathon World Championships in 2015. He clocked 2:48:34 when finishing 11th in the T11-13 race at the 2013 World Cup. He lives in Maida Vale in London and is a member of Woodford Green & Essex Ladies club. Nickamed ‘Prendo’, he began losing vision at eight and has lost 95% of his sight. His hero is Roger Bannister. He works as an athlete mentor visiting schools in England to share his story. He is married to Lisa and their son, Finn, was born in 2013. He still hopes to break 2:30. Harald Josef Lange: An ultra runner who has completed the Marathon des Sables, he made his marathon debut in Frankfurt 2011 and ran his PB in Hamburg last year. He works at the University of Applied Sciences in Darnstadt. He was born with atrophy in both eyes. This is his debut for the German team. Matthew Rodjom: Ranked third in the world in 2016 with his PB of 2:59:10 from the Sacramento Marathon where he was guided by Scott Jurek, a US ultra running legend, to his first sub-3:00. He has placed second and third among visually impaired runners at recent Boston Marathons, and won the US blind athlete marathon championships in 2010. He is married to Sarah, and they have twin daughters Emily and Marisa, and a son, Zachary. He has worked as a programme specialist for the United States Department of Homeland Security in Washington DC where he lives. He was a member of his college track and cross country teams in 2000 when he began losing his central vision because of Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy. He refused to give up running, against doctors’ advice.

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VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 T45/46 Men Bib

Name

Country

Class

PB

Age

DoB

Bib name

371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378

Alex Pires da Silva Abderrahman Ait Khamouch Alessandro di Lello Derek Rae Manuel Mendes Ahmed Farhat Pedro Meza Matthew Felton

BRA ESP ITA GBR POR MAR MEX AUS

T46 T46 T46 T46 T46 T46 T46 T46

2:27:36 2:26:24 2:31:06 2:33:24 2:37:22 2:40:21 2:41:59 2:50:12

27 32 40 32 47 28 43 28

07/05/90 31/08/85 18/07/77 23/10/85 14/04/71 05/08/89 23/02/75 07/01/90

PIRES DA SILVA AIT KHAMOUCH DI LELLO RAE MENDES FARHAT MEZA FELTON

Biographies Alex Pires da Silva: He won the World Cup title for the first time last year in 2:28:20 to rank world No.1 for 2017. He was second to Abderrahman Ait Khamouch at the 2015 Marathon World Championships when he ran his PB of 2:27:36, but failed to finish the Paralympic marathon in Rio. He won two silver medals and a bronze at the 2013 World Championships, finishing second in the 1500m and 5000m, and third at 800m. He won a 1500m silver at the 2015 Worlds. Born with his left arm shorter than his right, he took up athletics in 2007, at first running cross country before moving to the roads. Aderrahman Ait Khamouch: Set the official T46 world record of 2:26:54 to win the 2015 World Championships ahead of da Silva, having been disqualified at the 2013 Worlds. He went on to win his second Paralympic marathon silver in Rio after winning his first at London 2012 when he was pipped for gold despite leading with 400m to go. He was halted by a coughing fit brought on by a cold and passed by Brazil’s Tito Sena. Born in Mellab, a village in southern Morocco, he moved to the Canary Islands at 15 and first competed for Spain in 2007 shortly after gaining citizenship. He lost his right arm after falling into a well as a child. He lives in Barcelona and speaks Arabic, Catalan, French and Spanish. He wrote an autobiography in Arabic entitled The Angel with the Broken Wing, which was translated into Spanish. Alessandro di Lello: He became the T46 world champion in Lyon in 2013, a race he won by nearly 15 minutes, just three months after winning the inaugural World Cup in 2:32:06. He was beaten by 2012 Paralympic champion Tito Sena at the World Cup in 2014, was third at the 2015 World Championships in 2:31:25, just 19 seconds outside his PB, and was third again in the World Cup in 2016. He ran his PB of 2:31:06 at the 2009 New York Marathon but could only finish eighth at the London Paralympics in 2:46:27, and was a non-starter in Rio. He was disabled in a motorcycle accident and began running to lose weight. He lives in Tivoli.

Derek Rae: He was third in last year’s World Cup in a PB of 2:33:24. to rank third in the world. He had finished fifth at the Marathon World Championships in 2015, and sliced another three minutes from his best in the 2016 World Cup when he was fifth in 2:37:28. He dropped out of the Rio Paralympic marathon. Formerly a joiner, he lost the use of his right arm in 2010 when his motorcycle crashed into a truck. A member of Anster Haddies Running Club in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, he has since transformed himself from an average club runner (3:15 at the 2010 Edinburgh Marathon) into a British international. He first broke 3:00 at the 2013 Edinburgh Marathon. He ran a half marathon PB of 71:56 at the Great Scottish half in Glasgow last October. Manuel Mendes: The Paralympic bronze medallist ran a personal best of 2:37:22 to finish fourth at the 2016 World Cup. He was fourth again last year in 2:38:56 to rank fourth in the world. He ran 2:49:51 to finish 18th at the 2014 Porto Marathon and improved to 2:44:35 at the World Championships in 2015 when he was eighth. He clocked 2:49:57 in Rio. He had his left arm amputated at the elbow after an accident with an agricultural machine aged nine. He took up the sport 10 years later because his uncle was a runner. Ahmed Farhat: He ran his PB when finishing fourth at the 2015 World Championships in London. He ran 800m for Morocco at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics, finishing eighth. He won a T46 800m silver at the 2011 Pan-Arab Games in Doha. Pedro Meza: He was a silver medallist at the 2013 World Championships in 2:48:20 after finishing sixth at the London 2012 Paralympics, where he ran his PB, and eighth in Beijing. He didn’t finish in Rio. He was fourth in the 2014 World Cup in 2:49:16 and ninth at the 2015 World Championships in London in 2:44:52. He lives in Tlaxcala with his wife Caritina, and children, Maria, Maitxa and Pedro. He had his arms amputated below the elbow after an accident and took up running at 16. His full name is Pedro Meza Zempoeltecatl. Matthew Felton: He ran his PB, and an Australian record, to finish sixth in last year’s race. He first broke the 22-year-old record at the 2016 Melbourne Marathon when he clocked 2:53:33. He broke 3:00 for the first time in the 2016 Gold Coast marathon when he clocked 2:58:27. He is a sports and training manager for the Special Olympics in Western Australia. He trains with the Front Runner Sports team in WA.

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VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 T62-64 Men Bib

Name

Country

Class

PB

Age

DoB

379 380

Eitan Hermon Brian Reynolds

ISR USA

T64 T62

2:56:53 3:06:31

43 29

01/11/74 HERMON 22/07/88 REYNOLDS

Bib name

Israel’s Eitan Hermon

Biographies Eitan Hermon: He ran 3:07:10 at the 2015 World Championships in London when trying to break the world record for single below-the-leg-amputees and go sub-3:00 for the first time. He achieved that aim in April last year when he clocked 2:56:53 in Vienna. It was Hermon’s 16th attempt to break the record. He had run 3:04:24 in the same race in 2016. He started running aged 10 after watching his brother compete. He lost his right leg in the second Lebanon war in 2006 when a roadside bomb exploded near his armoured tank. Doctors tried to save his leg for a year but he decided to have it amputated so he could run again. Two years later he became the first Israeli with an amputation to finish a marathon when he completed the 2010 Tiberias Marathon in 3:46. He then ran 3:02:14 at the 2014 Berlin Marathon. He has also completed the Rotterdam and Paris Marathons. His original prosthesis was the first ever to be manufactured in Israel, but was made for walking, not running. His second cost £20,000 and was fitted at the Pace Rehabilitation Centre in Buckinghamshire in 2013.

Brian Reynolds: He set the official double below-theknee amputee world record at the Chicago Marathon in October 2017 when he ran 3:06:31. At age four he had both of his legs amputated below the knee because of complications after contracting meningitis. He was involved in sports from a young age, took up hiking and walked to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in 2013. He took up running in November 2013 and competed in his first marathon in January 2014. He trains for the marathon using an ‘elliptical’ bike to reduce the impact of running on his joints. He is aiming to run the first sub-3:00 marathon by a double leg amputee.

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Wheelchair Athletes T51/52 Men Bib 271 272 273 274

Name Rob Smith Cristian Torres Stefan Strobel Helder Mestre

Country GBR COL GER POR

Class T52 T52 T51 T51

PB 1:55:51 1:59:11 2:28:18 2:30:00

Age 42 37 41 51

DoB 09/10/75 21/01/81 21/02/77 04/01/67

Bib name SMITH TORRES STROBEL MESTRE

Note: This race will start at 08:55 at the same time as the T53/54 wheelchair races.

Biographies Rob Smith: Holds British bests for the T52 400m, 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m, half marathon and marathon. He won three Dubai Marathons in a row to 2013, was beaten in 2014 despite clocking a PB and national best of 1:56:39, won again in 2015 in another PB of 1:56:13, and broke his own UK best with 1:55:51 this January. He ranked second in the world last year with 1:58:43 from Dubai. This will be his 13th London Marathon. He was third in 2014, and then fourth three times in a row, including last year when he clocked 2:02:44. A former wheelchair rugby player with the North East Bulls and GB development squad, he switched to racing in 2002 because he liked training and competing on his own. He suffered a high-level spinal cord injury in 1996 after falling 40ft down a cliff in Devon. It left him partially paralysed in four limbs. A mechanical engineer, he set up the Active Hands company to develop gripping aids for disabled people. He is married to Johanna and lives in Leamington. Cristian Torres: He set his PB finishing second in last year’s World Cup improving the time he ran to place third in 2016. He ranked third in the world last year. He won a bronze at the 2015 World Championships while his previous best of 2:08:12 came when he was second in the Miami Marathon in February 2014. He finished sixth at 800m at London 2012 and again at the 2013 Worlds when he was also fourth at 1500m and fifth at 400m. He was seventh at 100m and 1500m, and sixth at 800m in Rio and sixth in 400m and 1500m at London 2017. He has a genetic condition which interrupted his limb development in the womb. Both legs were amputated at nine and he took up the sport in 2003.

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Stefan Strobel: The 2004 Paralympic silver medallist in the marathon, he was also silver medallist over 200m in 2002. He was sixth in the World Championships in 2015 and fifth at the World Cup in 2016. He clocked 3:02:25 at the Berlin Marathon last September to rank second in the world for T51s. He is T51 world record holder at 10,000m. In 1991 he broke his fifth cervical vertebra in a swimming pool accident, resulting in paraplegia. He had been involved in athletics as a child and continued after his accident. He works as a mathematics and computer science teacher in Saarbrücken. Helder Mestre: He won a bronze for Portugal at the London 2017 World Championships in the T51 400m after the orginal gold medallist was disqualified. He was fifth in the 100m. He competed in the final of both events at the Rio Paralympics and at the 2015 Worlds in Doha. He has quadriplegia as the result of a car accident in 1986 and took up athletics aged seven. He first tried para-athletics at 19, preferring to continue with the sport rather than take up boccia, swimming or rowing. He works for Lisbon City Council.

VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 T53/54 Women Bib 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165

Name Manuela Schär Amanda McGrory Susannah Scaroni Tatyana McFadden Sandra Graf Margriet van den Broek Zou Lihong Madison de Rozario Katrina Gerhard Arielle Rausin Aline Rocha Jade Jones Tsubasa Kina Annika Zeyen Patricia Keller

Country SUI USA USA USA SUI NED CHN AUS USA USA BRA GBR JPN GER SUI

Class T54 T53 T54 T54 T54 T54 T54 T53 T54 T54 T54 T54 T54 T54 T54

PB 1:28:17 1:33:13 1:33:17 1:35:05 1:35:44 1:38:33 1:38:44 1:39:22 1:40:34 1:41:26 1:41:40 1:41:44 1:44:56 1:51:02 1:57:27

Age 33 31 26 29 48 44 34 24 21 24 27 22 26 33 28

DoB 05/12/84 09/06/86 16/05/91 21/04/89 09/12/69 30/03/74 26/02/84 24/11/93 13/12/96 16/09/93 20/02/91 04/01/96 18/05/90 17/02/85 26/09/89

Bib name SCHAR MCGRORY SCARONI MCFADDEN GRAF VAN DEN BROEK ZOU DE ROZARIO GERHARD RAUSIN ROCHA JONES KINA ZEYEN KELLER

Preview Switzerland’s Manuela Schär on her way to winning the 2017 London Marathon

Manuela Schär smashed the women’s wheelchair course record to take her first London Marathon victory 12 months ago and the Swiss star will start as favourite to win the coveted $25,000 prize for a second time as she faces the daunting US trio of Tatyana McFadden, Amanda McGrory and Susannah Scaroni. Schär arrived in London last year full of confidence after racing to the quickest marathon in history at the Boston Marathon six days earlier. She promptly destroyed the field over the London course and went on to notch up further World Marathon Majors wins in Berlin and New York last autumn, and Tokyo this February. McFadden got the better of her in Chicago and the US star and World Marathon Majors champion will be keen to regain the London crown she won four times in a row between 2013 and 2016. Forced to miss last year’s race after operations for blood clots, McFadden returned to form on the track last July when she won

four golds at the London 2017 World Championships. McGrory is also in good form having placed second in Boston, London and Chicago in 2017 before taking third in New York. She won the London title in 2009 and 2011 and has been on the podium no fewer than six times. China’s Paralympic champion Zou Lihong is another potential threat while up and coming Australian Madison de Rozario was a top-five finisher in Chicago and New York last autumn. British hopes rest with Jade Jones who made the top five in London for the first time last year with a personal best and will be looking to improve again in 2018. There will be 19 athletes in total in the women’s wheelchair race.

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VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Manuela Schär (Switzerland)

Amanda McGrory (United States)

Born: 5 December 1984 Lucerne Marathon best: 1:28:17 Boston 2017 London Marathon record: 2014- 2nd 1:46:44, 2015- 2nd 1:43:56, 2016- 2nd 1:44:15, 2017- 1st 1:39:57 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2013- 1st 1:41:39, 2016- 1st 1:43:00, 2017- 1st 1:40:05 Boston: 2014- 4th 1:39:29, 2016- 2nd 1:43:30, 2017- 1st 1:28:17 Chicago: 2013- 2nd 1:42:37, 2014- 2nd 1:45:12, 2015- 2nd 1:41:56, 2016- 2nd 1:42:29, 2017- 3rd 1:39:17 New York: 2013- 3rd 2:03:53, 2014- 2nd 1:43:25, 2015- 2nd 1:44:57, 2016- 2nd 1:49:28, 2017- 1st 1:48:09 Tokyo: 2017- 2nd 1:43:27, 2018- 1st 1:43:25 Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 2016- 6th 1:38:46 Worlds: 2013- 1st 1:49:45, 2015- 2nd 1:43:56

Born: 9 June 1986 Kennett Square, PA Marathon best: 1:33:13 Boston 2017 London Marathon record: 2008- 2nd 1:51:58, 2009- 1st 1:50:39, 2010- 3rd 1:52:36, 2011- 1st 1:46:31, 2012- 6th 1:54:41, 2013- 2nd 1:46:04, 2015- 3rd 1:46:25, 2016- 4th 1:47:41, 2017- 2nd 1:44:34 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Boston: 2009- 4th 2:10:44, 2010- 3rd 1:57:20, 2013- 3rd 1:49:19, 2014- 8th 1:50:52, 2015- 4th 1:57:21, 2016- 5th 1:49:31, 2017- 2nd 1:33:13 Chicago: 2007- 1st 1:45:27, 2008- 1st 1:55:12, 2009- 3rd 1:50:49, 2010- 1st 1:47:25, 2013- 3rd 1:42:55, 2014- 3rd 1:45:55, 2015- 4th 1:50:02, 2016- 3rd 1:47:55, 2017- 2nd 1:39:15 New York: 2006- 1st 1:54:17, 2007- 3rd 1:56:09, 2008- 2nd 2:11:25, 2010- 3rd 2:09:42, 2011- 1st 1:50:24, 2013- 4th 2:05:06, 2014- 4th 1:52:40, 2015- 7th 1:59:40, 2016- 3rd 1:53:15, 2017- 3rd 1:53:11 Tokyo: 2016- 4th 1:56:58, 2017- 1st 1:43:27, 2018- 4th 1:48:01 Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 2008- 2nd 1:40:00, 2012- 4th 1:46:35, 2016- 3rd 1:38:45 Worlds: 2011- 3rd 1:48:24, 2013- 4th 1:51:46, 2015- 3rd 1:46:25

Career notes Schär won the world marathon title in 2013 and became the joint official world record holder when she clocked 1:38:07 in Oita later that year. Last year she became the fastest woman wheelchair racer in history when she clocked 1:28:17 in Boston, beating the previous best by almost six minutes. Six days later she smashed the London course record to end a string of second places. She went on to win the Berlin title for a third time after McFadden and McGrory’s flight was cancelled. Schär was third behind the US pair in Chicago, clinched her first New York title in November and won the Tokyo Marathon in February this year to establish an unassailable lead in the World Marathon Majors standings. She won The Big Half in March. She was second at the 2015 World Championships and sixth at the Rio Paralympics. She won three track silvers at the 2013 World Championships and won 200m silver at London 2017. She has a 200m silver and two bronze medals from Paralympics. She is the European record holder at 200m, 400m and 800m and won four gold medals at the 2014 European Championships. Personal notes She grew up in Altishofen with her brother, Ivo, and parents, Elisabeth and Ireno. She was injured in an accident in 1993 and started wheelchair sport in 1998 aged 14. She lives in Lucerne where she was born and is an ambassador for Right To Play Switzerland which helps children in disadvantaged countries take part in sport. Her surname means ‘scissors’ in English.

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Career notes McGrory makes her 10th appearance in London with two wins, three second places and two thirds behind her. She smashed the then course record in 2011 just a week after taking the Paris Marathon in an almost identical time. She was second behind Schär last year in her quickest time so far, having beaten the Swiss racer in Tokyo two months earlier. She also has two New York, two Oita and three Chicago Marathon titles to her name. She won three medals at the Rio Paralympics, clinching bronze in the marathon just a second behind McFadden and Zou after taking 1500m silver and 5000m bronze. She won a full set of medals at the Beijing Games and was fourth in the marathon at London 2012. She won two golds at the 2011 Worlds and bronze in the marathon, and claimed two silvers and a bronze on the track at London 2017. Personal notes McGrory was paralysed from the waist down at the age of five when an injection for an allergy damaged her spinal cord. She graduated in psychology from the University of Illinois in 2010 and still lives in Champaign.

VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Susannah Scaroni (United States)

Tatyana McFadden (United States)

Born: 16 May 1991 Burns, Oregon Marathon best: 1:33:17 Boston 2017 London Marathon record: 2013- 7th 1:50:47, 2014- 4th 1:51:01, 2015- 5th 1:47:06, 2016- 7th 1:52:50, 2017- 3rd 1:47:37 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Boston: 2012- 5th 1:50:44, 2013- 6th 1:53:28, 2014- 3rd 1:38:33, 2015- 3rd 1:57:21, 2016- 4th 1:46:53, 2017- 3rd 1:33:17 Chicago: 2011- 7th 2:02:51, 2012- 2nd 1:56:30, 2014- 7th 1:51:56, 2015- 6th 1:50:10, 2016- 5th 1:52:50, 2017- 7th 1:44:11 New York: 2013- 5th 2:05:07, 2014- 7th 1:57:55, 2015- 5th 1:54:24, 2016- 4th 1:58:16, 2017- 9th 2:11:43 Tokyo: 2017- 3rd 1:43:29, 2018- 5th 1:54:02 Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 2012- 8th 1:58:37, 2016- 7th 1:38:47 Worlds: 2013- 5th 2:00:36, 2015- 5th 1:47:06

Born: 21 April 1989 St Petersburg, Russia Marathon best: 1:35:05 Boston 2017 London Marathon record: 2011- 4th 1:46:34, 2012- 8th 2:05:38, 2013- 1st 1:46:02, 2014- 1st 1:45:12, 2015- 1st 1:41:14, 2016- 1st 1:44:14 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Boston: 2013- 1st 1:45:24, 2014- 1st 1:35:06, 2015- 1st 1:52:54, 2016- 1st 1:42:16, 2017- 4th 1:35:05 Chicago: 2009- 1st 1:50:47, 2010- 3rd 1:56:11, 2011- 1st 1:45:03, 2012- 1st 1:49:52, 2013- 1st 1:42:35, 2014- 1st 1:44:50, 2015- 1st 1:41:10, 2016- 1st 1:42:28, 2017- 1st 1:39:15 New York: 2009– 6th 2:08:05, 2010- 1st 2:02:22, 2011- 3rd 1:52:52, 2013- 1st 1:59:13, 2014- 1st 1:42:16, 2015- 1st 1:43:04, 2016- 1st 1:47:43, 2017- 2nd 1:51:02 Tokyo: 2016- 2nd 1:41:14, 2018- 2nd 1:44:51 Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 2012- 9th 1:58:47, 2016- 2nd 1:38:44 Worlds: 2015- 1st 1:41:14

Career notes Since her first marathon in Chicago in 2011, Susannah Scaroni has consistently finished in the top 10 in the world’s major races, and has made the medal podium six times, including at last year’s Tokyo, Boston and London Marathons where she was third each time. In Boston, she clocked the third quickest time ever behind Schär and McGrory, a personal best by five minutes. Her highest WMM finish was second in Chicago in 2012. She was seventh there last October and ninth in New York. She was seventh in the Rio Paralympic marathon in 1:38:47 having placed eighth in 2012, just ahead of fellow Illinois student McFadden. She was fifth at the 2015 Worlds. She won the Los Angeles Marathon in 2013 and 2014 and the New York half marathon last March. She raced in the heats of the 800m in Rio and was sixth in the 800m and 1500m at the London 2017 Worlds. Personal notes Scaroni comes from Tekoa in Washington state. She was injured in a car accident aged five and took up wheelchair racing in 2002 aged 11. She joined the University of Illinois wheelchair racing team in 2012 and is coached by Adam Bleakney. She graduated in dietetics in May 2014. She has two brothers and one sister.

Career notes McFadden dominated women’s marathon racing for four years, going undefeated in Boston, London, Chicago and New York from 2012 to 2016, and won 13 races in a row until beaten in Tokyo in February 2016. In 2013 she became the first athlete to win all four in one year, and repeated the feat each year until 2017. She’s won four London titles, seven Chicago Marathons and five in New York. She smashed her PB in Boston in 2014 and lowered it by a second there last April when fourth. She held the London course record from 2013 until 2017. She made her name on the track when she won two Paralympic medals in Athens aged 15. She won four more Paralympic medals in Beijing and at London 2012 won golds in T54 400m, 800m and 1500m. In Rio she added the 5000m, but was beaten on the line by Zou Lihong in the marathon. She has 16 Paralympic medals in all, including a silver at cross country skiing from Sochi 2014. She won a record six gold medals at the Lyon 2013 World Champs, having won four golds and a silver in 2011. She won four golds at London 2017 last July. Personal notes Born with spina bifida, McFadden was abandoned in a Russian orphanage and walked on her hands for the first six years of her life. She was adopted by an American family and grew up in Maryland. Nicknamed ‘the Beast’, she now competes for Illinois Wheelchair Racers. Her campaigning led to a disability sports equality law being named after her. Her sister Hannah is a wheelchair racer.

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VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Sandra Graf (Switzerland)

Margriet van den Broek (Netherlands)

Born: 9 December 1969 Appenzell Marathon best: 1:35:44 Padua 2008 London Marathon record: 2008- 1st 1:48:04, 2009- 2nd 1:50:40, 2010- 2nd 1:52:34, 2011- 3rd 1:46:33, 2012- 7th 1:54:43, 2013- 3rd 1:48:01, 2015- 4th 1:46:27, 2016- 6th 1:52:49 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2006- 1st 1:42:48, 2009- 1st 1:39:31, 2010- 2nd 1:46:16, 2011- 2nd 1:45:21, 2012- 1st 1:46:19, 2017- 2nd 1:45:24 Boston: 2001- 3rd 2:04:00, 2004- 3rd 1:42:13, 2005- 3rd 1:51:46, 2007- 3rd 2:02:30, 2013- 2nd 1:46:54, 2015- 5th 1:59:18 Chicago: 2014- 5th 1:46:15, 2017- 6th 1:44:03 New York: 2004- 2nd 1:53:37, 2005- 6th 2:03:04, 2006- 5th 1:56:29, 2007- 5th 1:58:10, 2008- 6th 2:20:34, 2009- 5th 2:04:42, 2010- 5th 2:13:03, 2014- 5th 1:52:40, 2015- 3rd 1:52:05 Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 2000- 5th 1:59:54, 2004- 5th 1:59:09, 2008- 3rd 1:40:01, 2012- 3rd 1:46:35 Worlds: 2006- 2nd 1:44:23, 2011- 2nd 1:48:24, 2013- dnf, 2015- 4th 1:46:27

Born: 30 March 1974 Tilburg Marathon best: 1:38:33 Boston 2017 London Marathon record: 2017- 4th 1:49:50 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2016- 3rd 1:52:05 Boston: 2017- 8th 1:38:33 Marathons in major championships: None

Career notes Margriet van den Broek made her marathon debut in Berlin in September 2016, finishing third to Manuela Schär and Sandra Graf in 1:52:05. She improved that time a month later when she clocked 1:45:43 to place second to Tsubasa Kina at the Oita Marathon at the end of October, and again in Boston last April when she clocked 1:38:33 in eighth. She was fourth in London last year and ranked sixth in the marathon among T54s in 2017. She beat former London Marathon champion Amanda McGrory in the Tyne Tunnel 2km wheelchair race in 2015. She was third in the Great North Run that year behind McGrory and Britain’s Shelly Woods, clocking 53:58.

Career notes Graf destroyed the 11-year-old London course record by more than a minute in 2008, picked up a bronze medal at the Paralympics in Beijing, and set a world half marathon record of 50:11 in Lisbon. She added another Paralympic bronze at London 2012, while she was eighth in Rio where she was her country’s flag bearer. She has silver medals from the 2006 and 2011 Worlds, although she did not finish in Lyon 2013 and was fourth in London in 2015. She has won the Berlin Marathon three times, and broke the course record there in 2009. She was second behind Schär last year. In London she was just beaten by McGrory in 2009 and by Wakako Tsuchida in 2010. She was quicker than her own course record in 2011 when third behind McGrory and Woods, and was third again in 2013 six days after finishing second in Boston. She won gold in the 16km handcycling time trial at London 2012 but could not retain the title in Rio where she was eighth. Personal notes Graf lives in Gais, Switzerland, with her husband and coach, Martin, and daughters, Melanie and Mara. She broke her spine in 1991 falling from gymnastics rings. She’s been racing for 18 years.

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She broke four national records at the 2015 Grand Prix in Notwill, Switzerland, in May 2015 to qualify for the World Championships in Doha where she won bronze medals in the 400m and 800m and made the finals of the 100m, 200m, 1500m and 5000m. She was a European silver medallist over 100m in 2014 and made the finals of the 100m, 400m and 800m at the Rio Paralympics. Personal notes Van den Broek has a displaced hip and used crutches until she was 35. She began using a wheelchair in 2010, and was a wheelchair basketball player before taking up athletics after being spotted at a talent identification day at 38. She studied occupational therapy and works as a counsellor at a social services organisation in Amsterdam where she lives.

VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Zou Lihong (China)

Madison de Rozario (Australia)

Born: 26 February 1984 Dali Marathon best: 1:38:44 Paralympics 2016 London Marathon record: 2016- 5th 1:52:42 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors New York: 2017- 4th 2:03:20 Tokyo: 2017- 4th 1:44:24 Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 2016- 1st 1:38:44

Born: 24 November 1993 Marathon best: 1:39:22 Chicago 2017 London Marathon record: 2013- 8th 1:53:44 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Chicago: 2017- 4th 1:39:22 New York: 2017- 5th 2:04:28 Marathons in major championships: None

Career notes Zou is the reigning Paralympic marathon champion. She beat Tatyana McFadden by a fraction on the line in Rio in what was only the second marathon of her career. She made her debut in London the previous April where she was fifth in 1:52:42. She was fourth in Tokyo last February and in New York last November behind Schär, McFadden and McGrory. She won three golds and a silver on the track at the Doha 2015 World Championships, winning the 800m, 5000m and 4x400m relay and finishing second in the 1500m. She won 400m silver at London 2017 last summer and was a finalist at 100m, 800m and 5000m. She won an 800m bronze at the London 2012 Paralympics where she was also fourth at 400m and fifth at 1500m. Personal notes She was born in Dali, contracted polio as a child and took up para-athletics in 2008 in Shanghai. She made her international debut the following year and won a gold medal at the 2011 National Para Games in Zhejiang Province.

Career notes De Rozario produced the best marathon performance of her life when she finished fourth in Chicago last October in 1:39:22, a huge personal best for the world T54 5000m champion and good enough to rank third in the world for T53 racers. A month later she picked up more World Marathon Majors points when she was fifth in New York. This is her second appearance at the London Marathon after she was eighth here in 2013 in 1:53:44. De Rozario won the world 5000m title at London 2017 where she also picked up silver in the T53 800m and bronze in the T54 1500m. She was world T53 800m champion in 2015 and won two T53 silvers at the Rio Paralympics, for 800m and 4x400m. In the relay, Australia were originally third, then disqualified and finally promoted to silver after winning an appeal. She competed in four events at London 2012 finishing fourth in the 800m. Personal notes Born in Perth, she contracted transverse myelitis aged four. She first experienced paralysis in her feet and by the time she reached the hospital she had lost the ability to move her arms. Doctors reversed the effects from her waist up but she has had paraplegia ever since. She took up wheelchair racing in 2006 after trying wheelchair basketball and tennis. Nicknamed ‘Bandit’, she studies sports science and is coached by Australian wheelchair racing legend, Louise Sauvage.

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VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Katrina Gerhard (United States)

Arielle Rausin (United States)

Born: 13 December 1996 Marathon best: 1:40:34 Boston 2017 London Marathon record: 2017- 6th 1:54:34 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Boston: 2016- 10th 2:01:41, 2017- 9th 1:40:34 Chicago: 2015- 7th 2:01:08, 2016- 6th 1:56:54, 2017- 8th 1:54:18 New York: 2016- 5th 2:03:02, 2017- 7th 2:07:27 Marathons in major championships: None

Born: 16 September 1993 Marathon best: 1:41:26 Boston 2017 London Marathon record: 2017- dnf Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Boston: 2016- 11th 2:03:04, 2017- 10th 1:41:26 Chicago: 2017- 10th 1:59:03 New York: 2016- 7th 2:13:07, 2017- 10th 2:12:29 Marathons in major championships: None

Career notes Katrina Gerhard finished sixth in the London Marathon last year and has been a consistent top 10 finisher in Boston, Chicago and New York over the last few years. She ranked seventh in the world last year after clocking 1:40:34 in Boston, improving her personal best by more than quarter of an hour. She went on to finish eighth in Chicago last October and seventh in New York. She won the Boston half marathon in 2014 when she was 17, and was fourth in the New York half marathon in 2016. In high school she competed in the 400m, 800m, 1500m, javelin and shot put, and in 2014 was named a US Paralympics Track and Field High School AllAmerican. Personal notes At 14 Gerhard misjudged a back flip while sword dancing (a form of folk dance), landed on her neck and broke her collarbone. Tests showed no damage to her spine but she was eventually diagnosed with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, a condition in the peripheral nerves that leads to a gradual loss of sensory and reflex functions. She lives in Acton, Massachusetts, and studies medicine at the University of Illinois where she competes for the Track and Road Racing Team. She took up the sport in high school when her friends dared her to join the school’s athletics team.

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Career notes Arielle Rausin improved her marathon best from1:50:42 to 1:41:26 at last year’s Boston Marathon where she was 10th, good enough to rank eighth in the world at the end of the year. She dropped out of the London Marathon six days later but notched up two more 10th-place finishes in the autumn, in Chicago and New York. She raced well at the Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth in June 2016 when she clocked 1:55:30 to rank 16th in the world that year. She had finished 11th in the Boston Marathon in 2016 and went on to place seventh in New York. She has a half marathon best of 54:44. She completed the 55-mile Push Across Cayman in February 2016. Personal notes Rausin was paralysed by a car accident in 2003 aged 10 and took up wheelchair in 2012. Born in Florida, she now lives in Urbana and studies mathematics and computer science at the University of Illinois where she is coached by Adam Bleakney as part of the University of Illinois Track and Road Racing Team. She founded Ingenium Manufacturing in 2016, a company using 3D printers to create wheelchair racing gloves for athletes. Her mother, Krista Dondero, is an author. She has published two children’s fantasy books whose main protagonists are young girls who use wheelchairs.

VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Aline Rocha (Brazil)

Jade Jones (Great Britain & NI)

Born: 20 February 1991 Marathon best: 1:41:40 Duluth 2016 London Marathon record: 2016- dq Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: None Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 2016- 10th 1:43:01

Born: 4 January 1996 Middlesbrough Marathon best: 1:41:44 Boston 2017 London Marathon record: 2014- 9th 1:59:59, 2015- dnf, 2016- dnf, 2017- 5th 1:51:46 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Boston: 2017- 11th 1:41:44 New York: 2016- 6th 2:03:16, 2017- 8th 2:08:33 Marathons in major championships Worlds: 2015- dnf

Career notes Rocha set her personal best to win the Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth in 2016 on her final attempt to qualify for the Rio Paralympics in her home country. She made the team and finished 10th in the Rio marathon. She also competed in the 1500m and 5000m in Rio. She had tried for the qualifying time at the 2016 London Marathon that April but was disqualified after crossing the line in 10th place. She represented Brazil in para cross-country skiing at the 2017 World Cup and became the first Brazilian woman to compete at a Winter Paralympics when she raced the 1.1km, 5km, 12km and relay events at the Pyeongchang 2018 Games. Personal notes Born in Pinhão, she was paralysed by a car accident in 2006, aged 15. She had not been interested in sport before her accident but soon took up para-athletics. Her husband Fernando Orso is a coordinator at the Regional Association of Athletes with an Impairment in Joacaba, Brazil. He is also her coach.

Career notes Jade Jones made her senior marathon debut at the London Marathon in 2014 at 18 after winning the Mini London Marathon three times in a row from 2011 to 2013, twice breaking the under 17s girls’ course record. She failed to finish the full marathon in both 2015 and 2016 but made a huge improvement to place fifth last year in 1:51:46. That performance came only six days after she had smashed her personal best in Boston, clocking 1:41:44 to rank ninth in the world for 2017. She was sixth in New York in 2016 and eighth last year. She won the Yorkshire Marathon in 2016. She was selected for Britain’s 2011 World Championship team at 15 and finished fifth in the T54 200m. She set personal bests for 400m, 800m and 1500m in 2012 and was selected for Britain’s London 2012 Paralympic team. At 16, she made the final of the 1500m. In 2013 she reached four finals at the World Championships in Lyon, the 400m, 800m, 1500m and 5000m, finishing fourth in the 400m. Injury kept her out of the 2015 Worlds in Doha, but she competed in the heats of the 800m, 1500m and 5000m in Rio. She won a silver and bronze at the 2014 European Championships, at 800m and 1500m respectively, and took another bronze for 1500m at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Jones won the European para-triathlon title last year and picked up a world silver medal. Personal notes Jones was born without a femur in her right leg and her foot was amputated when she was 10. A pupil at Ormesby School in Middlesbrough, she started racing after being invited to try out a racing chair by Tanni GreyThompson and her husband, Ian, who were attending a sports day. Within a few weeks she was training under Grey-Thompson at New Markse Harriers and began entering competitions in 2009. Nicknamed ‘JJ’, she is now studying law at Teesside University. Her partner Callum Hall is also a British wheelchair racer.

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VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Tsubasa Kina (Japan)

Anika Zeyen (Germany)

Born: 18 May 1990 Marathon best: 1:44:56 Oita 2016 London Marathon record: None Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Tokyo: 2017- 5th 1:46:11, 2018- 3rd 1:46:17 Marathons in major championships: None

Born: 17 February 1985 Bonn Marathon best: 1:51:02 Berlin 2017 London Marathon record: None Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2017- 3rd 1:51:02 New York: 2017- 6th 2:07:23 Marathons in major championship: None

Career notes Tsubasa Kina was due to make her London Marathon debut last year after winning her first ever marathon in Oita at the end of October 2016. She clocked 1:44:56 to rank 11th in the world. She was close to that time in Tokyo last February where she placed fifth in 1:46:11 but did not make it to the London start line. She was third in Tokyo this year in a very similar time, winning a place on a World Marathon Majors podium for the first time. She previously competed on the track and made the move up to the marathon in 2016. Personal notes She was a basketball player before she injured herself lifting a barbell during training. She crushed her spine between the barbell and the floor after trying to lift 120kg in a training session. She works at Mobility Center Okinawa, helping wheelchair users find the best adaptability products and to get government support to aid their mobility.

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Career notes Zeyen is a former wheelchair basketball player who won Paralympic gold with Germany in London 2012 having taken silver in Beijing 2008. They were runners up again in Rio 2016 when she was her country’s flag bearer at the closing ceremony. She took up wheelchair racing after the Rio Paralympics and placed third in the Berlin Marathon in September last year in 1:51:02, good enough to rank 15th in the world among T54s. She contested the New York Marathon in November when she was sixth in 2:07:23. She competed in five track events at the London 2017 World Championships, placing eighth in the 200m final. Personal notes She was paralysed by a horse riding accident at age 14, and became an international wheelchair basketball player. Nicknamed ‘Anni’, she works as a design project coordinator for the International Paralympic Committee in Bonn where she was born and lives.

VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Patricia Keller (Switzerland) Born: 26 September 1989 Marathon best: 1:57:27 Berlin 2017 London Marathon record: None Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2017- 4th 1:57:27 Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 2012- 10th 2:06:07 Worlds: 2013- 6th 2:04:06

Career notes Keller was fourth at the Berlin Marathon last September in a personal best of 1:57:27. She was 10th in the London 2012 Paralympic marathon. She also competed in the 5000m and 400m at those Games. She has represented Switzerland at the last four World Championships. She placed sixth in the marathon in 2013. She won a European bronze at 1500m in 2014. Personal notes She was born in Zurich with spina bifida and took up para-athletics in 2001.

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VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 T53/54 Men Bib 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216

Name David Weir Marcel Hug Ernst van Dyk Josh Cassidy Masazumi Soejima Kurt Fearnley Hiroyuki Yamamoto Heinz Frei Hiroki Nishida Kota Hokinoue Joshua George Rafael Botello Jimenez Aaron Pike Jordi Madera Ryota Yoshida Krige Schabort Simon Lawson Tomoki Suzuki Sho Watanabe Daniel Romanchuk Brian Siemann Pierre Fairbank Patrick Monahan Hong Suk-Man Alex DuPont Jose Jiménez JohnBoy Smith Brent Lakatos Zhang Yong Alhassane Balde Dai Yungqiang

Country GBR SUI RSA CAN JPN AUS JPN SUI JPN JPN USA ESP USA ESP JPN USA GBR JPN JPN USA USA FRA IRL KOR CAN CRC GBR CAN CHN GER CHN

Class T54 T54 T54 T54 T54 T54 T54 T53 T54 T54 T53 T54 T54 T53 T54 T54 T53 T54 T54 T54 T53 T53 T53 T54 T54 T54 T54 T53 T54 T54 T54

Preview

David Weir became the London Marathon’s most successful ever champion in 2017 when he clinched a record seventh victory and the 38-year-old returns in 2018 seeking an unprecedented eighth men’s wheelchair title. The chief threat to Weir will again come from Swiss superstar Marcel Hug who has won the London crown twice in recent years and was just one second behind the Briton last April. The man they call the ‘Silver Bullet’ has been dominant on the marathon circuit since 2016. He won the Paralympic title in Rio, took the inaugural Abbott World Marathon Majors Wheelchair Series in 2017 and bounced back from his London defeat to clinch victories in Berlin, Chicago and New York last autumn. London course record holder Kurt Fearnley will also be seeking a third London win after placing third in last year’s race. The Australian won Paralympic titles in 2004 and 2008, broke the London course record in 2009 and has been Hug’s most consistent challenger over the last two seasons.

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PB 1:26:17 1:18:04 1:18:04 1:18:25 1:18:50 1:18:51 1:19:32 1:20:14 1:20:28 1:21:14 1:21:47 1:22:09 1:22:09 1:22:10 1:23:18 1:24:22 1:25:06 1:26:03 1:26:22 1:26:26 1:26:46 1:28:50 1:29:11 1:29:13 1:31:27 1:31:36 1:32:45 1:32:55 1:33:20 1:35:33 1:36:45

Age 38 32 45 33 47 37 38 60 33 44 34 39 31 38 36 54 35 23 26 20 28 46 32 42 32 35 28 38 25 32 27

DoB 05/06/79 16/01/86 04/04/73 15/11/84 31/08/70 23/03/81 27/10/79 21/01/58 03/11/84 30/03/74 18/03/84 23/02/79 04/05/86 19/01/80 28/09/81 08/09/63 07/06/82 14/06/94 23/11/91 08/03/98 07/10/89 27/07/71 14/01/86 07/12/75 03/09/85 02/07/82 27/11/89 06/01/80 25/05/92 21/12/85 20/07/90

Bib name WEIR HUG VAN DYK CASSIDY SOEJIMA FEARNLEY YAMAMOTO FREI NISHIDA HOKINOUE GEORGE BOTELLO JIMENEZ PIKE MADERA YOSHIDA SCHABORT LAWSON SUZUKI WATANABE ROMANCHUK SIEMANN FAIRBANK MONAHAN SUK-MAN DUPONT JIMENEZ SMITH LAKATOS ZHANG BALDE DAI

South Africa’s 10-time Boston winner Ernst van Dyk will also be in the hunt. He is looking for his first London victory on his 13th appearance. Others likely to challenge for medals include the 2015 world champion, Joshua George, the veteran world record holder, Heinz Frei of Switzerland, and a talented group of Japanese racers including Kota Hokinoue, who was second in Berlin last year, Sho Watanabe, who beat Hug in Tokyo in 2017, and Hiroyuki Yamamoto, who won the Tokyo Marathon this February. Britain’s rising star, JohnBoy Smith, could also be a contender. Smith lies fifth in the current Majors standings after placing fifth in Berlin and second in New York last year. There will be 53 athletes in total in the men’s race.

VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 David Weir (Great Britain & NI)

Marcel Hug (Switzerland)

Born: 5 June 1979 Carshalton, Surrey Marathon best: 1:26:17 Boston 2016 London Marathon record: 2000- 4th 1:47:11, 2001- 3rd 1:50:55, 2002- 1st 1:39:44, 2003- 2nd 1:34:48, 2004- 2nd 1:36:56, 2005- 3rd 1:36:03, 2006- 1st 1:29:48, 2007- 1st 1:30:49, 2008- 1st 1:33:36, 2009- 2nd 1:28:57, 2010- 3rd 1:37:01, 2011- 1st 1:30:05, 2012- 1st 1:32:26, 2013- 5th 1:31:31, 2014- 2nd 1:32:42, 2015- 2nd 1:31:32, 2016- 3rd 1:35:21 2017- 1st 1:31:06 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2015- 1st 1:27:36 Boston: 2016- 4th 1:26:17 New York: 2005- 6th 1:36:48, 2010- 1st 1:37:29 Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 2008- dns, 2012- 1st 1:30:20 Worlds: 2006- dnf, 2011- dns, 2015- 2nd 1:31:32

Born: 16 January 1986 Lucerne Marathon best: 1:18:04 Boston 2017 London Marathon record: 2010- 2nd 1:36:07, 2011- 11th 1:35:35, 2012- 2nd 1:32:27, 2013- 2nd 1:31:29, 2014- 1st 1:32:41, 2015- dnf, 2016- 1st 1:35:19, 2017- 2nd 1:31:07 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2005- 2nd 1:28:33, 2006- 2nd 1:29:35, 2007- 3rd 1:32:22, 2008- 3rd 1:39:01, 2010- 3rd 1:35:58, 2011- 1st 1:29:31, 2012- 1st 1:29:43, 2013- 2nd 1:31:03, 2016- 1st 1:29:51, 2017- 1st 1:29:03 Boston: 2013- 4th 1:28:19, 2014- 4th 1:24:39, 2015- 1st 1:29:53, 2016- 1st 1:24:06 2017- 1st 1:18:04 Chicago: 2015- 2nd 1:30:48, 2016- 1st 1:32:57, 2017- 1st 1:29:23 New York: 2008- 7th 1:49:21, 2009- 3rd 1:40:43, 2011- 5th 1:38:42, 2013- 1st 1:40:14, 2014- 18th 1:37:32, 2015- 3rd 1:30:54, 2016- 1st 35:49, 2017- 1st 1:37:21 Tokyo: 2017- 2nd 1:28:01 Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 2008- dnf, 2012- 2nd 1:30:21, 2016- 1st 1:26:16 Worlds: 2006- 4th 1:29:57, 2011- dnf, 2013- 1st 1:28:44, 2015- dnf

Career notes Weir became the most successful elite athlete in the history of the London Marathon when he clinched his seventh men’s wheelchair title last year, finally surpassing Tanni Grey-Thompson’s record five years after he won his sixth title in 2012. Weir beat the newly crowned World Marathon Majors champion Marcel Hug. He won the Mini London Marathon seven times before his full marathon debut in 2000 and is the only male athlete to win both mini and senior events. He broke the British record in Los Angeles in 2007, shaved 10 seconds off to win the 2015 Berlin Marathon and was another minute quicker at the 2016 Boston Marathon when he was fourth in 1:26:17. He has also won the New York Marathon twice and broke the world half marathon record in Lisbon in March 2012. At the 2008 Paralympics he won gold medals in the 800m and 1500m, silver at 400m and bronze at 5000m. He won three golds at the 2011 World Championships, then at London 2012 went one better, adding the marathon. He won a 1500m silver at the 2015 Worlds in Doha, but returned from Rio empty handed from five events. He holds UK records at all track distances to 5000m and at 10km, half marathon and marathon. He broke three minutes for One Mile in London in 2016. Personal notes Weir is coached by Jenny Archer and together they run the Weir Archer Academy in Surrey. He was made an MBE in 2009 and an OBE in 2013. He has two daughters, Ronie and Tillia Grace, and two sons, Mason and Lenny. He was born with a severed spinal cord and took up the sport aged eight.

Career notes Hug is the most successful male wheelchair marathon athlete of modern times. He is the reigning Paralympic and World Marathon Majors champion, and a two-time London Marathon winner. He won every WMM race in 2016 but was narrowly beaten by Japan’s Sho Watanabe in Tokyo last February. He bounced back in Boston last April, when he clocked the fastest time in history, and was just beaten by Weir in London six days later before winning in Berlin, Chicago and New York last autumn. He won his first London crown in 2014 but was forced to drop out in 2015 on Tower Bridge, when he relinquished his world title. At the 2011 World Championships he won the 10,000m title and he added World golds at 400m, 1500m, 5000m and marathon in 2013. He won silver and bronze at the 2015 Doha Worlds having taken three golds at the 2014 Europeans, and clinched another triple at the London 2017 World Championships last summer in the 800m, 1500m and 5000m. He won 800m and marathon titles in Rio, plus silvers at 1500m and 5000m. Personal notes Hug was born with spina bifida and grew up on a farm in Pfyn, Thurgau. He is the youngest of four brothers and started competing at 10. Nicknamed the ‘Silver Bullet’ due to his helmet, he is coached by Paul Odermatt.

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VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Ernst van Dyk (South Africa)

Josh Cassidy (Canada)

Born: 4 April 1973 Ceres, Western Cape Marathon best: 1:18:04 Boston 2017 London Marathon record: 2000 2nd- 1:41:53, 2006- dnf, 2007- 4th 1:33:46, 2008- 6th 1:34:25, 2009- 3rd 1:28:58, 2010- 6th 1:44:11, 2012- 11th 1:36:20, 2013- 3rd 1:31:30, 2014- 3rd 1:32:42, 2015- 5th 1:31:38, 2016- 4th 1:35:23, 2017- 4th 1:31:08 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2016- 2nd 1:29:53 Boston: 2001- 1st 1:25:12, 2002- 1st 1:23:19, 2003- 1st 1:28:32, 2004- 1st 1:18:27, 2005- 1st 1:24:11, 2006- 1st 1:25:29, 2007- 3rd 1:37:10, 2008- 1st 1:26:49, 2009- 1st 1:33:29, 2010- 1st 1:26:53 2011- 3rd 1:18:51, 2012- 6th 1:24:23, 2013- 2nd 1:27:12, 2014- 1st 1:20:36 2015- 2nd 1:36:27, 2016- 2nd 1:24:06, 2017- 2nd 1:18:04 Chicago: 2013- 1st 1:30:37, 2014- 3rd 1:32:13, 2015- 4th 1:30:50, 2016- 6th 1:33:02, 2017- 12th 1:31:02 New York: 2005- 1st, 2013- 2nd 1:40:14, 2014- 2nd 1:30:56, 2015- 1st 1:30:54, 2016- 4th 1:40:08, 2017- 4th 1:39:56 Tokyo: 2016- 2nd 1:26:01, 2017- 9th 1:30:15, 2018- 3rd 1:31:30 Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 2000- 4th 1:31:44, 2004- 18th 1:41:59, 2008- 3rd 1:23:17, 2016- 6th 1:30:11 Worlds: 2015- 5th 1:31:38

Born: 15 November 1984 Ottawa Marathon best: 1:18:25 Boston 2012 London Marathon record: 2010- 1st 1:35:21, 2011- 5th 1:30:56, 2012- 9th 1:33:54, 2013- dnf, 2014- 20th 1:41:58, 2015- dnf, 2016- dnf, 2017- 22nd 1:34:46 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Boston: 2009- 8th 1:39:48, 2012- 1st 1:18:25, 2013- 9th 1:30:54, 2014- 13th 1:27:24, 2015- 14th 1:38:24, 2017- 14th 1:26:03 Chicago: 2003- 1st, 2004- 1st, 2006- 1st, 2011- 4th 1:29:24, 2012- 1st 1:32:58, 2013- 5th 1:33:30, 2014- 8th 1:32:20, 2016- 11th 1:36:59, 2017- 15th 1:31:51 New York: 2006- 12th 1:51:36, 2007- 13th 1:49:29, 2008- 10th 1:53:09, 2009- 6th 1:40:46, 2010- 7th 1:42:48, 2011- 8th 1:39:30, 2013- 16th 1:52:57, 2017- 9th 1:41:08 Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 2012- 12th 1:33:06 Worlds: 2006- 40th 1:47:08, 2013- dnf, 2015- dnf

Career notes Ernst van Dyk won six Boston Marathons in a row to 2006, and in 2004 clocked what was then the fastest marathon ever. He lowered that to 1:18:04 when he was runner-up to Hug in Boston last year. He has won 10 Boston titles altogether. He won the Chicago Marathon in 2013, was third there in 2014 and won New York in 2015 after two runner-up places. He is yet to win in London in 12 appearances although he has made the podium four times. At the Athens Paralympics van Dyk won two silvers and a bronze while in Beijing he won marathon bronze having taken gold in the handcycle road race two days before, a title he regained in Rio. Personal notes Born without lower legs because of congenital birth defects, van Dyk was a swimmer before he took up wheelchair racing. He competed in both sports at the 1992 Paralympics. He is a Paralympic ambassador and owns a para-sports equipment company. He lives in Paarl with wife Suzanne and daughters, Lexi and Sunei.

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Career notes Cassidy rode what was then the quickest wheelchair marathon ever at Boston in 2012, clocking 1:18:25 (although not an official world record) and regained his Chicago title that October, his fourth in all. He became London Marathon champion when he came from behind to beat Weir on his London debut in 2010. Cassidy was fifth in 2011 but did not finish in 2013 after colliding with Ethiopia’s Tiki Gelana at the 15km drinks station. He was 22nd last year after dropping out in 2015 and 2016. He holds Canadian records for every distance from 1500m to the marathon and claims to have more than 75 international medals. He represented Canada at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Paralympics. He did not win a medal in London when he had a flu bug, but made the final of the T54 800m and 1500m before finishing 12th in the marathon. He was 10th at 5000m in Rio but went out in the heats of the 800m and 1500m. He won 1500m bronze at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Personal notes The eldest of 10 siblings, Cassidy was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, cancer of the spine and abdomen, weeks after he was born, and given a low chance of survival. He is a professional graphic designer and illustrator with an applied arts degree from Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario. In 2015 he worked as a stuntman on the movie ‘Suicide Squad’ which was filmed in Toronto. He lives in Guelph, Ontario.

VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Masazumi Soejima (Japan)

Kurt Fearnley (Australia)

Born: 31 August 1970 Isahaya Marathon best: 1:18:50 Boston 2011 London Marathon record: 2009- 4th 1:30:13, 2010- 7th 1:44:35, 2012- 4th 1:32:29, 2015- 3rd 1:31:33, 2016- 12th 1:38:35, 2017- 21st 1:33:42 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2007- 1st 1:26:50, 2008- 2nd 1:28:39, 2009- 2nd 1:31:41, 2010- 1st 1:28:46 Boston: 2007- 1st 1:29:16, 2008- 3rd 1:33:00, 2009- 2nd 1:36:57, 2010- 4th 1:28:06, 2011- 1st 1:18:50, 2012- 4th 1:23:27, 2013- 6th 1:30:01, 2014- 3rd 1:21:14, 2015- 3rd 1:36:28, 2016- 6th 1:27:31, 2017- 15th 1:26:09 Chicago: 2008- 2nd 1:32:30, 2009- 2nd 1:32:30, 2010- 2nd 1:28:01, 2014- 9th 1:32:21 New York: 2007- 3rd 1:36:16, 2008- 2nd 1:46:10, 2009- 7th 1:43:42, 2010- 2nd 1:37:31, 2011- 1st 1:31:41, 2014- 4th 1:30:57, 2016- 14th 1:47:53 Tokyo: 2007- 1st 1:32:21, 2008- 1st 1:27:15, 2009- 1st 1:33:07, 2011- 1st 1:25:38, 2015- 4th 1:32:06, 2016- 4th 1:26:02 Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 2008- 12th 1:23:55, 2012- 4th 1:30:24, 2016- 11th 1:30:13 Worlds: 2006- 3rd 1:28:22, 2011- 3rd 1:31:10, 2015- 3rd 1:31:33

Born: 23 March 1981 Cowra, New South Wales Marathon best: 1:18:51 Boston 2011 London Marathon record: 2007- 2nd 1:30:59, 2008- 2nd 1:34:00, 2009- 1st 1:28:56, 2010- 5th 1:41:37, 2013- 1st 1:31:29, 2016- 2nd 1:35:20, 2017- 3rd 1:31:07 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Boston: 2011- 2nd 1:18:51, 2012- 2nd 1:21:39, 2015- 16th 1:46:25, 2016- 3rd 1:24:06, 2017- 4th 1:20:28 Chicago: 2007- 1st 1:28:47, 2008- 1st 1:30:16, 2009- 1st 1:29:09, 2015- 1st 1:30:46, 2016- 2nd 1:32:58, 2017- 2nd 1:30:24 New York: 2005- 3rd 1:31:45, 2006- 1st 1:29:22, 2007- 1st 1:33:58, 2008- 1st 1:44:51, 2009- 1st 1:35:58, 2014- 1st 1:30:55, 2015- 5th 1:35:21, 2016- 2nd 1:35:49 Tokyo: 2016- 1st 1:26:00, 2018- 4th 1:31:30 Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 2000- 21st 1:38:02, 2004- 1st 1:25:37, 2008- 1st 1:23:17, 2012- 3rd 1:30:21 Worlds: 2006- 1st 1:28:17, 2011- 1st 1:31:09

Career notes Soejima briefly became the second fastest wheelchair racer ever when he won the Boston Marathon in 2011 by a second from Kurt Fearnley and Ernst van Dyk. He had ended van Dyk’s streak of six wins there in 2007. He was third in 2014 and 2015, as he was in London two years ago when he picked up his third marathon world bronze medal. He ranked 12th in the world last year with 1:26:09 from Boston.

Career notes Fearnley set the London Marathon course record in 2009 when he avenged two narrow defeats to Weir in 2007 and 2008. He won again in 2013, was second to Hug in 2016, as he was in Chicago and New York that year, and at the Rio Paralympics where he added silver to his bronze from London 2012 and golds from 2004 and 2008. He won the world marathon title in 2006 and 2011. He was third in London last year and runner-up in Chicago. He has won a record five New York titles, in 2015 he won his fourth Chicago crown, and he was on top at the 2016 Tokyo Marathon where he beat van Dyk in 1:26:00. He was fourth there this year.

The Japanese record holder, he has won the Berlin Marathon twice, New York in 2011 and Tokyo a record five times. He was 11th at Rio 2016 having been fourth at London 2012 and 12th in Bejing. He made the 1500m semi-finals in Beijing and won a bronze in the 4x400m relay in Athens in 2004.

On the track, at London 2012 he took Paralympic silver in the 5000m and bronze in 2016. He was fourth at that distance at the 2015 Worlds. He has a Commonwealth Games gold at 1500m from 2010 and silver from 2014. He was sixth in the 1500m and 5000m at last summer’s London 2017 World Championships.

Personal notes Born in Isahaya, Soejima damaged his spine in an accident at his family’s ironworks factory aged 23 and started marathon racing in 1995. He was appointed wheelchair race director of the Tokyo Marathon in June 2015. He runs Soejimart, an online shop selling athletics clothing, and founded wheelchair athletics club Socio Soejima. He lives in Fukuoka with his wife, Miyuki.

Personal notes Fearnley is the youngest of five children. He has a congenital disorder, sacral agenesis, which means he was born without a lower spine. He wears lucky underwear in every marathon. He is married to Sheridan and has a son, Harry. They live in Newcastle, New South Wales. He is coached by Andrew Dawes. He was elected to the IPC Athletes’ Council in 2016.

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VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Hiroyuki Yamamoto (Japan)

Heinz Frei (Switzerland)

Born: 27 October 1979 Kitakyushu Marathon best: 1:19:32 Boston 2017 London Marathon record: 2010- 13th 2:16:39, 2011- 13th 1:43:39, 2012- 8th 1:33:00, 2013- 8th 1:31:33, 2014- 12th 1:36:45, 2015- 18th 1:43:29, 2016- dnf, 2017- 9th 1:31:10 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2013- 3rd 1:34:28 Boston: 2013- 1st 1:25:32, 2014- 8th 1:25:15, 2015- 7th 1:39:36, 2016- 7th 1:28:16, 2017- 3rd 1:19:32 New York: 2013- 9th 1:45:23, 2014- 9th 1:33:53 Tokyo: 2011- 3rd 1:30:15, 2012- 1st 1:29:26, 2013- 2nd 1:29:07, 2014- 1st 1:30:43, 2015- 7th 1:37:01, 2016- 7th 1:29:13, 2017- 8th 1:28:23, 2018- 1st 1:26:23 Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 2008- 6th 1:23:22, 2012- 22nd 1:40:54, 2016- 12th 1:30:14 Worlds: 2006- dnf, 2011- 21st 1:42:31, 2015- 18th 1:43:29

Born: 21 January 1958 Oberbipp Marathon best: 1:20:14 Oita 1999 (world record) London Marathon record: 1992- 3rd 1:51:58, 1995- 1st 1:39:14, 1998- 1st 1:35:18, 1999- 1st 1:35:27, 2008- 5th 1:34:03, 2009- 5th 1:30:15, 2011- 2nd 1:30:07, 2012- 5th 1:32:30, 2013- 7th 1:31:32 2014- 7th 1:35:05, 2015- 9th 1:33:23, 2017- 15th 1:31:12 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 1st 20 times, 2011- 2nd 1:29:32, 2012- 2nd 1:29:48, 2013- 1st 1:31:00, 2014- 2nd 1:36:12, 2016- 5th 1:29:54, 2017- 4th 1:32:45 Boston: 2013- 12th 1:33:07 Chicago: 2010- 1st 1:26:56, 2011- 2nd 1:29:23, 2013- 4th 1:30:41, 2014- 10th 1:32:22 New York: 2011- 4th 1:37:24, 2014- 13th 1:34:31 Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 1984- 1st 1:58:52, 1988- 4th 1:48:20, 1992- 1st 1:30:15, 1996- 3rd 1:32:42, 2000- 3rd 1:29:29, 2004- 7th 1:32:04, 2008- 14th 1:25:43, 2012- 11th 1:33:06, 2016- 17th 1:40:29 Worlds: 1994- 1st, 1998- 1st 1:32:25, 2002- 1st 1:27:58, 2006- 2nd 1:28:17, 2011- 2nd 1:31:09, 2013- 4th 1:32:27, 2015- 9th 1:33:23

Career notes The three-time Tokyo champion was the top ranked Japanese racer in the world last year after finishing third in Boston in a personal best and Japanese record of 1:19:32. He added this year’s Tokyo title to those he won in 2012 and 2014 after beating Tomoki Suzuki in a thrilling sprint finish. He has not had good luck in London. He finished 13th on his first two attempts, getting flat tyres in both 2010 and 2011. On his debut, he punctured twice. He got a flat again in 2011, dropped out at half way in 2016 and was ninth last year. He also won in Osaka and was second in Oita in 2012 while he was third in Berlin in 2013. At the Beijing Paralympics he was just five seconds behind gold medallist Kurt Fearnley in sixth place, but he could only finish 22nd in London and 12th in Rio. He was 10th over 5000m at London 2012 but did not make the final of the 1500m. He broke the Japanese half marathon record in Hokkaido in 2015. Personal notes Yamamoto injured his spinal cord in a motorcycle accident at 20. He took up wheelchair marathons at 30. He is married and has one son. They live in Fukuoka. His nickname is ‘Hiro-san’. He always eats a specially made Italian pizza before leaving Japan for a race.

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Career notes Heinz Frei has won more than 100 marathons in his long career, including 20 in Berlin and 14 in Oita, where he broke the official world record 19 years ago and clocked 1:29:30 in 2016 to rank world No.1 among T53s at age 59. Last year he ranked sixth with 1:31:12 in London where he was 15th, the first time he has been outside the top 10 in 12 races. He won the London Marathon three times in the 1990s and was second to Weir in 2011 by two seconds. Rio was his ninth Paralympics. He won the marathon title in 1984 and 1992, was third in 1996 and 2000, and 17th in 2016. He was world champion three times from 1994 to 2002. Frei has broken numerous world records from 400m to marathon, and recorded a world best for 100km in 1998. He has won 15 Paralympic gold medals (35 medals in all) in 32 years – 11 in athletics, three as a handcyclist and one in cross country skiing. Personal notes Frei was paralysed from an accident in 1978 while running in the mountains. He took up wheelchair racing in 1980 but now concentrates on handcycling and winter sports. He lives in Oberbipp, is married to Rita and his children are Jan and Tamara.

VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Hiroki Nishida (Japan)

Kota Hokinoue (Japan)

Born: 3 November 1984 Izumi Marathon best: 1:20:28 Boston 2017 London Marathon record: 2015- 17th 1:41:48, 2016- 6th 1:35:32, 2017- 13th 1:31:11 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2016 - 3rd 1:29:53, 2017- 6th 1:32:47 Boston: 2016- 9th 1:32:34, 2017- 5th 1:20:28 Chicago: 2017- 10th 1:30:35 New York: 2016- 11th 1:40:16 Tokyo: 2015- 6th 1:33:23, 2016- 6th 1:26:43, 2017- 7th 1:28:12, 2018- 6th 1:31:31 Marathons in major championships Worlds: 2013- 10th 1:37:34, 2015- 17th 1:41:48

Born: 30 March 1974 Izuka, Fukuoka Prefecture Marathon best: 1:21:14 Boston 2014 London Marathon record: 2010- 4th 1:40:59, 2011- dnf, 2012- 10th 1:36:00, 2013- 6th 1:31:31, 2014- 4th 1:32:43, 2015- 7th 1:32:22, 2016- 8th 1:35:37, 2017- 6th 1:31:09 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2010- 2nd 1:30:08, 2014- 1st 1:32:25, 2015- 3rd 1:30:39, 2016- 13th 1:41:08, 2017- 2nd 1:32:42 Boston: 2009- 9th 1:46:45, 2010- 3rd 1:27:05, 2012- 3rd 1:23:26, 2013- 3rd 1:27:13, 2014- 2nd 1:21:14, 2015- 4th 1:36:29, 2017- 10th 1:23:07 Chicago: 2014- 5th 1:32:16, 2015- 8th 1:30:57, 2017- 16th 1:31:52 New York: 2010- 6th 1:42:44, 2013- 5th 1:40:16, 2014- 5th 1:30:57, 2016- 9th 1:33:13, 2017- 10th 1:42:27 Tokyo: 2011- 2nd, 2012- 2nd 1:29:31, 2013- 3rd 1:34:42, 2014- 3rd 1:34:45, 2015- 1st 1:30:23, 2016- 3rd 1:26:01, 2017- 6th 1:28:03 Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 2008- 5th 1:23:22, 2012- 6th 1:31:13, 2016- 7th 1:30:11 Worlds: 2006- 9th 1:32:26, 2011- 4th 1:31:10, 2013- 3rd 1:32:27, 2015- 7th 1:32:22

Career notes Hiroki Nishida lowered his personal best by five minutes when he was fifth at last year’s Boston Marathon in 1:20:28, good enough to rank fifth in the world for 2017. He was 13th in London six days later in his best time on the course, after placing sixth in 2016, and went on to clinch top 10 places in Berlin and Chicago last autumn. His one podium finish at a World Marathon Majors race came when he was third in Berlin in 2016 behind Marcel Hug and Ernst van Dyk. He finished sixth at the Tokyo Marathon in 2015, 2016 and 2018 and was seventh last year. He was 10th at the 2013 World Championships in 1:37:34 and 17th two years later. He ranked fourth in the world in 2015 for T54s and 11th in 2016. Personal notes He injured his spinal cord in a bicycling accident in 2004 leaving him paralysed in both legs. He began wheelchair racing in 2006. He is nicknamed ‘Doka’ because, before his accident, he was a baseball catcher and resembled Dokaben, a famous anime baseball character. He lives in Izumi where he was born.

Career notes Hokinoue broke the Japanese record in 2011 when he clocked 1:22:01 finishing second in Oensingen, and he lowered it again in Boston in April 2014 when he was second in 1:21:14, ranking second in the world below Van Dyk. Just two weeks earlier he had finished fourth at the London Marathon, his highest place in seven attempts, and he went on to win the 2014 Berlin Marathon and the 2015 Tokyo Marathon. He ranked eighth in the world in 2017 with 1:23:07 from Boston. He picked up a world bronze medal in Lyon in 2013 when he finished just ahead of Frei. He has placed fifth, sixth and seventh in the last three Paralympic marathons. He was fifth in the 5000m at Beijing 2008. An experienced track racer over distances from 400m to 10,000m, Hokinoue set Japanese records at 5000m and 10,000m in 2010. Personal notes ‘Hokki’ injured his spine in a motorcycle accident in March 2000 and began wheelchair racing in 2002 when a friend suggested he give it a go. He founded a wheelchair racing team called Team Blue Tag 2 Arm Drive. He is married and lives in Nogata.

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VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Joshua George (United States)

Rafael Botello Jimenez (Spain)

Born: 18 March 1984 Fairfax, Virginia Marathon best: 1:21:47 Boston 2017 London Marathon record: 2008- 7th 1:34:46, 2010- 9th 1:46:57, 2012- 14th 1:39:56, 2013- 17th 1:39:10, 2014- 10th 1:35:08, 2015- 1st 1:31:31, 2016- 17th 1:38:40, 2017- 8th 1:31:10 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Boston: 2007- 10th 2:02:58, 2009- 5th 1:38:23, 2010- 8th 1:35:44, 2013- 18th 1:37:41, 2014- 6th 1:24:49, 2015- 6th 1:38:15, 2016- 10th 1:34:19, 2017- 6th 1:21:47 Chicago: 2002- 4th 1:56:49, 2003- 1st 1:41:01, 2004- 1st 1:36:13, 2005- 5th 1:40:30, 2006- 1st 1:38:31, 2008- 7th 1:38:59, 2010- 9th 1:42:47, 2011- 3rd 1:29:33, 2012- 3rd 1:36:06, 2013- 3rd 1:30:38, 2014- 1st 1:32:12, 2015- 3rd 1:30:48, 2016- 3rd 1:32:59 New York: 2007- 6th 1:38:06, 2008- 11th 1:54:30, 2009- 10th 1:44:22, 2011- 7th 1:39:02, 2013- 10th 1:46:43, 2014- 7th 1:33:09, 2015- 2nd 1:50:55, 2016- 3rd 1:39:01 Tokyo: 2017- 5th 1:28:03 Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 2008- 17th 1:30:29, 2012- 20th 1:39:56, 2016- dnf Worlds: 2013- 5th 1:32:28, 2015- 1st 1:31:31

Born: 23 February 1979 Vic, Barcelona Marathon best: 1:22:09 Boston 2017 London Marathon record: 2008- 9th 1:37:26, 2009- 8th 1:37:38, 2010- 12th 2:14:22, 2012- 15th 1:40:01, 2013- 21st 1:45:27, 2014- 13th 1:36:45, 2015- 29th 1:54:23, 2016- 11th 1:38:35, 2017- 5th 1:31:09 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2005- 8th, 2006- 7th, 2012- 3rd 1:32:54, 2016- 8th 1:34:15, 2017- 19th 2:20:04 Boston: 2009- 6th 1:38:52, 2010- 6th 1:31:12, 2011- 5th 1:25:14, 2012- 12th 1:36:56, 2013- 13th 1:35:28, 2014- 12th 1:26:57, 2015- 13th 1:44:27, 2017- 8th 1:22:09 Chicago: 2009- 4th 1:39:56, 2010- 3rd 1:28:46, 2012- 3rd 1:28:46, 2013- 6th 1:33:40, 2014- 19th 1:49:57, 2015- 11th 1:30:59, 2016- 11th 1:37:21, 2017- 5th 1:30:27 New York: 2006- 10th, 2007- 9th, 2008- 12th 1:57:21, 2009- 8th 1:43:42, 2010- 9th 1:47:39, 2011- 10th 1:42:30, 2013- 11th 1:46:43, 2015- 11th 1:39:22, 2016- 12th 1:46:44, 2017- 7th 1:40:01 Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 2008- 11th 1:23:53, 2012- 9th 1:33:05 Worlds: 2006- dnf, 2011- 13th 1:34:27, 2015- 29th 1:54:23

Career notes George won the London Marathon in 2015 and took his first world title with it, beating Weir to the line. He went on to finish third in Chicago and second in New York that year. He won his hometown Chicago Marathon four times between 2003 and 2014. Last year he lowered his personal best by a minute when he clocked 1:21:47 placing sixth in Boston to rank No.1 T53 in the world.

Career notes Botello finished fifth in London last year, his best place in nine races on the course. That performance came just six days after he had shaved nine seconds from his PB in Boston to rank sixth in the world for 2017. He is the third fastest European ever on a ‘legal’ course behind Swiss pair Heinz Frei and Marcel Hug. He notched up two more top 10 WMM finishes last year, placing fifth in Chicago and seventh in New York.

He broke the Paralympic T53 100m record to become the 2008 champion. He also took 800m silver in Beijing. He competed in six events at London 2012, winning bronze in the T53 800m, his fifth Paralympic medal, and in five events in Rio, placing fifth at 800m and 5000m. He won four T53 golds at the 2006 Worlds and was fifth in the marathon in Lyon 2013. Personal notes George became disabled at four when he fell more than 36m (120 feet) out of a 12th floor window. He landed on his feet but was paralysed from the waist down. He was described as a ‘living miracle’ by doctors. He played wheelchair basketball for USA at the 2006 World Championships and won gold at the 2008 ParaPan Games. He works for wheelchair component manufacturer Intelliwheels in Champaign where he lives.

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He was 11th at the Beijing Paralympic marathon and ninth at London 2012 but did not race in Rio. He won the Paris Marathon in 2016. He holds Spanish records for the mile and 10,000m on the track, and at 5km, 10km and marathon on the road. He represented Spain over 5000m at London 2012 and at 1500m and 5000m at the 2015 and 2017 Worlds. Personal notes ‘Rafa’ Botello lives in Manlieu. He has a spinal cord injury as a result of a bicycle accident in 2002. He began wheelchair athletics in 2003 and entered his first official competition that year. He also competes for Spain at triathlon and cycling. He organises the Lanzarote Marathon and the Cali half in Colombia.

VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Aaron Pike (United States)

Jordi Madera (Spain)

Born: 4 May 1986 Park Rapids, Minnesota Marathon best:1:22:09 Boston 2017 London Marathon record: 2013- 20th 1:44:24, 2015- 26th 1:50:47, 2016- 7th 1:35:33, 2017- 7th 1:31:10 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Boston: 2009- 10th 1:47:10, 2010- 11th 1:38:17, 2011- 8th 1:29:52, 2012- 10th 1:32:45, 2013- 19th 1:39:13, 2015- 17th 1:46:26, 2016- 8th 1:28:35, 2017- 7th 1:22:09 Chicago: 2009- 8th 1:48:31, 2010- 6th 1:36:04, 2011- 6th 1:38:56, 2014- 7th 1:32:19, 2015- 7th 1:30:54, 2016- 5th 1:33:01, 2017- 17th 1:39:01 New York: 2014- 20th 1:39:27, 2015- 8th 1:36:45, 2016- 8th 1:43:40 Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 2012- 16th 1:36:26, 2016- 10th 1:30:13 Worlds: 2011- 19th 1:40:53

Born: 19 January 1980 Granollers Marathon best: 1:22:10 Boston 2017 London Marathon record: 2011- 10th 1:34:41, 2012- 13th 1:36:56, 2013- 11th 1:36:34, 2014- 6th 1:35:05, 2015- 8th 1:33:22, 2017- 14th 1:31:12 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Boston: 2017- 9th 1:22:10 Berlin: 2011- 12th 1:46:46 Boston: 2010- 7th 1:33:08, 2013- 8th 1:30:54, 2014- 5th 1:24:42, 2015- 9th 1:41:40, 2017- 9th 1:22:10 Chicago: 2013- 6th 1:33:40, 2015- 6th 1:30:53, 2017- 3rd 1:30:25 New York: 2013- 12th 1:46:44, 2014- 10th 1:34:08, 2015- 7th 1:35:38 Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 2008- 8th 1:23:26, 2016- 8th 1:30:12 Worlds: 2006- 12th, 2011- 15th 1:36:40, 2015- 8th 1:33:22

Career notes Pike followed Joshua George under the Grandma’s Marathon course record in Duluth in 2012 to qualify for London 2012, where he was 16th. He made his London Marathon debut in 2013 and finished 20th. He was seventh in 2016 and 2017. He also finished seventh in Boston last April when he took two minutes from his PB to rank equal sixth in the world. He has been in the top 10 five times in Boston and six times in Chicago. After just missing a spot on the 2008 Paralympic team, he qualified for London 2012 to compete in four events – the 1500m, 5000m, marathon and 4x400m relay. He competed at 1500m and marathon in Rio having raced at 1500m and 5000m at the 2015 Worlds in Doha. Personal notes Pike suffered a spinal cord injury in December 1999 at 13 when he was accidentally shot during a deerhunting trip in Virginia. He was introduced to wheelchair racing by Ironman triathlete Carlos Moleda, a legendary wheelchair racer. He took up para-Nordic skiing in 2012 and competed in biathlon and cross country skiing at the 2014 Winter Paralympics and the 2014/15 World Championships. Born in Park Rapids, Minnesota, he has a sociology degree from the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign where he now lives. He was recruited to play wheelchair basketball for the university and has competed internationally in that sport.

Career notes Madera achieved his highest finish in six London Marathon appearances in 2014, finishing sixth in 1:35:05 after being outside the top 10 in the previous two years. He was 14th last year in his quickest London time so far six days after smashing his personal best to place ninth in Boston in 1:22:10. He went on to place third in Chicago in 1:30:25, a first ever podium place at a World Marathon Majors race. He was 15th at the 2011 World Championships, more than five and a half minutes behind the winner, having finished eighth at the Paralympics in 2008 in what was then his PB. He was eighth again in Rio in 1:30:12. He also competed over 5000m in Rio. He was 14th over 5000m at the Paralympics in Beijing, but did not compete at London 2012 or the 2013 Worlds. He was 12th at both 1500m and 5000m at the 2015 Worlds and 13th at both distances at the London 2017 Worlds last summer. His first international was the European Championships in 2005 when he also competed in the Mediterranean Games. He took part in world indoor and outdoor championships in 2006. Personal notes His full name is Jorge Madera Jimenez. He is one of four children. He injured his back in a work accident when he was a child and started para-athletics in 2002. He was born in Granollers and lives in Les Franqueses del Vallès.

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VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Ryota Yoshida (Japan)

Krige Schabort (United States)

Born: 28 September 1981 Marathon best: 1:23:18 Boston 2017 London Marathon record: 2015- 11th 1:35:35, 2016- 20th 1:40:34, 2017- 12th 1:31:11 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2016- 4th 1:29:53, 2017- 3rd 1:32:43 Boston: 2017- 11th 1:23:18 Chicago: 2017- 8th 1:30:32 New York: 2017- 17th 1:53:40 Tokyo: 2017- 4th 1:28:03, 2018- 8th 1:31:33 Marathons in major championships Worlds: 2015- 11th 1:35:35

Born: 8 September 1963 Marathon best: 1:24:22 Boston 2011 London Marathon record: 2008- 4th 1:34:02, 2012- 3rd 1:32:28, 2014- 15th 1:38:01, 2017- 10th 1:31:11 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Boston: 2008- 2nd 1:30:39, 2009- 4th 1:38:06, 2010- 2nd 1:26:56, 2011- 4th 1:24:22, 2013- 11th 1:31:47 Chicago: 2008- 3rd 1:36:21, 2013- 8th 1:35:21, 2017- 14th 1:31:35 New York: 2001- dnf, 2002- 1st 1:38:27, 2003- 1st 1:32:19, 2004- 2nd 1:33:19, 2005- 4th 1:33:16, 2006- 13th 1:47:48, 2007- 2nd 1:35:08, 2008- 6th 1:49:06, 2009- 2nd 1:35:58, 2010- 4th 1:39:37, 2011- 14th 1:46:39, 2013- 6th 1:42:25, 2016- 7th 1:40:16 Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 1992- 3rd 1:30:23, 1996- 9th 1:37:27, 2000- 2nd 1:29:28, 2004- 15th 1:39:53, 2012- 10th 1:33:05 Worlds: 2002- 2nd 1:28:33, 2006- 7th 1:29:58

Career notes Ryota Yoshida was 11th in the 2015 Marathon World Championships in London in 1:35:35. He was 12th in London last year and went on to place third in Berlin after racing to fourth there in 2016 when he had the same time, 1:29:53, as van Dyk in second and Nishida in third. He lowered his PB by more than four minutes when he was 11th in Boston last April in 1:23:18, ninth quickest T54 time in the world last year. He was eighth in Tokyo this February. He was ranked seventh in the world in 2015 for T54s with what was then a PB of 1:27:38 from the Seoul Marathon. He clocked 1:29:08 in Seoul in 2016 to rank 17th. Personal notes Yoshida injured his spinal cord in a motorcycle accident aged 24, one year after starting work as a firefighter. He started wheelchair racing after being introduced to the sport during his rehabilitation. He is married with one daughter and one son.

Career notes The former world and Paralympic marathon silver medallist finished 10th on his return to London last year with his quickest time yet. He was third in 2012 and fourth in 2008. He won the New York title in 2002 and 2003 and has finished second in Boston and third in Chicago in more recent years. He shaved seconds from his PB when he was fourth in Boston in 2011. He also won the Honolulu, Los Angeles and Walt Disney marathons that year, and took gold in the Ironman World Championship with a course record. He was inducted into the Honolulu Hall of Fame in 2004 for winning seven Honolulu Marathons in a row. His international career goes back to the 1992 Paralympics when he won bronze for South Africa in the marathon. He improved to silver eight years later and was 10th for USA at London 2012 before switching to paratriathlon for Rio where he was fifth. He was para-triathlon world champion in 2014 and second in 2015 and 2016. Personal notes Schabort lost his legs in a bomb explosion in 1987 while serving with the South African military. He started racing in 1989. In 1993, he and his brother started South Africa’s first racing wheelchair company. He married Caron Erica in 1995 and they moved to USA in 1997, initially to train for the Sydney 2000 Games.

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VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Simon Lawson (Great Britain & NI)

Tomoki Suzuki (Japan)

Born: 7 June 1982 Marathon best: 1:25:06 Boston 2017 London Marathon record: 2011- 12th 1:43:19, 2013- 18th 1:40:54, 2014- 19th 1:39:42, 2015- 10th 1:34:21, 2016- 10th 1:37:02, 2017- 24th 1:36:57 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2015- 5th 1:33:48, 2016- 6th 1:29:57, 2017- 8th1:32:55 Boston: 2017- 13th 1:25:06 Chicago: 2015- 9th 1:30:58, 2016- 8th 1:33:12, 2017- 11th 1:30:36 New York: 2014- 11th 1:34:21, 2016- 6th 1:40:12, 2017- 11th 1:43:48 Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 2016- 14th 1:32:15 Worlds: 2015- 10th 1:34:21

Born: 14 June 1994 Marathon best: 1:26:03 Oita 2016 London Marathon record: 2017- 16th 1:31:12 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Chicago: 2017- 7th 1:30:31 New York: 2017- 8th 1:40:38 Tokyo: 2016- 5th 1:26:11, 2017- 3rd 1:28:02, 2018- 2nd 1:26:24 Marathons in major championships: None

Career notes Tomoki Suzuki was second at the Tokyo Marathon this February when losing a sprint finish to Hiroyuki Yamamoto after the pair had broken clear of the pack early in the race.

Career notes Simon Lawson lowered his personal best to 1:25:06 at the Boston Marathon last April to become the fastest Briton over 26.2 miles (now quicker than Weir) and rank No.2 in the world for T53 racers. He went on to place eighth in Berlin and 11th in Chicago and New York. He had chalked up four top 10 finishes in WMM races in 2016 and placed 14th in the Rio Paralympic marathon where he was Britain’s top finisher. He was 10th in that year’s London Marathon for the second year in a row and a week later broke 1:30 for the first time when he clocked 1:29:39 in Seoul. He has improved his PB every year for the last five years. He first raced the London Marathon in 2011, when he was 12th, and he finished 18th in 2013. He was 19th in 2014 in 1:39:42 before finishing 11th in New York. He won the Great Manchester Run over 10km in 2012, 2013 and 2014, and broke the Silverstone Half Marathon record in 2011, a time eclipsed by Weir in 2012.

He ranked 10th in the world in 2016 after clocking 1:26:03 in Oita that October. He ranked 15th last year with 1:28:02 when he was third in Tokyo, just one second behind Hug. After finishing 16th in London last year, he went on to clinch top 10 places in Chicago and New York. He won a gold medal for Japan in the 4x400m relay at the London 2017 World Championships last July when he was also a finalist in the T54 800m and 1500m. He made the semi-finals of the T54 800m at the 2015 Worlds in Doha and was 22nd in the 5000m. Personal notes He injured his spine in a traffic accident when he was eight months old, resulting in paraplegia. He took up para-athletics in primary school in Chiba where he still lives. He was introduced to the sport by wheelchair marathon racer Nobukazu Hanaoka. He studied information management at Josai International University and is now an office worker.

His appearance at the 2015 Marathon World Championships was his first British international and he crowned it with a top 10 finish. He missed the London 2012 Paralympic Games qualifying time by just 60 seconds. Personal notes Lawson injured his spine racing motocross in 2001 on his home track in Maryport, Cumbria. A former British junior speedway champion, he is the son of former professional Steve Lawson. His brother Richard rides motocross for the Peterboro Panthers. He works as a motorcycle mechanic and is coached by Ian Thompson and Paula Dunn.

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VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Sho Watanabe (Japan)

Daniel Romanchuk (United States)

Born: 23 November 1991 Marathon best: 1:26:22 Seoul 2017 London Marathon record: 2017- 39th 1:54:30 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Chicago: 4th 1:30:26 New York: 2017- 3rd 1:39:51 Tokyo: 2016- 9th 1:35:29, 2017- 1st 1:28:01 2018- 5th 1:31:31 Marathons in major championships Worlds: 2013- 8th 1:37:00

Born: 8 March 1998 Baltimore Marathon best: 1:26:26 Boston 2017 London Marathon record: 2017- 26th 1:39:43 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Boston: 2017- 16th 1:26:26 Chicago: 2016- 17th 1:45:31, 2017- 9th 1:30:33 New York: 2016- 15th 1:48:07 Marathons in major championships: None

Career notes Sho Watanabe sprung a shock on Marcel Hug at the 2017 Tokyo Marathon last February when he defeated the Paralympic champion in a sprint finish. It was Hug’s first defeat in seven races in the inaugural World Marathon Majors series and ended his hopes of a clean sweep of victories in all eight events. Watanabe’s time on Tokyo’s new faster course of 1:28:01 was a huge improvement on 2016 when he was ninth in 1:35:29. He was fifth this year in 1:31:31 behind Van Dyk and Fearnley after losing touch with Hiroyuki Yamamoto and Tomoki Suzuki. He lowered his personal best to 1:26:22 at the Seoul Marathon last April shortly after struggling to 39th place on his London debut. He ranked 13th in the world last year. Watanabe finished eighth in the 2013 World Championships marathon in Lyon, but didn’t contest the marathon at the Worlds in 2015. He won a gold medal with Japan’s 4x400m relay team at the London 2017 World Championships last July. He was also fifth over 1500m. He didn’t qualify for Japan’s Rio Paralympic team. He raced on the track at the 2014 Asian Para Games, finishing seventh at 400m and eighth at 5000m. Personal notes Watanabe was injured in a car acccident in 2011 aged 19, and took up the sport while he was still in hospital. Within two years he was part of Japan’s World Championship team, contesting the 10,000m and marathon. He lives in Fukuoka and his hero is David Weir.

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Career notes Romanchuk lowered his personal best by nine minutes at the superfast Boston Marathon last April when the 19-year-old was 16th in 1:26:26. He placed 26th on his London Marathon debut six days later and went on to grab his first top 10 finish in Chicago last October when he was ninth in 1:30:33. He ranked 14th in the world last year. He competed in the heats of five track events at the Rio 2016 Paralympics – the T54 100m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and 5000m – and was seventh in the 800m final at the London 2017 Worlds. He raced in the 800m and 1500m at the 2015 World Championships in Doha and won gold in the T54 5000m at the 2015 ParaPan American Games in Toronto. Personal notes He was born in Baltimore with spina bifida and now lives in Urbana and is a member of the University of Illinois Wheelchair Racing Team. He is coached by Adam Bleakney. He has competed in para-swimming and para-triathlon at national level, and has played wheelchair basketball and ice sledge hockey for the Bennett Blazers in Baltimore.

VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Brian Siemann (United States)

Pierre Fairbank (France)

Born: 7 October 1989 Brooklyn, New York Marathon best: 1:26:46 Boston 2017 London Marathon record: 2016- 22nd 1:53:42, 2017- 27th 1:39:44 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Boston: 2015- 25th 1:56:24, 2016- 15th 1:42:46, 2017- 17th 1:26:46 Chicago: 2015- 20th 1:45:18, 2016 - 13th 1:38:43, 2017- 19th 1:39:02 New York: 2011- 18th 1:52:39, 2013- 21st 2:02:13, 2014- 23rd 1:44:29, 2015- 9th 1:36:59, 2016- 16th 1:51:06, 2017- 12th 1:44:18 Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 2012- 25th 1:54:51

Born: 27 July 1971 Nouméa, New Caledonia Marathon best: 1:28:50 Seoul 2017 London Marathon record: 2002- 7th 1:57:48, 2014- 5th 1:35:05, 2015- 4th 1:31:33, 2016- 9th 1:35:57, 2017- 18th 1:33:41 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2002- 3rd 1:28:59 Boston: 2001- 7th 1:39:33 New York: 2013- 7th 1:42:29, 2014- 6th 1:30:59, 2016- 10th 1:44:27, 2017- 6th 1:39:58 Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 2000- dns, 2012- dnf, 2016- 9th 1:30:12 Worlds: 1998- 12th 1:40:59, 2002- dns, 2011- 7th 1:31:11, 2013- dnf, 2015- 4th 1:31:33

Career notes Brian Siemann ranked third in the world last year among T53 racers after lowering his personal best by eight minutes in Boston to 1:26:46.

Career notes Fairbank was fourth in London three years ago when he missed a world medal by less than a second. He was fifth in 2014, but crashed into a small traffic island on his previous appearance in 2002 when he’d started as the favourite and fastest in the field. He was 18th last year.

He was 27th on his second appearance in London the following weekend and went on to place 19th in Chicago and 12th in New York. He has completed 10 Chicago Marathons, nine in Boston and six in New York. He made the final of three events at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, finishing fourth in the 800m, fifth at 400m and seventh at 100m. At London 2012, he was sixth at 400m and eighth at 800m. He was knocked out in the heats of the 200m and came 25th in the marathon. He has also competed on the track for USA at the 2011, 2013 and 2015 World Championships, finishing fourth at 400m and 800m in Doha. He competed in five finals at the London 2017 Worlds, finishing fifth in the 800m. Personal notes Born in Brooklyn, New York, he was paralysed from the waist down due to complications during birth. He is a quadruplet with sisters Amanda, Maria and Jessica. He took up athletics at school thanks to high school coach Joe McLaughlin, and now lives in Champaign, Illinois, where he is a teaching assistant. He is coached by Adam Bleakney at the University of Illinois. He took part in the Push Across Cayman event in February 2015 in the Cayman Islands. He travelled 55 miles around the island in his racing chair to raise awareness of people with an impairment. He was joined by fellow US para-athletes Ryan Chalmers, Susannah Scaroni, Aaron Pike and Tatyana McFadden.

He improved his 15-year-old marathon best by nine seconds in Seoul a week later when he clocked 1:28:50, good enough to rank fourth in the world last year for T53s. He was also sixth in New York last November. He won gold in the T53 200m at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics plus silver in the 400m and bronze at 800m. He contested the same events in Athens but didn’t win a medal although he helped France to a silver in the 4x400m and bronze in the 4x100m. In Beijing 2008 he again missed out on individual medals but won a team bronze in the 4x400m. He won no medals in London, but bagged an 800m silver and 400m bronze at Rio 2016. He also has two bronze medals from the 2013 World Championships, three from Doha 2015, and at London 2017 won silver at 800m, plus bronze at 200m and 400m. He broke the T53 400m world record in 2004 and 800m record in 2008. Personal notes Born and brought up in New Caledonia, Fairbank took up athletics aged 15 after suffering inflammation of the spinal cord as a result of myelitis. He made his international debut in 1998 and was named New Caledonia’s Sportsman of the Year in 2008. He was an ambassador of the 2011 Pacific Games in New Caledonia. He is a teacher, coach and councillor, and has one daughter, born in 2010.

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VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Patrick Monahan (Ireland)

Hong Suk-Man (South Korea)

Born: 14 January 1986 Marathon best: 1:29:11 Seoul 2017 London Marathon record: 2015- 23rd 1:46:47, 2016- 15th 1:38:38, 2017- 19th 1:33:41 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2015- 7th 1:39:52, 2017- 13th 1:46:24 Chicago: 2015- 15th 1:38:57, 2016- 12th 1:37:22 Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 2016- 16th 1:40:26 Worlds: 2015- 23rd 1:46:47

Born: 7 December 1975 Marathon best: 1:29:13 Seoul 2015 London Marathon record: 2016- 14th 1:38:37, 2017- 23rd 1:36:24 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: None Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 2012- 19th 1:39:41, 2016- dns Worlds: 2013- dnf

Career notes Patrick Monahan has steadily improved over the last three years, slicing time from his personal best in almost every race he has entered. His pre-2015 best was set in October 2014 when he broke the Dublin Marathon course record in 1:52:43. Then he was 24th at the 2015 London Marathon in 1:46:47. He lowered that PB again at that September’s Berlin Marathon, where he was seventh in 1:39:52, and yet again in Chicago a few weeks later when he was 15th in 1:38:57. He took a few more seconds off in London two years ago when he clocked 1:38:38 in 15th place, and just a week later was almost nine minutes faster when he recorded 1:29:45 in Seoul. He returned to Seoul last April and took another few seconds off to rank fifth in the world for T53s with 1:29:11.

Career notes Hong Suk-Man lowered his personal best to 1:29:13 at his hometown marathon in Seoul three years ago having set Korean records there in previous years. He won the title in 2014 in 1:33:59. He was close to his best in Seoul last April in 2016 when he clocked 1:29:34 to rank 19th in the world. He ranked 29th last year with 1:35:13. He was 14th on his London Marathon debut two years ago and 23rd last year. He did not start the Paralympic marathon in Rio after competing in four events on the track. His best result was fourth in the 4x400m relay. He won three medals at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, taking gold at T53 100m and 200m and silver at 400m. He clinched 400m gold in 2008 but was out of the medals at London 2012 where he finished 19th in the marathon. He has three medals from World Championships: a 200m bronze in 2006, a relay silver in 2011 and a relay bronze in 2013. He also won two bronze medals at the 2014 Asian Para Games.

He was 16th in the Rio Paralympic marathon and raced for Ireland over 800m and 1500m at the London 2017 World Championships.

Personal notes He was diagnosed with polio at three and took up athletics in 1995 aged 20.

Personal notes He first used a racing chair in August 2013, six years after being paralysed when his car overturned on a patch of ice.

His wife, Esuko, is from Japan. They met when she was volunteering at the 1998 International Wheelchair Marathon in Oita, Japan. They have a son, Jimin.

After just two months in the chair he placed third in the 2013 Dublin Marathon, despite doing an extra two miles because he was misdirected on the course. In May 2014 he won the Belfast Marathon in 2:06:21. He comes from Naas in county Kildare and trains at Mondello Park International Racing Circuit to avoid potential accidents on public roads. His father, Mick Monahan, refereed the 2005 All Ireland Gaelic football final between Tyrone and Kerry.

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He was South Korea’s torch bearer at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Alex DuPont (Canada)

Jose Jiménez (Costa Rica)

Born: 3 September 1985 Marathon best: 1:31:27 Chicago 2017 London Marathon record: 2017- dnf Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Chicago: 2016- 10th 1:33:40, 2017- 13th 1:31:27 Marathons in major championships: None

Born: 2 July 1982 Marathon best: 1:31:36 Duluth 2015 London Marathon record: 2016- 16th 1:38:38, 2017- 30th 1:44:24 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Chicago: 2013- 19th 1:43, 2014- 14th 1:44, 2015- 18th 1:42:17, 2016- 14th 1:38:47, 2017- 18th 1:39:01 New York: 2015- 21st 2:06:40, 2016- 23rd 2:02:32 Marathons in major championships Paralympics: 2016- 15th 1:35:58

Career notes Alexandre DuPont made his London Marathon debut last year but dropped out before half way. He placed 10th in Chicago the previous October in 1:33:40 to rank 27th in the world for 2016. He went a couple of seconds quicker in Chicago last October to rank 24th for 2017, second quickest Canadian after Josh Cassidy. He has represented his country on the track at two Paralympic Games and four World Championships, winning three relay medals – a 4x400m relay gold at the 2013 Worlds, bronze at the 2011 Worlds and bronze in Rio following a re-run final after the Canadian team had been assigned to the wrong lane. He also competed in the heats of the 400m, 800m and 1500m in Rio. He won a 1500m bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Personal notes DuPont’s right leg was amputated after he was involved in a motorcycle accident at 17. He took up wheelchair racing a year later after watching it on television. His wife, Ilana, won a silver and bronze medal in paraathletics at the 2015 ParaPan American Games in Toronto. They have a daughter, Amelia, and live in SaintGeorges-de-Clarenceville in Quebec. He owns Revolution Sport Equipment, a company that manufactures specialist equipment for wheelchair racers, including many of his own competitors. Before his accident he was an electrician.

Career notes Jiménez was 16th on his London Marathon debut in 2016 but could only finish 30th last year. He was 15th at the Rio Paralympics. He went on to place 14th in Chicago and 23rd in New York. He was 18th in Chicago last October. He ranked 28th in the world last year with 1:34:15 from the Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth where he set his personal best of 1:31:36 in 2015. He competed over 100m and 400m at the 2011 World Championships. He is Costa Rica’s national champion at 100m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and marathon. Personal notes His full name is Jose Jiménez Hernandez. He injured his spinal cord in an accident and started competing in 2002. He lives in Orotina. He has focused on the marathon since 2013.

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VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 JohnBoy Smith (Great Britain & NI)

Brent Lakatos (Canada)

Born: 27 November 1989 Sale, Manchester Marathon best: 1:32:45 Berlin 2017 London Marathon record: 2015- 20th 1:46:17, 2016- 18th 1:38:40, 2017- 17th 1:33:40 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2017- 5th 1:32:45 New York: 2015- 14th 1:40:36, 2017- 2nd 1:39:40 Marathons in major championships Worlds: 2015- 20th 1:46:17

Born: 6 January 1980 Dorval Marathon best: 1:32:55 Berlin 2017 London Marathon record: None Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2017- 7th 1:32:55 Marathons in major championships: None

Career notes JohnBoy Smith made a breakthrough to the top ranks of wheelchair racing last year when he picked up his first ever World Marathon Majors points finishing fifth in Berlin in a personal best, then a remarkable second behind Marcel Hug in New York. It is the latest advance in a steady improvement by the Briton who ranked 26th in the world last year with his Berlin time of 1:32:45. He was 20th in London in 2015, the third Briton behind Weir and Lawson, clocking 1:46:17. He improved a year later to place 18th in 1:38:40, and last year was 17th exactly five minutes quicker, again third Briton. He clocked a then PB of 1:40:36 at the 2015 New York Marathon and then won the highly-prized Dubai Marathon in January 2016 in 1:35:56. He reduced his PB still further in Seville that February when he was second to Jordi Madera in 1:35:25, and the improvement continued at the end of April when he clocked 1:35:04 in Seoul, just a week after the 2016 London Marathon. That ranked him 29th in the world that year for T54 racers. Personal notes He was born into the Romany Gypsy community in Sale, Manchester, and now lives in Gravesend. Formerly a boxer, he was paralysed in 2006 at 16 when a local gamekeeper mistook Smith and his friends for poachers and shot Smith in the back. He took up powerlifting and broke two British records. Then he saw the London 2012 Games on TV and started doing shot put, javelin and discus. His javelin event was withdrawn from the Rio 2016 Games so he switched to wheelchair racing in April 2015 and within weeks was third Briton in the London Marathon. He started training with David Weir and is now coached by Weir and Jenny Archer.

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Career notes Brent Lakatos was seventh on his marathon debut in Berlin last September after a hugely successful career on the track during which he has won one Paralympic and 11 world titles. He was one of the most successful athletes at the London 2017 World Championships last summer when he claimed four gold medals from 100m to 800m and was fifth in the 1500m. He won three golds and a silver at the Doha 2015 Worlds, plus four golds and a silver in 2013. In all, he has 16 world medals to his name. He won the Paralympic 100m title in 2016 and has eight Paralympic track medals in all from London 2012 and Rio. His time in Berlin meant he ranked seventh in the world for T53 athletes in 2017. Personal notes Born in Dorval, he injured his spine in a skating accident aged six and began para-athletics at 15 when introduced to the sport by Canadian Paralympic champion Andre Vige. He also played wheelchair basketball for the University of Texas and helped the team win the 2002 national title. He now trains in Loughborough where he llives with his wife, Stefanie Reid, a British athlete who won Paralympic long jump silvers at the 2012 and 2016 Games and World gold in London last July. At the London 2012 Games the pair made a friendly bet that whoever won a gold medal would not have to wash the dishes. They each won silver medals.

VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Zhang Yong (China)

Alhassane Balde (Germany)

Born: 25 May 1992 Shangluo Marathon best: 1:33:20 London Marathon record: None Other Abbott World Marathon Majors New York: 2017- 15th 1:50:51 Marathons in major championships: None

Born: 21 December 1985 Conakry, Guinea Marathon best: 1:35:33 Schenkon 2014 London Marathon record: 2015- 12th 1:38:31 Other Abbott World Marathon Majors Berlin: 2017- 9th 1:37:56 Marathons in major championships Worlds: 2015- 12th 1:38:31

Career notes Zhang was one of four athletes from China who took part in last year’s New York Marathon for the first time. He placed 15th in the men’s race in 1:50:51. Personal notes He was born in Shangluo with an impairment to his feet and took up the sport in 2010 in Shaanxi when he was 18.

Career notes Alhassane Balde is Germany’s top-ranked wheelchair racer after clocking 1:35:33 in Schenkon in 2014. He ranked 31st in the world last year after placing ninth in Berlin with 1:37:56. He was 12th at the London Marathon three years ago, clocking 1:38:31. He was due to race last year but did not start. He won bronze medals in the 1500m and 5000m at the 2017 World Championships. He has competed for Germany at three Paralympic Games, three World Championships and two European Championships. He also won European silvers at 1500m and 5000m in 2014 and 5000m bronze in 2016. His highest finish at the Paralympics was sixth over 1500m in Rio. He also competed in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 but missed out on London 2012. He handcycled in the 2014 Boston Marathon. Personal notes He has been paraplegic since birth due to a medical error. Born in Guinea, he travelled to Düsseldorf, Germany, when he was nine months old for medical treatment and later adopted at four years old by his uncle and aunt who lived there. German doctors believed his chances of surviving in Guinea were less than those in Germany. He took up the sport after receiving a racing wheelchair as a sixth birthday gift from a company at the Care and Rehabilitation Exhibition in Düsseldorf. He now lives in Bonn where he works as a consultant.

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VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Dai Yungqiang (China) Born: 20 July 1990 Qingdao Marathon best: 1:36:45 London Marathon record: None Other Abbott World Marathon Majors New York: 2017- dnf Marathons in major championships: None

Wheelchair Awards & Bonuses Awards for place 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th

Men Women $25,000 $25,000 $14,000 $14,000 $10,500 $10,500 $7,500 $7,500 $4,500 $4,500 $3,500 $3,500 $2,250 $2,250 $1,800 $1,800 $1,400 $1,400 $900 $900 $71,350 $71,350

Total: $142,700 Career notes Dai was one of four athletes from China who took part in last year’s New York Marathon for the first time. He dropped out at 40km when he got a flat tyre. Personal notes He was born in Qingdao with an impairment to his lower limbs. He began training full-time in 2009 aged 19 after his father took him to a sports school.

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Course record: $5,000

$5,000

Britons outside top 10 1st $200 $200 2nd $100 $100 3rd $50 $50


07 ABBOTT WORLD MARATHON MAJORS How it Works The World Marathon Majors Series was set up on 23 January 2006 when the directors of the world’s five leading races – in Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York – announced they would pay a total of US$ 1million to the top man and woman marathon runners at the end of a two-year cycle.

New anti-doping protocols

That cycle would include these ‘big five’ premier city marathons plus any IAAF World Championships or Olympic Games marathons held during the period. A sixth city marathon was added in 2013 when the Tokyo Marathon joined the series, and in October 2014 the series became the Abbott World Marathon Majors when the Illinois-based global health care company was named as title sponsor for four years from 2015.

Prize money payments are now adjusted to take advantage of long-term biological mapping of athletes. Awards are no longer made in one lump sum but paid out over the course of five years.

The series aims to elevate marathon running in the public eye by focusing the world’s best marathon runners on the world’s best marathons. It aims to be simple to follow and an intriguing platform for the sport. Each of the member races boasts international elite fields for men and women, has a mass field competing on the same course as the elites, takes place in a major international market, and is regarded as among the very best in the industry. Collectively, the group annually attracts more than 6.5 million on-course spectators, more than 300 million television viewers, and more than 200,000 participants. The races also raise nearly $150 million for charity and have an economic impact on their cities amounting to almost $1.5 billion.

A new format

A new format was announced on 20 February 2015 which replaced the two-year contest with a one-year cycle featuring a rotating start and finish for each of the six annual series races. Series IX began on 22 February at the 2015 Tokyo Marathon and ended on completion of the February 2016 Tokyo Marathon. Series X began at the 2016 Boston Marathon and ended on completion of the 2017 Boston Marathon. Series XI began at the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon and ends at this year’s London Marathon. Each subsequent series will begin and end at the next World Marathon Majors race on the calendar. The Olympic and IAAF World Championship marathons will be part of the race schedule in the years they are held, but will not begin or end a series.

The AWMM also strengthened its anti-doping efforts. Together with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the AWMM has created a pool of championship-eligible runners who are required to undergo additional out-of-competition drug testing.

New prize structure

A new prize structure has been introduced for Series XI, which will conclude at the 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon. Prize money will be awarded to the top three men and women in both the open and wheelchair series, rather than just to the indidivual winners. The top runners in a series will receive $250,000 each with $50,000 going to second and $25,000 to third, while the top wheelchair racers will get $50,000 each, with £25,000 and $10,000 going to second and third respectively.

New charity programme

A new charity programme has also been introduced for Series XI in which $10,000 will be donated to charity for each winner of an AbbottWMM race (barring the World Championships). With four races at each of the seven city events, that makes $280,000 in total. Each race winner will nominate a charity to receive $10,000 in their name.

Age Group World Rankings

In November 2017, the AWMM and partners Abbott and Wanda Group announced the creation of a global age group marathon ranking system and age group world championships. World rankings for men and women aged 40 to 80+ will be launched in September 2018 at the start of Series XII and the top-ranked athletes in each age group will qualify for the first AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Championships in spring 2020. Runners in nine age groups will earn points according to their times from two of more than 25 qualifying marathons around the world. For more details about any of the Abbott World Marathon Majors initiatives go to www.worldmarathonmajors.com

Under the new rules, the winners of each of these races earn 25 points apiece, with 16 going to second place, nine to third, four to fourth and one to fifth. To win a prize, runners must start at least two races over the series cycle. If an athlete earns points in more than two events, the athlete’s highest two finishes will be scored.

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VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 The scoring system Athletes earn the following points by placing among the top five in qualifying races during the 12-month period: 1st place – 25 points 2nd place – 16 points 3rd place – 9 points 4th place – 4 points 5th place – 1 point The champions are the male and female athletes who score the most points during the one-year scoring period. Points from a maximum of two races are scored. An athlete must start in two races over the cycle to be eligible. If an athlete earns points in more than two events, the athlete’s highest two finishes are scored. If there’s a tie, the athlete finishing first in any head-to-head competition is declared the winner. If their head-to-head record is level, the winner is the athlete who won more qualifying races during the period. If they are still level, the six AWMM race directors determine the champion. They may decide to award the title jointly. No athlete found guilty of any anti-doping rules enforced by the IAAF, World Anti-Doping Association (WADA), national federations, or any individual AWMM race is eligible to win the AWMM title. Athletes must comply with the AWMM Code of Conduct.

WMM champions WMM Series Men Women Series I: 2006/07 Robert K Cheruiyot (KEN) Gete Wami (ETH) Series II: 2007/08 Martin Lel (KEN) Irina Mikitenko (GER) Series III: 2008/09 Sammy Wanjiru (KEN) Irina Mikitenko (GER) Series IV: 2009/10 Sammy Wanjiru (KEN) Irina Mikitenko (GER) * Series V: 2010/11 Emmanuel Mutai (KEN) Edna Kiplagat (KEN) * Series VI: 2011/12 Geoffrey Mutai (KEN) Mary Keitany (KEN) Series VII: 2012/13 Tsegaye Kebede (ETH) Priscah Jeptoo (KEN) Series VIII: 2013/14 Wilson Kipsang (KEN) Edna Kiplagat (KEN) ** Series IX: 2015/16 Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) Mary Keitany (KEN) Series X: 2016/17 Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) Edna Kiplagat (KEN) *** Series XI: 2017/18 TBC TBC * Liliya Shobukhova (RUS) was the original winner of Series IV and V but she was banned from competition for a doping violation in April 2014 and all her results from 9 October 2009 have been annulled. ** Rita Jeptoo (KEN) was the original winner of Series VIII but she was banned from competition for a doping violation and all her results since 17 April 2014 have been annulled. Jeptoo won four races in the 2013/14 series but gave positive A and B samples in an out-of-competition test in September 2014. *** Jemima Sumgong (KEN) won two races in Series X but she was disqualified after she was banned in 2017 following a doping violation.

The qualifying races Series XI (2017/18) 23 April 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon 6 August 2017 IAAF World Championships men’s marathon 6 August 2017 IAAF World Championships women’s marathon 24 September 2017 BMW Berlin Marathon 8 October 2017 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 5 November 2017 TCS New York City Marathon 25 February 2018 Tokyo Marathon 16 April 2018 BAA Boston Marathon 22 April 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon Series X began at the 2016 Boston Marathon and ended at the 2017 Boston Marathon. Series XI began at the 2017 London Marathon and ends at the 2018 London Marathon. Series XII will begin at the 2018 Berlin Marathon and end at the 2019 Berlin Marathon. Series XIII will begin at the 2019 Chicago Marathon and end at the 2020 Chicago Marathon. Series XIV will begin at the 2020 New York City Marathon and end at the 2021 New York City Marathon. Each subsequent series will begin and end at the next AWMM race on the calendar. The Olympic and IAAF World Championship marathons will be included in the race schedule in the years they are held, but will not begin or end the series.

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Abbott World Marathon Majors Races

Tokyo Marathon Organised by the Tokyo Marathon Foundation, the inaugural Tokyo Marathon was held on 18 February 2007, and drew 95,044 applicants and 30,870 participants. Kenya’s Daniel Njenga (2:09:45) and Japan’s Hitomi Niiya (2:31:01) were the first champions. Since then, the Tokyo Marathon has grown to more than 300,000 applicants and nearly 36,000 participants. Through its theme, ‘The Day We Unite’, the Tokyo Marathon brings together runners, volunteers and spectators. In 2011, the Tokyo Marathon implemented its own charity program, ‘Run with Heart’, through which donors can contribute to various charitable activities. In 2016, the number of charity runner entrants reached its capacity of 3,000 for the first time and close to US$3 million was raised. The official race logo was renewed for its 10th anniversary event in 2016 to portray the runners, volunteers and cheering crowds along the course, which symbolises the race theme. The 2017 Tokyo Marathon, held on 26 February 2017, was the first on a new course that finished in front of the Tokyo station. Since Tokyo was chosen to host the 2020 Olympic Games, the Tokyo Marathon is gaining more attention and popularity from home and abroad. Inaugural Running: 2007 Largest Field:

34,819 finishers (2013)

Recent Participation: Year Finishers (Male/Female) 2018 34,575 (26,663 / 7,912) 2017 33,974 (26,278 / 7,696) 2016 34,697 (27,121 / 7,576) 2015 34,049 (26,827 / 7,222) 2014 34,126 (27,203 / 6,923) Estimated Number of Spectators:

1.6 million

Course Records:

Men: 2:03:58 (Wilson Kipsang, KEN, 2017) Women: 2:19:47 (Sarah Chepchirchir, KEN, 2017)

Most Victories:

Men: 2 (Dickson Chumba, KEN) Women: 2 (Berhane Dibaba, ETH)

Prize purse:

US$400,000 / JPY40.5 million (US$108,000 / JPY11 million to male and female champions)

Wheelchair course records:

Men: 1:26:00 (Kurt Fearnley, AUS, 2016 – IPC-sanctioned*) Women: 1:41:04 (Wakako Tsuchida, JPN, 2016 – IPC-sanctioned*)

* wheelchair course records are those set after the race was sanctioned by the IPC in 2016

Most wheelchair victories:

Men: 5 (Masazumi Soejima, JPN) Women: 9 (Wakako Tsuchida, JPN)

Wheelchair prize purse:

US$41,000 / JPY4.2 million (US$9,800 / JPY1 million for male and female champions)

Organisation Information: Tad Hagano, Race Director www.marathon.tokyo/en Media Contacts: Ulala Nagashima Public Relations Division Tel: +81 3 5500 6653 Fax: +81 3 5500 6678 Email: [email protected] Upcoming Race Dates:

3 March 2019

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BAA Boston Marathon Inspired by their experience at the 1896 Olympic Games, several members of the Boston Athletic Association founded their own marathon in 1897. The race has been run every year since (though the 1918 edition featured a military relay rather than an individual race) and is now the world’s oldest annual marathon. Both the start and finish lines have been moved over the years, but much of the original course remains exactly as it was originally designed. Since 1924 the race has started in the town of Hopkinton, and from there the point-to-point course descends through Ashland, Framingham, Natick and Wellesley. Upon entering Newton, the course gradually rises to the famous Heartbreak Hill. As runners reach the top, they can see downtown Boston for the first time, four miles in the distance. After running through Brookline, the course enters Boston where it finishes on historic Boylston Street. Runners must qualify for entry by meeting time standards corresponding to gender and age, which is another aspect – besides its course and longevity – unique to the Boston Marathon. Inaugural Running: 1897 Largest Field:

35,868 finishers (1996)

Recent Participation: Year Finishers (Male/Female) 2017 26,400 (14,431 / 11,969) 2016 26,629 (14,463 / 12,166) 2015 26,598 (14,580 / 12,018) 2014 31,925 (17,582 / 14,343) 2013 17,600 (10,649 / 6,951)

Race stopped after 4 hours because of terror attacks

Estimated Number of Spectators: 500,000 Course Records:

Men: 2:03:02 (Geoffrey Mutai, KEN, 2011) Women: 2:19:59 (Buzunesh Deba, ETH, 2014)

Most Victories:

Men: 7 (Clarence DeMar, USA) Women: 4 (Catherine Ndereba, KEN)

Prize Purse:

US$706,000 (US$150,000 for male & female champions)


Men: 1:18:04 (Marcel Hug, SUI, 2017) Women: 1:28:17 (Manuela Schär, SUI, 2017)


Men: 10 (Ernst van Dyk, RSA) Women: 8 (Jean Driscoll, USA)



Organisation Information: Thomas Grilk, Executive Director +1 617 236 1652 www.baa.org Media Contacts: TK Skenderian, Communications Director +1 617 236 1652; [email protected] Marc Davis, Communications Manager +1 617 236 1652; [email protected] Upcoming Race Dates: 16 April 2018 15 April 2019



Virgin Money London Marathon In 1979, after running the New York City Marathon with John Disley, Chris Brasher questioned whether London could stage such a festival. “We have the course … but do we have the heart and hospitality to welcome the world?” Later that year Brasher travelled to America, where he studied the Boston and New York Marathons. On his return, Brasher and Disley secured a three-year contract with Gillette for £75,000, established the organisation’s charitable status, and set down six main aims for the event. The first London Marathon was held on 29 March 1981. More than 20,000 people wanted to run; 7,747 were accepted. There were 6,255 finishers led home by American Dick Beardsley and Norwegian Inge Simonsen. Joyce Smith broke the British record to win the women’s race. Since then, the London Marathon has grown to more than 39,000 starters and finishers, and elite runners compete for US$313,000 in prize money. Men’s and women’s world records have been set in the race, including the current women’s mark of 2:15:25 by Britain’s Paula Radcliffe in 2003. The race is viewed in more than 196 countries worldwide and watched by four to five million UK viewers via the BBC. In 2016, the London Marathon’s one millionth finisher crossed the Finish Line in The Mall. London Marathon runners have raised more than £890 million for charities while The London Marathon Charitable Trust, which owns the race, has granted more than £67 million to improve sport and recreation facilities. Inaugural Running: 1981 Largest Field:

39,487 finishers (2017)

Recent Participation: Year Finishers (Male / Female) 2017 39,487 (23,978 / 15,509) 2016 39,091 (23,984 / 15,107) 2015 37,671 (23,281 / 14,390) 2014 35,803 (22,558 / 13,245) 2013 34,278 (22,045 / 12,233) Estimated Number of Spectators: 750,000 Course Records:

Men: 2:03:05 (Eliud Kipchoge, KEN, 2016) Women Only: 2:17:01 (Mary Keitany, KEN, 2017) Women (Mixed Race): 2:15:25 (Paula Radcliffe, GBR, 2003)

Most Victories:

Men: 3 (Dionicio Ceron, MEX; Antonio Pinto, POR; Martin Lel, KEN) Women: 4 (Ingrid Kristiansen, NOR)

Prize Purse:

US$313,000 (US$55,000 to male & female champions) + bonuses


Men: 1:28:56 (Kurt Fearnley, AUS, 2009) Women: 1:39:57 (Manuela Schär, SUI, 2017)


Men: 7 (David Weir, GBR) Women: 6 (Tanni Grey-Thompson, GBR)


US$142,700 (US$25,000 to male & female champions)

Organisation Information: Nick Bitel, Chief Executive / Hugh Brasher, Event Director +44 (0)20 7902 0200 www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com @LondonMarathon Media Contacts:

Penny Dain, Communications Director +44 (0)7799 170433; [email protected]

Upcoming Race Dates: 22 April 2018 28 April 2019



BMW Berlin Marathon A group of runners from one of Germany’s most prestigious athletics clubs, SC Charlottenburg, organised the first Berlin Marathon in 1974. It was not until 1981 that the race moved from the Grunewald (a big forest) into the city centre of West Berlin. Supported by the three western allied forces (Britain, France and USA) it quickly developed into Germany’s biggest and best quality marathon. A new era began after the Berlin Wall was brought down in November 1989. On 30 September 1990, three days before reunification, the course of the Berlin Marathon led through Brandenburg Gate and both parts of Berlin. In 2001 Naoko Takahashi became the first woman to break the 2:20 barrier in Berlin. The flat and fast loop course was changed significantly for the 2003 race. Paul Tergat became the first man to cross the new finish line when he ran a world record of 2:04:55 passing through the Brandenburg Gate – the symbol for reunification. In 2007 and 2008 Haile Gebrselassie broke that record, first lowering it to 2:04:26 and then to 2:03:59, the first sub-2:04 time. In 2011, Patrick Makau reclaimed the record for Kenya, finishing in 2:03:38, only to be eclipsed two years in a row by his compatriots Wilson Kipsang, who clocked 2:03:23 in 2013, and Dennis Kimetto, who ran a barrier-breaking 2:02:57 in 2014. Inaugural Running: 1974 Largest Field:

43,852 finishers (2017)


1 million

Course Records:

Men: 2:02:57 (Dennis Kimetto, KEN, 2014) Women: 2:19:12 (Mizuki Noguchi, JPN, 2005)

Most Victories: Men: 4 (Haile Gebrselassie, ETH) Women: 3 (Uta Pippig, GER; Renata Kokowska, POL, Aberu Kebede, ETH) Prize Purse:

US$416,629 (US$50,000 to male/female champions)


Men: 1:21:39 (Heinz Frei, SUI, 1997) Women: 1:40:05 (Manuela Schär, SUI, 2017)


Men: 20 (Heinz Frei, SUI) Women: 5 (Edith Hunkeler, SUI)


US$28,100/€25,000 (US$5,600/€5,000 for male & female champions)

Organisation Information: Mark Milde, Race Director +49 30 30 12 88 10 www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com Media Contacts:

Thomas Steffens (International media) +49 171 933 4836; [email protected]

Upcoming Race Dates: 16 September 2018 29 September 2019



Bank of America Chicago Marathon In 1976 a small band of running enthusiasts met at the Metropolitan YMCA on LaSalle Street to plan a marathon in Chicago. Backed by the athletic enthusiasm of the new Chicago Mayor, Michael Bilandic, and the leadership of Lee Flaherty, this founding group realised their vision on 25 September 1977, hosting 4,200 local participants in the first Chicago Marathon. It has since expanded to 45,000 registered runners and an estimated 1.7 million oncourse spectators. The flat course begins and ends in Chicago’s historic Grant Park, sweeping through 29 diverse and colourful neighbourhoods including Lakeview, Greektown, Little Italy, Pilsen, Chinatown, and Bronzeville. The loop course and abundance of public transport options enable friends and family to cheer their runners on at many locations along the course. The Chicago Marathon has a long history of hosting the world’s fastest runners and has been the site of two men’s world records (by Steve Jones who ran 2:08:05 in 1984, and by Khalid Khannouchi who clocked 2:05:42 in 1999) and two women’s world records (in 2001 when Catherine Ndereba ran 2:18:47, and in 2002 when Paula Radcliffe clocked 2:17:18). Inaugural Running: 1977 Largest Field:

44,511 finishers (2017)


1.7 million

Course Records:

Men: 2:03:45 (Dennis Kimetto, KEN, 2013) Women: 2:17:18 (Paula Radcliffe, GBR, 2002)

Most Victories:

Men: 4 (Khalid Khannouchi MAR/USA) Women: 2 (Rosa Mota POR, Lisa Weidenbach USA, Ritva Lemettinen FIN, Marian Sutton GBR, Joyce Chepchumba KEN, Catherine Ndereba KEN, Berhane Adere ETH, Florence Kiplagat KEN)

Prize Purse:

US$753,000 (US$100,000 to male & female champions)


Men: 1:26:56 (Heinz Frei, SUI, 2010) Women: 1:39:15 (Tatyana McFadden, USA, 2017)


Men: 5 (Kurt Fearnley, AUS) Women: 8 (Tatyana McFadden, USA)



Organisation Information: Carey Pinkowski, Executive Race Director +1 312 904 9800 www.chicagomarathon.com Media Contacts:

Alex Sawyer, Director of Communications +1 312 992 6618; [email protected]

Upcoming Race Dates: 7 October 2018 6 October 2019



TCS New York City Marathon The premier event of the New York Road Runners, the TCS New York City Marathon is one of the world’s great road races, drawing more than 109,000 applicants. The race attracts many world-class professional athletes, attracted by prize money of more than US$800,000 but also by the chance to excel in the media capital of the world before more than one million cheering spectators and 330 million worldwide television viewers. As any of the more than 1.1 million past participants will attest, crossing the finish line in Central Park is one of the great thrills of a lifetime. The race was held entirely in Central Park for the first six years before moving out into the streets in 1976. It now goes through all five boroughs of New York City. With 47,323 finishers, the 2011 New York City Marathon was the largest marathon in history to date. The 2012 New York marathon was cancelled just a few days before race day following Hurricane Sandy which had devastated the city a week earlier, but the race bounced back in 2013 when 50,226 runners crossed the finish line, breaking the record set just two years before. The numbers increased in 2014 when 50,530 crossed the line, including the event’s one millionth finisher, and again in 2016 when 51,394 finished the race. Inaugural Running: 1970 Largest Field:

51,394 finishers (2016)

Recent Participation: Year Finishers (Male/Female) 2017 50,773 (29,682 / 21,091) 2016 51,394 (29,931 / 21,457) 2015 49,595 (28,899 / 20,696 2014 50,530 (30,108 / 20,422) 2013 50,226 (30,699 / 19,567) Estimated Number of Spectators:

1 million+

Course Records:

Men: 2:05:06 (Geoffrey Mutai, KEN, 2011) Women: 2:22:31 (Margaret Okayo, KEN, 2003)

Most Victories:

Men: 4 (Bill Rodgers, USA) Women: 9 (Grete Waitz, NOR)

Prize Purse:



Men: 1:29:22 (Kurt Fearnley, AUS, 2006) Women: 1:43:04 (Tatyana McFadden, USA, 2015)


Men: 5 (Kurt Fearnley, AUS) Women: 5 (Edith Hunkeler, SUI; Tatyana McFadden, USA)



Organisation Information: Peter Ciaccia, Race Director New York Road Runners www.tcsnycmarathon.org Media Contacts: Lauren Loeb, Director of Media Relations +1 212 423 2271; [email protected] Chris Weiller, Vice-President, Media & Public Relations +1 212 320 4046; [email protected] www.nyrr.org/newsroom @nyrrnews Upcoming Race Dates: 4 November 2018 3 November 2019


VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 World Records set in WMM Races Men WR 2:02:57* 2:03:23 2:03:38 2:03:59 2:04:26 2:04:55 2:05:38 2:05:42 2:06:05 2:08:05 2:12:12 2:15:17 2:25:39 2:32:36 2:55:19

Athlete Dennis Kimetto (KEN) Wilson Kipsang (KEN) Patrick Makau (KEN) Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) Paul Tergat (KEN) Khalid Khannouchi (USA) Khalid Khannouchi (MAR) Ronaldo da Costa (BRA) Steve Jones (GBR) Abebe Bikila (ETH) Abebe Bikila (ETH) Yun Bok Suh (KOR) Hannes Kolehmainen (FIN) Johnny Hayes (USA)

WMM Event Berlin Berlin Berlin Berlin Berlin Berlin London Chicago Berlin Chicago Olympics (Tokyo) Olympics (Rome) Boston Olympics (Antwerp) Olympics (London)

Date 28 September 2014 29 September 2013 25 September 2011 28 September 2008 30 September 2007 28 September 2003 14 April 2002 24 October 1999 20 September 1998 21 October 1984 21 October 1964 10 September 1960 19 April 1947 22 August 1920 24 July 1908

Athlete Paula Radcliffe (GBR) Paula Radcliffe (GBR) Catherine Ndereba (KEN) Naoko Takahashi (JPN) Tegla Loroupe (KEN) Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR) Joan Benoit Samuelson (USA) Grete Waitz (NOR) Grete Waitz (NOR) Grete Waitz (NOR) Grete Waitz (NOR) Christa Vahlensieck (GER) Liane Winter (GER)

WMM Event London Chicago Chicago Berlin Berlin London Boston London New York New York New York Berlin Boston

Date 13 April 2003 13 October 2002 7 October 2001 30 September 2001 26 September 1999 21 April 1985 18 April 1983 17 April 1983 26 October 1980 21 October 1979 22 October 1978 10 September 1977 21 April 1975

Women WR 2:15:25* 2:17:18 2:18:47 2:19:46 2:20:43 2:21:06 2:22:43 2:25:29 2:25:42 2:27:33 2:32:30 2:34:48** 2:42:24

* Current world record as at 31 March 2018 ** Set in the 1977 German marathon championships



Abbott World Marathon Majors Series X (2016/17) Third title for Kiplagat as Kipchoge retains his AbbottWMM crown Eliud Kipchoge and Edna Kiplagat were named Series X Abbott World Marathon Majors champions in 2017 at the conclusion of the the eight-race 12-month cycle. Kipchoge’s perfect record of two wins from two races again gave him an unbeatable 50-point total, good enough to pocket the $500,000 cheque as the overall men’s winner ahead of his compatriot, Wilson Kipsang, who was nine points short despite posting two sub-2:04 times. Kipchoge dominated the 2016 season winning the London Marathon for a second time with a superb course record of 2:03:05 before going on to produce a majestic performance at the Rio Olympic Games. He had to wait eight months before his Series victory was confirmed, however, for 2016 Boston Marathon winner Lemi Berhanu remained in contention until the 2017 race when he dropped out. Kiplagat topped the women’s leaderboard with 41 points thanks to her second-place finish in Chicago behind Florence Kiplagat and dominant victory at the 2017 Boston Marathon, the very last race of the Series. The 38-yearold joined Germany’s Irina Mikitenko as a three-time Majors champion after her compatriot Jemima Sumgong was disqualified following her doping ban last year.. Sumgong won the 2016 London and Olympic Marathons, but is ineligible for the title because of a doping violation and is now banned for life from all AbbottWMM events. “They say good things come in threes, and that has been true for me this year,” said Kiplagat when she was named champion in December 2017. “At Boston this spring, I was able to win in my third different AbbottWMM city. Then in the summer I was able to win my third World Championship marathon medal. And now I have won the AbbottWMM championship for the third time.”

Final Standings Men

Women

1. Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) 1st London 2016 2:03:05 1st Olympics 2016 2:08:44

50 pts 25 pts 25 pts

1. Edna Kiplagat (Kenya) 1st Boston 2017 2:21:52 2nd Chicago 2016 2:23:28


2. Wilson Kipsang (Kenya) 1st Tokyo 2016 2:03:58 2nd Berlin 2016 2:03:13


2. Florence Kiplagat (Kenya) 1st Chicago 2016 2:31:32 3rd London 2016 2:23:39

34 pts 25 pts 9 pts

3. Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) 3rd London 2016 2:03:36 1st Berlin 2016 2:03:03

34 pts 9 pts 25 pts

3. Berhane Dibaba (Ethiopia) 2nd Tokyo 2017 2:21:19 3rd Boston 2016 2:23:58


4. Ghirmay Ghebreslassie (Eritrea) 1st New York 2016 2:07:51 4th London 2016 2:07:46

29 pts 25 pts 4 pts

=4. Atsede Baysa (Ethiopia) 1st Boston 2016 2:29:19

25 pts 25 pts

=5. Dickson Chumba (Kenya) =5. Geoffrey Kirui (Kenya) =5. Abel Kirui (Kenya) =5. Lemi Berhanu Hayle (Ethiopia) =5. Galen Rupp (USA) =5. Gideon Kipketer (Kenya)

25 pts 25 pts 25 pts 25 pts 25 pts 25 pts

=4. Sarah Chepchirchir (Kenya) 1st Tokyo 2017 2:19:47

25 pts 25 pts

=4. Aberu Kebede (Ethiopia) 1st Berlin 2016 2:20:45

25 pts 25 pts

=4. Mary Keitany (Kenya) 1st New York 2016 2:24:26

25 pts 25 pts



Abbott World Marathon Majors Series XI (2017/18) Series XI started at the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon and finishes at the 2018 London Marathon.

Current standings

(as at 31 March 2018, before the 2018 Boston Marathon)

Men

Women

=1. Dickson Chumba (Kenya) 1st Tokyo 2018 2:05:30

25 pts 25 pts

=1. Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia) 2nd London 2017 2:17:56 1st Chicago 2017 2:27:54


=1. Geoffrey Kamworor (Kenya) 1st New York 2017 2:10:53

25 pts 25 pts

=1. Mary Keitany (Kenya) 1st London 2017 2:17:01 2nd New York 2017 2:27:54


=1. Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) 1st Berlin 2017 2:03:32

25 pts 25 pts

=1. Geoffrey Kirui (Kenya) 1st Worlds 2017 2:08:27

25 pts 25 pts

3. Ruti Aga (ETH) 2nd Berlin 2017 2:20:41 2nd Tokyo 2018 2:21:19


=1. Galen Rupp (United States) 1st Chicago 2017 2:09:20

25 pts 25 pts

=4. Rose Chelimo (Bahrain) 1st Worlds 2017 2:27:11

25 pts 25 pts

=1. Daniel Wanjiru (Kenya) 1st London 2017 2:05:48

25 pts 25 pts

=4. Gladys Cherono (Kenya) 1st Berlin 2017 2:20:23

25 pts 25 pts

7. Abel Kirui (Kenya) 4th London 2017 2:07:45 2nd Chicago 2017 2:09:48

20 pts 4 pts 16 pts

=4. Shalane Flanagan (United States) 25 pts 1st New York 2017 2:26:53 25 pts

=8. Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) =8. Tamirat Tola (Ethiopia) =8. Guye Adola (Ethiopia) =8. Wilson Kipsang (Kenya) =8. Yuta Shitara (Japan)

16 pts 16 pts 16 pts 16 pts 16 pts

=4. Berhane Dibaba (Ethiopia) 1st Tokyo 2018 2:19:51

25 pts 25 pts

8. Edna Kiplagat (Kenya) 2nd Worlds 2017 2:27:18 4th New York 2017 2:29:36

20 pts 16 pts 4 pts

Results and reports from Series XI Virgin Money London Marathon 23 April 2017 Keitany’s remarkable near solo run included the fastest ever start in a women’s marathon, a half-way split of 66:54, on sub-2:14 pace, and a huge 30km world record of 1:36:05. Defying every watcher’s prediction that she would soon ‘blow up’, the punchy Kenyan battled on to complete the second half in 70:07, to eclipse Paula Radcliffe’s womenonly world record and go second on the all-time list. Despite finding herself a ‘chaser’ from mile two onwards, and halting with stomach problems on the run-in, Dibaba stuck to her task and finished well within a minute of the victor with an Ethiopian record, becoming the third quickest woman in history. Of the top six finishers, only Mergia missed out on a PB. Wanjiru was the unpredicted winner of the men’s race after breaking clear of debutant Karoki at 35km and holding off the charging Bekele who had almost lost touch with the leaders at 30km because of blisters but later mounted a surging finish. Men 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Daniel Wanjiru Kenenisa Bekele Bedan Karoki Abel Kirui Alphonce Simbu

KEN ETH KEN KEN TAN

2:05:48 2:05:57 2:07:41 2:07:45 2:09:10

Women 1. Mary Keitany 2. Tirunesh Dibaba 3. Aselefech Mergia 4. Vivian Cheruiyot 5. Lisa Weightman

KEN ETH ETH KEN AUS

2:17:01 2:17:56 2:23:08 2:23:50 2:25:15



IAAF World Championships, London 6 August 2017 Kirui added world gold to the Boston title he’d taken in April after winning a duel in the sun with Tola who broke clear around 32km but was reeled in by the Kenyan over the last of the four twisting laps around central London. Kirui crossed the finish line on Tower Bridge more than a minute ahead of the tiring Tola as Simbu held off Britain’s Hawkins for the bronze medal. Running on the same course on the same day, Chelimo matched Kirui by taking world gold in only her second year as a marathon runner. The former Kenyan turned the tables on her Boston victor Kiplagat, after a slow yet topsy turvy race, led at first by Portugal’s Catarina Ribeiro and then by Britain’s Alyson Dixon, before the big names finally woke up just before 30km. Chelimo made her move in the 38th and Kiplagat stuck with her until half a mile from the finish where she was almost caught by the fast-closing Cragg. Men 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Geoffrey Kirui Tamirat Tola Alphonce Simbu Callum Hawkins Daniele Meucci

Women 1. Rose Chelimo 2. Edna Kiplagat 3. Amy Cragg 4. Flomena Cheyech 5. Shure Demise

KEN ETH TAN GBR ITA

2:08:27 2:09:49 2:09:51 2:10:17 2:10:56

BRN KEN USA KEN ETH

2:27:11 2:27:18 2:27:18 2:27:21 2:27:58

BMW Berlin Marathon 24 September 2017 Kipchoge won a dramatic race with a world leading time after coming from behind to overhaul debutant Adola in drenching conditions that may well have denied the Kenyan a world record. The expected three-way tussle with Kenenisa Bekele and Wilson Kipsang dissolved when both dropped out in the second half leaving Adola to carve out a 25m lead on the Olympic champion which Kipchoge eventually closed at 40km. He finished with his second fastest time while Adola became the second fastest Ethiopian behind Bekele. Cherono regained the women’s crown she’d won in 2015 after breaking clear of Aiyebei and Aga before 35km. On course record pace at half way, she slowed towards the finish but held on to win by 18 seconds. Men 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Eliud Kipchoge Guye Adola Mosinet Geremew Felix Kandie Vincent Kipruto

KEN ETH ETH KEN KEN

2:03:32 2:03:46 2:06:09 2:06:13 2:06:13

Women 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Gladys Cherono Ruti Aga Valary Aiyabei Helen Tola Anna Hahner

KEN ETH KEN ETH GER

2:20:23 2:20:41 2:20:53 2:22:51 2:28:32


VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 8 October 2017 Rupp became the first US winner of the men’s race for 15 years when he surged to victory ahead of defending champion Kirui in the last three miles. A huge pack dawdled through half way in 66:11 and reached 30km in 1:33:21 before Kirui’s pressure finally broke them up. He and Rupp fought out the last 6km with the American lengthening his lead steadily to the finish. Dibaba took her first major marathon victory with a show of dominant brilliance from the start that ended with her second sub-2:20 time in six months. Four women hung on to her tail until 30km where she dispensed with her zig-zagging attempts to shrug them off and simply powered away down the road. Kosgei held on longer than the rest but was almost two minutes back at the close with Hasay in third becoming the second quickest US marathon runner in history. Men 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Galen Rupp Abel Kirui Bernard Kipyego Sisay Lemma Stephen Sambu

USA KEN KEN ETH KEN

2:09:20 2:09:48 2:10:23 2:11:01 2:11:07

Women 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Tirunesh Dibaba Brigid Kosgei Jordan Hasay Madai Perez Valentine Kipketer

ETH KEN USA MEX KEN

2:18:31 2:20:22 2:20:57 2:24:44 2:28:05

TCS New York Marathon 5 November 2017 Flanagan ended a 40-year drought for US women in New York when she out-fought defending champion Keitany and the redoubtable Daska in the last three miles of an attritional race on a cool, blustery day. Flanagan shadowed her rivals as they traded punches on the route through Central Park before inflicting her own counter blow with mile splits of 5:08, 5:11 and 5:04. She coasted to her first Majors win with more than a minute to spare on the world record holder, and crossed the line an emotional and euphoric victor. Kamworor was no less delighted with his first marathon triumph, a just reward for the two-time world half marathon and world cross country champion after he had pushed the pace in the 23rd mile and injected a killer burst in the 25th that saw off Kipsang and Desisa. Kipsang, the 2014 champion, made a late charge and closed to three seconds but could not deny his compatriot. Men 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Geoffrey Kamworor Wilson Kipsang Lelisa Desisa Lemi Berhanu Tadesse Abraham

Women 1. Shalane Flanagan 2. Mary Keitany 3. Mamitu Daska 4. Edna Kiplagat 5. Allie Kieffer

KEN KEN ETH ETH SUI

2:10:53 2:10:56 2:11:32 2:11:52 2:12:01

USA KEN ETH KEN USA

2:26:53 2:27:54 2:28:08 2:29:36 2:29:39


VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Tokyo Marathon 25 February 2018 History was made in Tokyo as Chumba and Dibaba became the first runners ever to win a second title at the event. Chumba romped home to reclaim the men’s crown he won in the Japanese capital four years ago after favourite Wilson Kipsang had dropped out early in the race, while Dibaba proved too strong for Aga in the closing stages and missed the women’s course record by just four seconds. Behind Chumba, Shitara provided high drama by passing Kipruto, Kipketer and Feyisa Lelisa to break the 16-year-old Japanese record. Dibaba unleashed a finishing burst to leave Aga alone in second after the pair had moved clear of Demise and Cragg in the second half. Cragg took five minutes from her previous best, making her the fifth quickest American woman of all-time. Men 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Dickson Chumba Yuta Shitara Amos Kipruto Gideon Kipketer Hiroto Inoue

KEN JPN KEN KEN JPN

2:05:30 2:06:11 2:06:33 2:06:47 2:06:54

Women 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Berhane Dibaba Ruti Aga Amy Cragg Shure Demise Helah Kiprop

ETH ETH USA ETH KEN

2:19:51 2:21:19 2:21:42 2:22:07 2:28:58

Forthcoming races in Series XI 16 April 2018 BAA Boston Marathon 22 April 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon

Abbott World Marathon Majors Series XII (2018/19) Series XII starts at the 2018 Berlin Marathon on Sunday 16 September and finishes at the 2019 Berlin Marathon on 29 September 2019. Races in Series XI 16 September 2018 BMW Berlin Marathon 7 October 2018 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 4 November 2018 TCS New York City Marathon 3 March 2019 Tokyo Marathon 15 April 2019 BAA Boston Marathon 28 April 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon 29 September 2019 BMW Berlin Marathon tbc September 2019 IAAF World Championship marathons, Doha



Photo Credit: TOKYO MARATHON FOUNDATION

Hiroyuki Yamamoto of Japan crosses the finish line to win the Tokyo Marathon earlier this year

Abbott World Marathon Majors Wheelchair Series A new milestone in the evolution of the World Marathon Majors was reached in 2016 with the addition of a wheelchair series for T53/54 para-athletes to run alongside the contest for able-bodied runners. The World Marathon Majors Wheelchair Series follows the same format as the runners’ contests with para-athletes accumulating points for their finishing positions at each of the six World Marathon Majors races plus, in appropriate years, marathons at the World Para Athletics World Championships and Paralympic Games. The first wheelchair series ran parallel to Series X, starting at the 2016 Boston Marathon on 18 April 2016 and finishing at the 2017 Boston Marathon. In between it included the T53/54 wheelchair marathons in London, Berlin, Chicago, New York and Tokyo as well as those at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games – making eight in all. Athletes score points as follows: 1st place – 25 points 2nd place – 16 points 3rd place – 9 points 4th place – 4 points 5th place – 1 point The champions are the male and female athletes who score the most points during the one-year scoring period. Points from a maximum of five races are scored. An athlete must start in five races over the cycle to be eligible. If an athlete earns points in more than five events, the athlete’s highest five finishes are scored. The men’s and women’s Majors champions in Series X each received $50,000. A new prize structure was introduced for Series XI. Prize money will be awarded to the top three men and women with the winners receiving $50,000 each, $25,000 going to second place and $10,000 to third.


VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Abbott World Marathon Majors Wheelchair Series X (2016/17) It is no surprise that Marcel Hug and Tatyana McFadden were crowned inaugural World Marathon Majors Wheelchair champions after the eighth and final race of Series X in Boston on Monday 17 April 2017. But the manner of their respective victories was extraordinary. Hug, in particular, was in astonishing form over the course of 12 almost unbeaten months in which he won all but one of the eight races. He wrapped up the men’s contest in Chicago in October 2016 when he claimed a fifth straight marathon victory, a sequence of scintillating wins that started with a three-way sprint in Boston and included a powering victory over Kurt Fearnley at the Paralympic Games, one of four occasions when the Australian was forced to play second fiddle. Seemingly unstoppable, Hug concluded 2016 with yet another victory in New York and looked on course for a clean sweep of all eight races until his run came to an unexpected end in Tokyo where he suffered a shock defeat by the unheralded Japanese Sho Watanabe. Undaunted, he bounced back to win the Boston Marathon in 2017 and crown the inaugural wheelchair series with a world best time. McFadden may not have dominated quite like Hug, but she also had Series X in the bag early in the programme thanks to her fourth quadruple in a row, repeating victories in Boston, London, Chicago and New York. The American’s quest for Paralympic marathon gold was thwarted, however, when she was pipped at the line in Rio by China’s Zou Lihong. That gave Berlin champion Manuela Schär a glimmer of hope if she could only win the final two races in Tokyo and Boston. But Schär, a runner-up to McFadden on four occasions in Series X, lost out in Tokyo to Amanda McGrory leaving her 27 points adrift with just one to go.

Final Series X standings Men

Women

1. Marcel Hug (Switzerland) 1st Boston 2016 1:24:06 1st London 2016 1:35:19 1st Paralympics 2016 1:26:16 1st Berlin 2016 1:29:51 1st Chicago 2016 1:32:57 [1st New York 2016 1:35:49 [2nd Tokyo 2017 1:28:01 [1st Boston 2017 1:18:04

125 pts 25 pts 25 pts 25 pts 25 pts 25 pts -] -] -]

2. Kurt Fearnley (Australia) 3rd Boston 2016 1:24:06 2nd London 2016 1:35:20 2nd Paralympics 2016 1:26:17 2nd Chicago 2016 1:32:58 2nd New York 2016 1:35:49


3. Ernst van Dyk (South Africa) 2nd Boston 2016 1:24:06 4th London 2016 1:35:23 2nd Berlin 2016 1:29:53 4th New York 2016 1:40:08 2nd Boston 2017 1:18:04


4. Sho Watanabe (JPN) 1st Tokyo 2017 1:28:01

25 pts 25 pts

5. Joshua George (United States) 3rd Chicago 2016 1:32:59 3rd New York 2016 1:39:01 5th Tokyo 2017 1:28:03

19 pts 9 pts 9 pts 1 pt


1. Tatyana McFadden (United States) 116 pts 1st Boston 2016 1:42:16 25 pts 1st London 2016 1:44:14 25 pts 2nd Paralympics 2016 1:38:44 16 pts 1st Chicago 2016 1:42:28 25 pts 1st New York 2016 1:47:43 25 pts 2. Manuela Schär (Switzerland) 2nd Boston 2016 1:43:30 2nd London 2016 1:44:15 1st Berlin 2016 1:43:00 2nd Chicago 2016 1:42:29 1st Boston 2017 1:28:17


3. Amanda McGrory (United States) 3rd Paralympics 2016 1:38:45 3rd Chicago 2016 1:47:55 3rd New York 2016 1:53:15 1st Tokyo 2017 1:43:27 2nd Boston 2017 1:33:13


4. Zou Lihong (China) 5th London 2016 1:52:42 1st Paralympics 2016 1:38:44 4th Tokyo 2017 1:44:28

30 pts 1 pt 25 pts 4 pts

5. Susannah Scaroni (United States) 4th Boston 2016 1:46:53 5th Chicago 2016 1:52:50 4th New York 2016 1:58:16 3rd Tokyo 2017 1:43:29 3rd Boston 2017 1:33:17


VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Abbott World Marathon Majors Wheelchair Series XI (2017/18) Series XI started at the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon and finishes at the 2018 London Marathon. Current standings (as at 31 March 2018, before the 2018 Boston Marathon) Men

Women

1. Marcel Hug (Switzerland) 2nd London 2017 1st Berlin 2017 1st Chicago 2017 1st New York 2017

1:31:07 1:29:03 1:29:23 1:37:17


2. Kurt Fearnley (Australia) 29 pts 3rd London 2017 1:31:07 9 pts 2nd Chicago 2017 1:30:24 16 pts 4th Tokyo 2018 1:31:30 4 pts =3. David Weir (Great Britain & NI) 25 pts 1st London 2017 1:31:06 25 pts =3. Hiroyuki Yamamoto (Japan) 25 pts 1st Tokyo 2018 1:26:23 25 pts =5. JohnBoy Smith (Great Britain & NI) 17 pts 5th Berlin 2017 1:32:45 1 pt 2nd New York 2017 1:39:40 16 pts =5. Ernst van Dyk (South Africa) 4th London 2017 1:31:08 4th New York 2017 1:39:56 3rd Tokyo 2018 1:31:30

17 pts 4 pts 4 pts 9 pts

=7. Kota Hokinoue (Japan) 16 pts 2nd Berlin 2017 1:32:42 16 pts =7. Tomoki Suzuki (Japan) 16 pts 2nd Tokyo 2018 1:26:24 16 pts

1. Manuela Schär (Switzerland) 1st London 2017 1:39:57 1st Berlin 2017 1:40:05 3rd Chicago 2017 1:39:17 1st New York 2017 1:48:09 1st Tokyo 2018 1:43:25


2. Tatyana McFadden (United States) 1st Chicago 2017 1:39:15 2nd New York 2017 1:51:02 2nd Tokyo 2018 1:44:51

57 pts 25 pts 16 pts 16 pts

3. Amanda McGrory (United States) 2nd London 2017 1:44:34 2nd Chicago 2017 1:39:15 3rd New York 2017 1:53:11 4th Tokyo 2018 1:48:01


4. Sandra Graf (Switzerland) 2nd Berlin 2017 1:45:24

16 pts 16 pt

5. Susannah Scaroni (United States) 3rd London 2017 1:47:37

10 pts 9 pts

=6. Annika Zeyen (Germany) 3rd Berlin 2017 1:51:02

9 pts 9 pts

=6. Tsuba Kina (Japan) 3rd Tokyo 2018 1:46:17

9 pts 9 pts

Virgin Money London Marathon 23 April 2017 Weir finally achieved his long-cherished dream of a record seventh London Marathon title when he outsprinted a large pack of racers down the finishing straight on The Mall. Having won his sixth London Marathon in 2012, Weir had placed second, second and third in the last three years. But this time his will to win was finally too much for arch rival Hug and long-term nemesis Fearnley who were both one second behind. Schär won her first women’s crown in hugely contrasting fashion. The Swiss dominated from the outset as she flew round the London course quicker than anyone else in history. Just six days after her astonishing world best in Boston, Schär took the absent McFadden’s course record to win by nearly five minutes from former champion McGrory. Men 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

David Weir Marcel Hug Kurt Fearnley Ernst van Dyk Rafael Botello Jimenez

GBR SUI AUS RSA ESP

1:31:06 1:31:07 1:31:07 1:31:08 1:31:09

Women 1. Manuela Schär 2. Amanda McGrory 3. Susannah Scaroni 4. Margriet van den Broek 5. Jade Jones

SUI USA USA NED GBR

1:39:57 1:44:34 1:47:37 1:49:50 1:51:46


VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 BMW Berlin Marathon 24 September 2017 Hug returned to winning ways with a confortable victory in the German capital. The Swiss star took nearly four minutes out of a pack led home by Japanese pair Hokinoue and Yoshida ahead of the course and world record holder, Frei. Smith grabbed his first Majors points in fifth, a welcome surprise for the Briton who went on to place second in New York. Schär completed a Swiss double with a women’s course record while former winner Graf made it a Swiss one-two in the women’s race ahead of the host nation’s Zeyen. Men 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Marcel Hug Kota Hokinoue Ryota Yoshida Heinz Frei Johnboy Smith

SUI JPN JPN SUI GBR

1:29:03 1:32:42 1:32:43 1:32:45 1:32:45

Women 1. Manuela Schär 2. Sandra Graf 3. Annika Zeyen 4. Patricia Keller 5. Mel Nicholls

SUI SUI GER SUI GBR

1:40:05 1:45:24 1:51:02 1:57:27 1:58:10

Bank of America Chicago Marathon 8 October 2017 Hug left it late to assert his dominance, pushing ahead in the last 5km to open a one minute lead on a large pack. Fearnley repeated his runner-up performance from 2016 one second ahead of Spain’s Jordi Madera. Switzerland were denied another double victory when local favourite McFadden outpowered long-time leader Schär in the closing stages to win her eighth Chicago women’s title. Schär had raced at world record pace in an attempt to break the US star but McFadden slipstreamed the pack before turning on the afterburners. McGrory hung on to her training partner to place second. Men 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Marcel Hug Kurt Fearnley Jordi Madera Sho Watanabe Rafael Botello Jimenez

Women 1. Tatyana McFadden 2. Amanda McGrory 3. Manuela Schär 4. Madison de Rozario 5. Sammi Kinghorn


SUI AUS ESP JPN ESP

1:29:23 1:30:24 1:30:25 1:30:26 1:30:27

USA USA SUI AUS GBR

1:39:15 1:39:15 1:39:17 1:39:22 1:43:52

VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 TCS New York Marathon 5 November 2017 Hug notched up his third win in three fall marathons to take his four-race total to 91 points. The Silver Bullet took the lead with Josh Cassidy before half way and moved away from his Canadian rival after 35km, going on to win by more than two minutes from surprise runner-up Smith. Schär made up for her third place in Chicago by securing her third Series XI win and first ever in New York, denying McFadden a fourth straight victory in the Big Apple. The two rivals went wheel-to-wheel until 25km where Schär eased away to win by almost three minutes. McFadden finished an isolated second with McGrory alone in third. Men 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Marcel Hug JohnBoy Smith Sho Watanabe Ernst van Dyk Masazumi Soejima

Women 1. Manuela Schär 2. Tatyana McFadden 3. Amanda McGrory 4. Zou Lihong 5. Madison de Rozario

SUI GBR JPN RSA JPN

1:37:21 1:39:40 1:39:51 1:39:56 1:39:58

SUI USA USA CHN AUS

1:48:09 1:51:02 1:53:11 2:03:20 2:04:28

Tokyo Marathon 25 February 2018 Schär powered away from McFadden in the last 5km to win her fourth Series XI race by more than a minute and take an unassailable lead in the women’s standings. Kina snatched a podium place for Japan finishing third ahead of last year’s winner McGrory with Scaroni some way back in fifth. Hug failed to make the men’s start due to flight problems, and Yamamoto took full advantage after he and Suzuki blew the men’s race apart with a bold break before 15km that stretched to more than five minutes by the close. Yamamoto almost tipped out of his chair as he flew round the final corner on one wheel, but he hung on to complete his Tokyo hat-trick. Van Dyk stole third from 2016 winner Fearnley with defending champion Watanabe in fifth. Men 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Hiroyuki Yamamoto Tomoki Suzuki Ernst van Dyk Kurt Fearnley Sho Watanabe

JPN JPN RSA AUS JPN

1:26:23 1:26:24 1:31:30 1:31:30 1:31:31

Women 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Manuela Schär Tatyana McFadden Tsubasa Kina Amanda McGrory Susannah Scaroni

SUI USA JPN USA USA

1:43:25 1:44:51 1:46:17 1:48:01 1:54:02

Forthcoming races in Series XI 16 April 2018 BAA Boston Marathon 22 April 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon


VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Abbott World Marathon Majors Wheelchair Series XII (2018/19) Series XII starts at the 2018 Berlin Marathon on Sunday 16 September 2018 and finishes at the 2019 Berlin Marathon on 29 September 2019. Races in Series XI 16 September 2018 7 October 2018 4 November 2018 3 March 2019 15 April 2019 28 April 2019 29 September 2019

BMW Berlin Marathon Bank of America Chicago Marathon TCS New York City Marathon Tokyo Marathon BAA Boston Marathon Virgin Money London Marathon BMW Berlin Marathon



08 THE MASS EVENT Starters & Finishers Year Total Accepted Starters Running Wheelchair Para WC Total finishers applicants applicants finishers finishers finishers 1981 20,000 7,747 7,055 6,255 0 6,255 1982 90,000 18,059 16,350 15,116 0 15,116 1983 60,000 19,735 16,500 15,776 17 15,793 1984 70,000 21,142 16,992 15,649 26 15,675 1985 83,000 22,274 17,500 15,841 32 15,873 1986 80,000 25,566 19,261 18,030 37 18,067 1987 80,000 28,364 21,485 19,545 41 19,586 1988 73,000 29,979 22,469 20,889 43 20,932 1989 72,000 31,772 24,452 22,652 49 22,701 1990 73,000 34,882 26,500 24,953 60 25,013 1991 79,000 33,485 24,500 23,393 42 23,435 1992 83,000 34,250 24,500 23,783 50 23,833 1993 68,000 35,820 25,000 24,448 47 24,495 1994 72,000 37,379 26,000 25,194 48 25,242 1995 79,000 39,097 27,000 25,326 51 25,377 1996 68,000 39,173 27,134 26,761 45 26,806 1997 78,000 39,813 29,500 29,135 54 29,189 1998 96,000 42,228 30,663 29,924 48 29,972 1999 87,000 43,774 31,582 30,809 40 30,849 2000 93,000 42,596 32,620 31,658 40 31,698 2001 92,000 43,517 31,156 30,286 32 30,318 2002 99,000 46,083 33,297 32,906 44 32,950 2003 111,000 45,629 32,746 32,281 43 32,324 2004 108,000 45,219 32,746 31,983 29 32,012 2005 132,000 47,969 35,600 35,260 40 35,300 2006 119,000 47,020 33,578 33,224 26 33,250 2007 128,000 50,039 36,396 35,698 31 35,729 2008 120,000 48,630 35,037 34,602 35 34,637 2009 155,000 49,995 35,884 35,366 38 35,404 2010 163,000 51,378 36,956 36,632 34 36,666 2011 163,926 50,532 35,303 34,836 36 34,872 2012 170,150 50,200 37,227 36,774 38 36,812 2013 167,449 48,323 34,631 34,311 46 24 34,381 2014 169,682 49,872 36,337 35,911 41 25 35,977 2015 172,888 51,696 38,020 37,641 53 99 37,793 2016 247,069 53,152 39,523 39,091 61 32 39,140 2017 253,930 53,229 40,048 39,377 63 32 39,487 2018 386,050 54,685 1,041,273 1,462 212 1,042,960 There have been 1,042,960 finishers since the London Marathon started in 1981. A record 39,487 finished in 2017 after 40,048 started, the largest field so far. A record 386,050 people applied to run the 2018 race of whom 327,516 were from the UK (an increase of 29% on 2017) and 58,534 from overseas. Just over 58% of the UK applications came from people who have never run a marathon before, while more than 45% of them were from women, also a record. Marathon first-timer Shannon Foudy from Hemel Hempstead became the London Marathon’s one millionth finisher when she crossed the line in 2016. The 39-year-old was raising money for the Luton & Dunstable Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that saved the life of her premature daughter. She finished in 5:45:18.



Mass Facts & Figures Finishers’ medals – main race Finishers’ medals – mini marathon Finishers’ bags for runners – main race Finishers’ bags for runners – mini marathon Goody bag items Pink Lady apples

40,000 2,000 40,000 2,000 600,000 40,000 (in finishers’ bags)

Operational vehicles (hired) TNT lorries transporting runners’ kit Renault cars carrying media, VIPs and staff Portable toilets (incl. start, course, mini marathon and finish) Urinal bays at start

115 40 20 1,263 400

Blue line paint marking the course Barriers in metres Barrier Tape Signs around the course Ball bearings in finish cones Cable ties

300 litres – 3-stripe line 50,000 metres 116,000 metres 1,189 3.2 million 68,900

Marshals at the start Marshals at the finish Marshals on the course Marshals at drinks stations

1,000 2,000 1,500 2,500

St John Ambulance volunteers 1,200 (incl. 30 cycle response specialists and 200 healthcare professionals) Ambulances 45 St John Ambulance treatment centres 59 First aid stations 52 First aid kits 100s Stretchers 300 Sterile gloves 5,000 pairs Ice packs for sprains and strains 730 Petroleum jelly 250 tubs; 100lbs Baby oil 200 bottles Plasters 2,000 Recyclable Foil blankets more than 40,000 Recyclable Ponchos 6,300 Water stations Elite drink stations Lucozade Sport stations Lucozade Sport (isotonic energy drink) Lucozade Sport Carbo Gels Compostable cups Tables at drink stations Bottles of Buxton Natural Mineral Water

21, one every mile from three miles, except miles 7 & 11 8 – for the elite runners where their chosen drinks are placed if required 5 – isotonic energy drink is available to runners at 7, 11, 15, 19 and 23 miles; 110,000 100% recyclable 380ml bottles More than 40,000 bottles of isotonic drink are distributed at the start and more than 40,000 in finishers’ bags. 50,000 at miles 14 and 21 90,000 in total at two water stations & one sports drink station 671 Around 650,000 recyclable bottles in total are distributed at the start, on the course and at the finish

Pubs on or near to the course Pubs hosting charities as part the London Marathon scheme Live music sites on the course Official cheering zone Runners’ blogs Road closure leaflets delivered

84 50 42 Mile 23 7,200 – c. 20% of runners 200,000



Celebrities

Celebrities Running in 2018

The challenge of completing the London Marathon has attracted many well-known names and famous faces over the years, and celebrities have become an increasingly visible and important part of the charity fund-raising element of the mass race.

A typical array of celebrities will be running in 2018. Coming from the worlds of TV, show business, film, music, sport and media, they all have their own target times and will aim to raise as much money as possible for their charities. A full up-to-date list of all the celebrities entered for this year’s race can be found in the Media Resources section of the London Marathon website.

Emmerdale actor Tony Audenshaw and model Nell McAndrew are two of the quickest celebrities ever to complete the course – Audenshaw once romped home in 2:55:06 while in 2012 McAndrew finished in 2:54:39, more than good enough to mix it with the serious club runners in the UK championship race. Chris Newton became the quickest celebrity ever in 2014, the world champion cyclist finishing well ahead of the field in 2:45:10. Newton went even quicker in 2015 when he crossed the Finish Line in 2:39:27. He couldn’t quite match that pace last year, when former rower James Cracknell was the quickest in 2:43:12. The quickest women celebrities were not far behind, led by former Ironman triathlon world champion Chrissie Wellington, who stopped the clock at 2:49:01. Olympic rowing gold medallist Helen Glover was the second female celebrity in 3:05:25, while BBC News presenter Sophie Raworth improved her best by finishing in 3:29:15. Her BBC colleague, Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans, crossed the line in 4:54:28 while Eastenders actor Adam Woodyatt was a couple of hours slower in 7:04:34. Finishing times are only one concern for celebrity entrants, of course, as the race to raise funds is often the primary goal. Former rower Sir Steve Redgrave once held the record for most money raised in a single London Marathon. The Olympic legend amassed £1.7 million, later surpassed by Steve Chalke who raised £2,330,159.38 for Oasis UK in 2011.

Here are a few names to look out for: Baker’s Dozen: Thirteen stars of the TV programme Great British Bake Off will swap their aprons for running kit as they take on the 26.2-mile challenge to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, Macmillan and World Vision. The team of cake makers include contestants from the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh series, aged 21 to 63, with a wide range of running and fitness experience. They include Richard Burr, who finished runner-up in series five. He said: “The Great British Bake Off is a brilliant thing and we have been given so many opportunities to have fun, so we thought we would try to work off a little bit of cake and see if we can raise some money and awareness for charity while we are doing it.” Jane Beedle, runner-up in series seven, added: “A lot of us are not runners but what has brought us together is the camaraderie and the spirit of the London Marathon. Everyone comes together to support one another, regardless of whether they know them or not. It’s the atmosphere and enthusiasm that made us all want to take part.” The full Baker’s Dozen is: • Jane Beedle (Series 7; Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity – GOSH) • Richard Burr (Series 5; GOSH) • Ian Cumming (Series 6; GOSH) • Selasi Gbormittah (Series 7; World Vision) • Michael Georgiou (Series 7; GOSH) • Tom Gilliford (Series 7; GOSH) • Kate Henry (Series 5; GOSH) • Beca Lyne-Pirkis (Series 4; GOSH) • Alvin Magallanes (Series 6; GOSH) • Chetna Makan (Series 5; GOSH) • Enwezor Nzegwu (Series 5; Cystic Fibrosis Trust) • Frances Quinn (Series 4; Macmillan) • Mat Riley (Series 6; GOSH)


VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Bake Off’s Baker’s dozen running this year’s London Marathon

News and sports presenters and radio DJs are well represented in 2018, led by BBC News’ anchor Sophie Raworth who returns for her eighth London Marathon. Raworth has been getting faster each year, running her PB of 3:29:15 in 2017. She has become something of a marathon fanatic in recent years and completed the set of Abbott World Marathon Majors races last year when she finished the Chicago Marathon. She has previously run the New York, Boston, Berlin and Tokyo Marathons. Jonathan Pearce: One of the best-known voices of football, Pearce is heard by millions of fans each week commentating on the BBC’s Match of the Day. He will be running his seventh London Marathon for the charity, The Lily Foundation, which is named after his niece, who tragically died of mitochondrial disease aged just eight months. Sean Fletcher: The sports presenter returns to the London Marathon to run for the charity Young Minds. Fletcher began his career at the BBC and presented its rolling news bulletins and BBC Breakfast before joining Sky Sports in 2011 and then ITV’s Good Morning Britain in 2014. Since October 2015 he has also been a reporter for BBC One’s Countryfile, and has also copresented BBC Two’s Food Detectives. Marathon-running chefs are out in force again, with Gordon Ramsay MBE, back at the event for the first time in nine years. The owner of three Michelin stars and presenter of Hell’s Kitchen, The F Word and Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, ran 10 consecutive London Marathons up to 2009. This year he will run alongside his wife Tana and children Jack and Holly for the Great Ormond Street Hospital. Ramsay is joined by Marcus Bean, who won Iron Chef UK on Channel 4 in 2010 and is a regular on ITV’s This Morning, Good Food’s Market Kitchen, and Channel 4’s What’s Cooking and Drop Down Menu.

Sports stars are ever present on the London Marathon’s celebrity list and 2018 is no different. Cyclist Chris Newton has been setting ‘records’ as the fastest celebrity for the last few years, his best being 2:39:27 in 2015. The multiple world track champion and triple Olympic medallist runs for Anthony Nolan this year. Hannah MacLeod: A member of the Great Britain hockey team that won gold at the Rio 2016 Olympics, capping a fabulous 12-year international career during which MacLeod made 150 appearances for Britain and England. Since retiring she has coached the Great Britain Elite Development squad. Cassie Patten: A bronze medallist in the 10km open water swim at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, Patten is one of only nine Britons to have won an Olympic swimming medal over the last 20 years. She also won a World Championship silver in 2007 – despite being stung by a jellyfish – and again a year later. She was the lead swimming pundit at the 2012 Olympics for Sky Sports News. Among this year’s running actors are: Richard Harrington: the star of Welsh show Hinterland, plus Bleak House, Jimmy McGovern’s Gunpowder, Treason & Plot and Gavin Claxton’s comedy feature film The All Together. He runs for Bloodwise. Stephen Mangan: best known as Adrian Mole from Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years and then as Guy Secretion in Channel 4’s Green Wing. He appeared in the British/American comedy series Episodes as well as a string of films. Mangan was also the voice of Postman Pat in Postman Pat: The Movie. Rochelle Humes: the TV presenter and clothes designer, who had 13 top 10 hits with pop group The Saturdays, will run for Charity of the Year Teenage Cancer Trust. The full list of celebrities and media presenters running the 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon is available in the Media Resources section of the London Marathon website: www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com.



Guinness World Records Guinness World Records, the global authority on recordbreaking, has supported many individuals who have attempted records while running the marathon. Since 2007 Guinness has officially partnered the London Marathon to adjudicate record attempts in the mass event and present successful record-breakers with certificates. A team of eight Guinness officials are on the course throughout the day to judge any records and provide immediate news of successful efforts. More Guinness World Records were broken in 2017 than at any previous London Marathon with 39 successful attempts from the 62 attemptees. It was London man Joe Spraggins who was fastest of all, clocking 2:42:24 to complete the fastest marathon dressed as a swimmer. In his wake came elves, Vikings, fast food items and monks, while records for toilet rolls, nuns, Wellington boots and chili peppers all fell too. Rebecca Cesar de Sa was the quickest of the female record setters, the Wonder Woman runner setting a wonderful time of 3:16:19 to become the fastest finisher in film character costume. David Hepburn, Meg Walker, Ceyhun Jay Uzun, Andy Sharpe and Holly Bishop were among the slowest of the record breakers. The fabulous five dressed as Scooby Doo’s Mystery Machine to complete the pesky 26.2-mile challenge in 6:17:26 and become the fastest marathon runners ever in a five-person costume.

“It was a huge privilege to award so many new Guinness World Records titles today, the icing on the cake for the most determined and creative fun-runners. They’ve all raised significant funds for their chosen charities and earned a place in the records books – all in the London sunshine.” Some of last year’s other record-breaking runners were: • Max Livingston-Learmonth, fastest marathon dressed as a Bishop – 3:21:32 (pictured centre, below) • Sarah Dudgeon, fastest marathon dressed as a monk, female – 3:21:33 (pictured left) • Victoria Carter, fastest marathon dressed as a nun, female – 3:26:53 (pictured right) • Ian Williams, Evan Williams & Graham O’Loughlin, fastest marathon in a three-person costume (fish in the sea) – 3:13:09 (pictured left to right on page 124) The London Marathon is a Guinness World Record breaker in its own right for it is officially the largest single annual fund-raising event in the world. It first set the record in 2007 and has broken it every year since, a remarkable 11-year sequence. In 2017 runners raised £61.5 million for charities, meaning that a total of more than £890 million has been raised since 1981. A list of all the 2017 Guinness World Record Breakers can be found at: www.guinnessworldrecords.com.

Guinness World Record’s official adjudicator Christopher Lynch was on the Finish Line to verify all new records. “The Finish Line at the London Marathon is an incredible place to spend an afternoon,” he said. “The outpouring of emotion from runners and spectators alike is heartwarming.


VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 This Year Nearly 100 runners will be going for Guinness World Records in this year’s race. The attemptees have all registered on the Set a Record section of the Guinness website: www.guinnessworldrecords.com/set-a-record

A Marathon bar, Henry VIII and Paddington Bear will also be making their way from Blackheath to The Mall, as will Darth Vadar, Chewbacca and Yoda . You might also spot a washing machine, a palm tree, and Belle (the beauty) without her Beast, not to mention a tractor, a pencil and a peanut.

Everyone who registers receives a response from Guinness, including guidelines on how to try to break the record and the time they need to beat.

For a full list of this year’s Guinness World Record attemptees go to the Media Resources page of www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com.

Among the many records being attempted this year are:

Staff from Guinness World Records will be based at the media centre on race day, confirming records and awarding certificates. The GWR and London Marathon press offices can provide the stories behind various record-breaking runners.

•

fastest marathon wearing ski boots – Colin Haylock will be sliding towards his six-hour target.

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fastest marathon carrying an ironing board and iron – Andy Farrer will steam towards the 4:15:00 record.

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fastest marathon dressed as a whoopee cushion – breathless or not, Oliver Hill will make some noise if he finishes inside 3:38:15.

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fastest marathon dressed as Mr Potato Head – roast, boiled or mashed, Andrew Patterson will peel his way towards the current record of 3:24:19.

More information, including a full list of the record attempts planned this year, is available from the VMLM and GWR press teams. GWR press officer: Doug Male Tel. 07866 371615 Email: [email protected] or mark.mckinley@ guinnessworldrecords.com Web: www.guinnessworldrecords.com Twitter: @GWR

Ian Williams, Evan Williams and Graham O’Loughlin, the fastest marathon runners in a three-person costume


VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Politicians Sixty-nine Members of Parliament, including six women, have run the London Marathon since 1981, between them completing 175 marathons. MPs have been present in all 37 races bar one, each of them encouraged and ably organised by former lobby correspondent Mike Steele. Matthew Parris holds the record as the fastest MP, a fact of which he is enormously and rightly proud. His five London Marathon times (1981-85) are all faster than the next quickest MP, Doug Henderson. Having run 10-apiece, Dick Douglas, Gary Waller and Alistair Burt jointly hold the record for the highest number of London Marathons completed as an MP. Douglas went on to complete a further 11 London Marathons after he left Parliament, then at the age of 70 decided that his 21st in 2002 would be his last. Burt ran his 10th London Marathon in 2016, an incredible 32 years since his first in 1984. Burt holds the record among MPs for the longest period between his first and his most recent Marathons and has completed at least one in each of the last four decades. Conservative Rehman Chishti was the fastest in 2017, the Gillingham and Rainham MP beating 2016 winner Alun Cairns by two minutes to move up to 11th on the MPs’ all-time list. Labour’s Dan Jarvis and Edward Timpson filled their customary positions behind Cairns as four finished in under four hours.

There were 11 personal bests from the record 16-strong entries, a first sub-4:30 time for Labour’s Chris Evans and a first sub-seven for the Tories’ Amanda Solloway. Twenty MPs are running this year, smashing all previous records for MP entries. Eight of last year’s finishers are in this year’s line-up, including Chishti, Cairns and Jarvis, while 12 of the 2018 entrants are London Marathon debutants. Again there are a record number of women MPs running – five this year. Hannah Bardell became the first SNP Member to run last year and she’s going again in 2018 together with two colleagues, David Linden and Stuart McDonald. The Labour Party has the biggest contingent among the running politicians this year, with nine to the Conservative’s eight. For the third year running, there are no Liberal Democrats. The Tory entries include Cairns, the Secretary of State for Wales (and the fastest in the field on paper), while Labour’s representatives include Jon Ashworth, Shadow Minister for Health.

MPs Running in 2018 PB Jon Ashworth Hannah Bardell Ruth Cadbury Alun Cairns Jenny Chapman Rehman Chishti Nic Dakin Leo Docherty Chris Evans Chris Green Dan Jarvis Caroline Johnson John Lamont David Linden Shabana Mahmood Stuart McDonald James Morris Alex Norris Tom Pursglove Nick Smith

Labour, Leicester South SNP, Livingstone Labour, Brentford and Isleworth Con, Vale of Glamorgan Labour, Darlington Con, Gillingham and Rainham Labour, Scunthorpe Con, Aldershot Labour, Islwyn Con, Bolton West Labour, Barnsley Central Con, Sleaford and North Hykeham Con, Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk SNP, Glasgow East Labour, Birmingham Ladywood SNP, Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirintilloch East Con, Halesowen and Rowley Regis Labour, Nottingham North Con, Corby Labour, Blaenau Gwent

4:19:46 (2017) 6:06:54 (2017) Debut 3:28:02 (2016) Debut 3:34:22 (2017) 5:31:17 (2017) Debut 4:20:10 (2017) 4:16:56 (2017) 3:43:38 (2016) Debut Debut Debut Debut Debut Debut Debut Debut Debut


VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 MPs who ran in 2017 Rehman Chishti Alun Cairns Dan Jarvis Edward Timpson Chris Green Jon Ashworth Graham Evans Scott Mann Chris Evans Simon Danczuk Jonathan Djanogly Nic Dakin Mims Davies Hannah Bardell Sir Kevin Barron Amanda Solloway

Con, Gillingham and Rainham Con, Vale of Glamorgan Labour, Barnsley Central Con, Crewe & Nantwich Con, Bolton West Labour, Leicester South Con, Weaver Vale Con, North Cornwall Labour, Islwyn Independent, Rochdale Con, Huntingdon Labour, Scunthorpe Con, Eastleigh SNP, Livingstone Labour, Rother Valley Con, Derby North

Time 3:34:22 PB 3:36:45 3:47:17 3:57:51 4:16:56 PB 4:19:46 PB 4:32:17 4:50:54 PB 4:20:10 PB 5:06:11 5:08:05 PB 5:31:17 PB 5:35:52 PB 6:06:54 PB 6:28:43 PB 6:55:45 PB

The fastest MPs

Matthew Parris Con, Derbyshire West 2:32:57 1985 Doug Henderson Lab, Newcastle upon Tyne North 2:52:24 1989 John McFall Lab, Dumbarton 3:08:24 1988 Rhodri Morgan Lab, Cardiff West 3:14:44 1988 Paul Marsden Lib Dem, Shrewsbury & Atcham 3:18:01 2004 Dennis Canavan Lab, Falkirk West 3:19:04 1985 Alun Cairns Con, Vale of Glamorgan 3:28:02 2016 Robert Spink Con, Castle Point 3:31:15 1995 Jim Murphy Lab, East Renfrewshire 3:31:44 2013 Chris Bryant Lab, Rhondda 3:34:19 2007 Rehman Chishti Con, Gillingham and Rainham 3:34:22 2017 Howard Stoate Lab, Dartford 3:36:28 2000 Chris Pond Lab, Gravesham 3:37:54 1999 Alan Howarth Con, Stratford-on-Avon 3:41:41 1985 Edward Timpson Con, Crewe and Nantwich 3:42:24 2014 Greg Mulholland Lib Dem, Leeds North West 3:42:51 2012 Jonathan Aitken Con, Thanet East 3:43:00 1982 Dan Jarvis Lab, Barnsley Central 3:43:38 2016 David Lock Lab, Wyre Forest 3:44:36 1998 David Heathcoat-Armory Con, Wells 3:55:45 1987

MPs who have run the London Marathon Sitting MPs who have run 24 Former MPs no longer at Westminster 43 Former MPs now peers 2 Total 69

MPs who ran the London Marathon in 2017



The Ever Presents Eleven of the many hundreds of thousands of people who have run the London Marathon over the years have finished every race from the first in 1981 to the 37th on 23 April last year. They are known as the ‘Ever Presents’. This informal group was first acknowledged after the 15th London Marathon in 1995, when it numbered 42. They were awarded with a special commemorative medal, a sweatshirt and guaranteed acceptance in future London Marathons. They cover a whole spectrum of running backgrounds, come from all walks of life, different locations and assorted occupations, although many are now retired. At the top of the list is Chris Finill who received a Guinness World Record certificate in 2010 for ‘the most consecutive editions of the same World Marathon Majors marathon completed in under three hours’. Name 1 Chris Finill 2 Michael Peace 3 Roger Low 4 Charles Cousens 5 Terry Macey 6 William O’Connor 7 Malcolm Speake 8 Jeffrey Aston 9 David Walker 10 Dale Lyons 11 Kenneth Jones

Age group 55-59 65-69 70+ 70+ 65-69 70+ 70+ 65-69 70+ 70+ 80+

All but one of the remaining 11 have broken three hours on at least one of their London Marathons. At 84, Kenneth Jones is the oldest Ever Present still running and in 2017 he had the honour of being the oldest male runner in the race, which fell less than a month before his 84th birthday.

The Real Marathon Men: London Marathon Everpresents, written by Dale Lyons, one of the surviving 11, was published in January 2014. As well as providing a factual record, it tells the stories behind the Ever Presents’ stats – the tales of triumph and disappointment, their lives away from running, and the spirit that keeps them going. Below is a full list of ever-present names with their times from the 2017 race and their London PBs. More information at www.everpresent.org.uk. 2017 time 2:57:42 3:58:17 5:00:27 5:12:06 5:25:17 5:30:48 5:37:00 5:54:27 6:05:55 6:23:06 6:41:39

London PB 2:28:27 2:38:23 2:33:47 2:55:29 2:58:18 2:34:29 2:45:10 2:29:34 2:45:48 3:06:48 2:55:38

Eleven made the photo call at the Green Start for the 37th London Marathon on 23 April 2017. Left to right: David Walker, Ken Jones, Mike Wilkinson, Mac Speake, Bill O’Connor, Chris Finill, Dale Lyons, Jeff Aston (hidden), Mike Peel, Charles Cousens, Mike Peace (in front).



Human Interest Stories More than three-quarters of all runners at the London Marathon take part to raise money for charity, and more than £50 million is generated for good causes every year. The event itself holds a Guinness World Record for one-day charity fundraising, a record it has broken each year for the last 11 years. The 2017 record total was £61.5 million while the total raised over the last 37 years is approaching £1 billion and now stands at more than £890 million.

newlyweds. Within days of securing the charity places, I had the registrars and venue booked,” said Mel. “The ceremony will take place at 7.30am in Greenwich to give us plenty of time to get to the start line, while our guests can enjoy a bacon butty and a cuppa.”

Many of those who run to raise money do so because they, or someone close to them, has experienced illness or tragedy, and they want to honour someone’s memory, or give something back to the organisations and charities which helped them. For many, taking on the marathon is just one challenge in a whole host of others over a period of time, or merely one stage in an ongoing fund-raising campaign; for others, it’s the climax of a personal journey.

Robert Jenkins, Robert Jenkins Junior & Iwan Fesnoux Three generations of the same family will take on the London Marathon in an effort to raise £40,000 for medical research charity, RAFT. Eighty-one year-old grandfather Robert (Bob) Jenkins will run with his 49-year-old son, Robert Alun Jenkins, and 20-year-old grandson, Iwan Fesnoux (20), to raise money for the charity dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults who have suffered physical trauma.

You can find summaries of many of this year’s ‘human interest’ stories in the Media Resources section of the London Marathon website. Here are just a few: Georgia, Hugo & Anthony Rawlinson The Rawlinson siblings lost their mum, Penny, suddenly to secondary breast cancer in May last year after the incurable condition went undiagnosed despite lots of warning signs. Penny “was the type of person who was dedicated to doing good for others”, according to Georgia, so the trio decided to run the London Marathon in support of Breast Cancer Now, the leading specialists in secondary breast cancer, to help support their work in learning more about the disease and its symptoms. “One of the things that’s really important about our story, and something we want to focus on, is that mum had lots of warning signs – she had lots of pain in her back, she had a broken shoulder from a small knock, she had terrible breathlessness,” says Georgia. “She went to the doctors about all of these things and no-one put two and two together; no-one looked at her records to see that she’d recently had breast cancer.” The siblings who are hoping to raise in excess of £60,000 in her memory, will be supported on the day by their friends and family, including their most recent addition, Anthony’s brand new baby. Mel Elliott & James Parker The Leicester couple will be spending most of their wedding day in trainers as they prepare to run the London Marathon hours after tying the knot in Greenwich. The couple, who have been together for over 20 years, have decided this is the year to finally get hitched and to mark the occasion they have chosen to run for the charity Get Kids Going. “As keen runners we wanted to do the London Marathon together and what better opportunity to do it but as


The couple have requested that all their guests donate to Get Kids Going! instead of buying them a wedding gift, and they hope to raise nearly £4,000 for the charity.

A seasoned runner, Bob has run every London Marathon since 1993 and raised over £50,000 for RAFT, recently becoming a patron. His son Robert has followed in his footsteps, raising more than £25,000 himself. RAFT undertake research into new methods of reconstructive surgery, help develop innovative new treatments for cancers, burns, birth defects, prosthetics and wound healing which are used all over the world, explained Bob. Despite completing 20 marathons, Bob is not a fan of running and does it simply to raise funds and awareness. He and Robert both ran in 2017 and this year Iwan joined the jogging clan after doing a placement with RAFT last Easter as part of his Bio-Medical Studies degree at Cardiff University. Emmanuel Bejedi Originally from Cameroon, Emmanuel Bejedi found himself homeless and alone on the streets of London for several years before getting back on his feet thanks to help from The Running Charity. The organisation, which works with 16-25 year olds who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, helped him find a day centre, set goals, improve his fitness, build his self-esteem and create a new family of friends. He was eventually given indefinite leave to remain in the UK and is training to become a run leader to help support other young people involved with The Running Charity. “Running has helped me through really sad times,” said Emmanuel. “I have found friends and I am never alone. I also have the skills to bounce back when times are hard, and I am really looking forward to running the London Marathon, completing my run leaders and being able to give back.” For more information on these and many other human interest stories go to the Media Resources section of the London Marathon website, or contact a member of the London Marathon media team.


Runners by Age Age Group Men Women All 18-19 164 132 296 20-29 4,966 5,217 10,183 30-39 10,041 7,277 17,318 40-49 10,242 6,806 17,048 50-59 4,950 2,781 7,731 60-69 1,227 520 1,747 70-79 262 81 343 80-89 16 3 19 Totals 31,868 22,817 54,685

Oldest Runners The oldest man is: Samuel Starbrook, 87, born 18 September1930 The oldest woman is: Eileen Noble, 83, born 30 December 1934

Youngest Runners The youngest men are: Tom Roberts, 18 years 0 days, born 22 April 2000 Joshua Ambrose, 18 years 0 days, born 22 April 2000 The youngest women are: Gabrielle Pearce, 18 years 0 days, born 22 April 2000 Isabelle Ellis, 18 years 0 days, born 22 April 2000

Runners who have birthdays on Race Day Men Women Total 125 88 213

Oldest & Youngest All Time Oldest winner (men): Allister Hutton (GBR) 1990 (35 yrs 278 days) Oldest winner (women): Joyce Smith, (GBR) 1982 (44) Youngest winner (men): Sammy Wanjiru (KEN) 2009 (22) Youngest winner (women): Małgorzata Sobanska (POL) 1995 (25) Oldest finisher (men): Fauja Singh 2004 (93) Oldest finisher (women): Jenny Wood-Allen 2002 (90) Eleanor Draper: the London Marathon’s oldest female finisher



Runners by Occupation Occupation Accountant Actor Administrative and Clerical Support Administrator Advertising Agriculture Airline Cabin Crew Airline Pilot Ambulance Service Analyst Apprentice Architect Armed Forces Artist Banker Banker (City of London) Beautician / Hairdresser Building Society Building Trade Business Owner Catering Catering – Professional Chairman / President of Company Civil Aviation – Cabin Crew Civil Servant Clergy Clerical Communications Construction Consultant Data Processing / MIS Manager Data Processing / Systems Analyst Data Processing Engineer Data Processing Manager Data Processing Programmer Dental Assistant Dentist Designer Doctor Doctor - GP Doctor - Specialist Driver Economist Editor Education – Support Electrician Engineer Engineer - Civil Engineer - Electrical Engineer - Mechanical Events and Operations Film Maker Finance and Investment – Support Financial Analyst Firefighter Forestry / Game Keeping Haulage Health Service Health and Fitness Healthcare – Professional Healthcare – Support Homemaker Hospitality Hotel Hotel and Leisure Industry Housewife IT Professional IT Support Insurance Investment Broker Labourer


Men Women Total 1,291 783 2,074 69 55 124 203 733 936 311 852 1163 136 92 228 77 14 91 9 36 45 28 1 29 22 21 43 187 107 294 7 1 8 157 53 210 255 47 302 60 63 123 669 238 907 230 51 281 16 111 127 29 11 40 310 9 319 806 310 1116 123 79 202 82 53 135 192 23 215 8 18 26 210 151 361 29 3 32 38 80 118 142 103 245 471 45 516 675 270 945 49 6 55 141 42 183 50 7 57 74 21 95 69 4 73 2 27 29 66 58 124 300 191 491 158 160 318 76 63 139 195 120 315 294 16 310 43 16 59 52 59 111 71 220 291 262 2 264 858 69 927 173 22 195 206 14 220 360 16 376 34 66 100 42 12 54 123 64 187 435 152 587 208 20 228 10 5 15 31 2 33 142 351 493 87 146 233 186 550 736 60 154 214 17 243 260 34 42 76 56 30 86 34 28 62 6 352 358 720 107 827 61 20 81 259 126 385 59 11 70 66 5 71


Lecturer Legal Profession Legal – Support Librarian Local Government Machinist Machinist / Plant Worker Manager Manufacturing - Production Management Manufacturing - Shop Floor Marketer Marketing Mechanic Media and Publishing Military Services Musician Newsperson Nurse Other Paramedic Pharmacist Photographer Physician Physiotherapist Pilot Plumber Police Politician Postal Worker Printer Programmer Psychiatrist Public Relations Public Service – Support Public Transport Publishing Radio / TV Recreation Worker Restaurants Retail Trade Retail – Manager Retail – Support Retired Sales Manager Salesperson Scientist Secretary Security Shop Worker Social Worker Solicitor Sports Person Sportsperson Stock Exchange Stockbroker Student Surveyor Systems Analyst Taxi Driver Teacher Teacher / Education Trade and Craft – Professional Trade and Craft – Support Transportation Travel Travel and Tourism – Worker Unemployed Waiter / Waitress Writer / Journalist Youth / Community Worker Total

128 96 224 367 363 730 22 37 59 4 17 21 137 96 233 13 1 14 67 5 72 774 440 1,214 158 28 186 53 10 63 168 174 342 488 501 989 44 2 46 132 117 249 173 33 206 88 21 109 33 16 49 104 718 822 4,454 3,197 7,651 23 15 38 44 36 80 32 25 57 2 4 6 47 127 174 38 5 43 41 1 42 438 265 703 26 9 35 48 12 60 25 3 28 44 5 49 5 10 15 80 146 226 82 64 146 43 14 57 31 27 58 98 64 162 6 8 14 73 36 109 310 230 540 112 60 172 102 117 219 616 293 909 686 210 896 402 205 607 229 188 417 5 223 228 31 4 35 32 37 69 37 70 107 52 56 108 55 40 95 102 56 158 15 2 17 36 2 38 552 691 1,243 190 54 244 19 10 29 21 0 21 455 747 1,202 646 1,215 1,861 94 15 109 9 1 10 108 13 121 49 45 94 22 29 51 65 72 137 7 23 30 69 76 145 39 57 96 31,868 22,817 54,685



Runners by Nationality Country Albania Andorra Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Bahamas Bangladesh Barbados Belgium Bermuda Botswana Brazil Bahrain Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Canada Congo Chile China Cote d’Ivoire Cameroon Colombia Cape Verde Costa Rica Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt Spain Estonia Ethiopia Finland Falkland Islands France United Kingdom Georgia Germany Guernsey Greece Guatemala Haiti Hong Kong Honduras Hungary Isle of Man Indonesia India British Indian Ocean Territory Iran Ireland Iceland Israel Italy Jamaica Jersey Jordan Japan Kazakstan Kenya South Korea Saudi Arabia Kuwait Latvia Lebanon Lithuania Luxembourg


Code Men Women Total ALB 1 1 2 AND 3 0 3 ARG 23 19 42 ARM 2 2 4 AUS 132 132 264 AUT 20 5 25 BAH 2 1 3 BAN 5 0 5 BAR 0 1 1 BEL 73 20 93 BER 4 2 6 BOT 1 3 4 BRA 84 26 130 BRN 0 3 3 BRU 20 5 25 BUL 8 8 16 BUR 6 0 6 CAN 90 83 173 CGO 0 1 1 CHI 28 7 35 CHN 418 194 612 CIV 2 0 2 CMR 2 0 2 COL 7 6 13 CPV 0 1 1 CRC 4 1 5 CRO 4 0 4 CYP 3 1 4 CZE 2 5 7 DEN 75 21 96 DOM 3 1 4 ECU 7 1 8 EGY 5 1 6 ESP 182 46 228 EST 11 10 21 ETH 2 0 2 FIN 23 16 39 FLK 1 0 1 FRA 427 131 558 GBR 27,188 20,291 47,479 GEO 1 0 1 GER 230 115 345 GGY 1 2 3 GRE 28 12 40 GUA 11 0 11 HAI 1 1 2 HKG 3 1 4 HON 5 5 8 HUN 10 7 17 IMN 0 1 1 INA 25 14 39 IND 57 17 74 IOT 0 1 1 IRI 3 0 3 IRL 404 232 636 ISL 4 12 16 ISR 20 6 26 ITA 356 122 478 JAM 0 2 2 JEY 4 1 5 JOR 5 0 5 JPN 75 35 110 KAZ 2 0 2 KEN 5 2 7 KOR 13 1 14 KSA 2 1 3 KUW 2 0 2 LAT 3 2 5 LIB 8 6 14 LTU 6 7 13 LUX 5 2 7


Morocco MAR 21 5 26 Malaysia MAS 20 11 31 Malawi MAW 0 1 1 Moldova MDA 1 1 2 Maldives MDV 1 0 1 Mexico MEX 74 24 78 Mongolia MGL 0 1 1 Macedonia MKD 1 0 1 Malta MLT 10 2 12 Monaco MON 1 0 1 Mauritius MRI 1 2 3 Myanmar MYA 3 0 3 Namibia NAM 1 0 1 Netherlands NED 110 62 172 Nepal NEP 4 0 4 Norfolk Island NFK 53 44 97 Niger NIG 12 2 14 Northern Ireland NIR 15 6 21 Norway NOR 4 1 5 New Zealand NZL 56 45 101 Pakistan PAK 4 0 4 Panama PAN 2 1 3 Paraguay PAR 0 2 2 Peru PER 3 2 5 Philippines PHI 17 8 25 Poland POL 54 32 86 Portugal POR 37 13 50 Puerto Rico PUR 1 0 1 Qatar QAT 1 0 1 Romania ROU 5 6 11 South Africa RSA 121 69 190 Russia RUS 25 10 35 Scotland SCO 132 103 235 Senegal SEN 1 0 1 Singapore SIN 12 13 25 Sierra Leone SLE 1 0 1 Slovenia SLO 3 1 4 Serbia SRB 5 1 6 Sri Lanka SRI 1 0 1 Sudan SUD 1 0 1 Switzerland SUI 94 35 129 Slovakia SVK 3 5 8 Sweden SWE 66 42 108 Swaziland SWZ 0 1 1 Syria SYR 1 1 2 Tanzania TAN 1 0 1 Thailand THA 7 1 8 East Timor TLS 1 0 1 Chinese Taipei TPE 21 10 31 Trinidad and Tobago TTO 2 2 4 Turkey TUR 11 3 14 Uganda UGA 2 3 5 Ukraine UKR 4 5 9 Uruguay URU 1 0 1 United States USA 446 464 910 Venezuela VEN 5 3 8 Wales WLS 206 114 320 Zambia ZAM 2 0 2 Zimbabwe ZIM 4 2 6 26 8 34 Total

31,868 22,817 54,685



Marathon Weather Runners will be hoping for a fine spring day to help them get around the 26.2 mile course on 22 April. A mild, not hot, day with a light breeze will help the mass runners, most of whom will complete the race in the afternoon. Those conditions will also help the elites run at close to world record pace. Average weather conditions for the London Marathon up to 2017 give some indication of what to expect: • average maximum temperature: 14.9°C • average minimum temperature: 8.9°C • average rainfall: 1.3mm • average sunshine: 5.4 hours.

The event has seen some extremes of weather in the past. In 2004 it was particularly wet and windy. Evans Rutto, the eventual winner of the men’s race, was just one of the runners who slipped and fell in the poor conditions. The highest temperature of 22.2°C was recorded on two Race Days – in 1996 (21 April) and 2007 (22 April); the lowest of 5.3°C on 18 April 2004. The wettest Race Day on record was 18 April 2004 when 12.4mm fell, while the sunniest was 26 April 2009 with 12.3 hours of sunshine.

Race Day Temperature (°C) Race Date 29 Mar 81 09 May 82 17 Apr 83 13 May 84 21 Apr 85 20 Apr 86 10 May 87 17 May 88 23 Apr 89 22 Apr 90 21 Apr 91 12 Apr 92 18 Apr 93 17 Apr 94 02 Apr 95 21 Apr 96 13 Apr 97 26 Apr 98 18 Apr 99 16 Apr 00 22 Apr 01 14 Apr 02 13 Apr 03 18 Apr 04 17 Apr 05 23 Apr 06 22 Apr 07 13 Apr 08 26 Apr 09 25 Apr 10 17 Apr 11 22 Apr 12 21 Apr 13 13 Apr 14 26 Apr 15 24 Apr 16 23 Apr 17


09:00 10.1 10.5 10.1 8.6 6.0 8.1 10.0 10.6 8.4 9.4 5.8 11.3 11.8 5.9 8.3 17.6 9.9 11.1 5.9 6.6 7.6 7.6 9.5 9.6 7.7 11.1 16.3 10.4 14.1 11.8 14.1 8.8 7.0 10.5 8.0 6.8 11.7

10:00 10.2 11.1 10.0 10.4 6.9 10.2 10.6 13.2 8.5 10.0 7.1 12.1 12.2 6.6 9.6 20.3 11.2 11.2 6.8 8.7 8.4 9.2 11.5 10.2 9.4 11.3 18.6 12.1 14.9 13.8 15.9 10.4 8.9 11.3 8.0 7.4 12.6

11:00 10.2 13.4 10.4 12.2 8.0 15.6 12.0 14.6 8.7 10.2 9.4 13.2 13.1 7.5 12.0 20.1 12.0 13.0 7.6 9.9 8.6 10.6 15.0 10.3 10.9 12.1 20.5 8.9 16.1 14.4 18.3 12.5 10.4 12.7 8.0 8.0 13.6

12:00 10.9 14.0 10.0 13.0 8.6 17.0 12.4 16.4 10.1 10.9 9.1 13.8 13.8 7.6 14.1 21.0 13.3 12.7 8.4 11.3 10.4 11.2 16.4 11.2 12.3 12.7 21.7 9.5 16.2 15.6 19.9 13.4 12.8 13.7 9.0 9.0 13.9


Race Day Relative Humidity (%) Race Date 29 Mar 81 09 May 82 17 Apr 83 13 May 84 21 Apr 85 20 Apr 86 10 May 87 17 May 88 23 Apr 89 22 Apr 90 21 Apr 91 12 Apr 92 18 Apr 93 17 Apr 94 02 Apr 95 21 Apr 96 13 Apr 97 26 Apr 98 18 Apr 99 16 Apr 00 22 Apr 01 14 Apr 02 13 Apr 03 18 Apr 04 17 Apr 05 23 Apr 06 22 Apr 07 13 Apr 08 26 Apr 09 25 Apr 10 17 Apr 11 22 Apr 12 21 Apr 13 13 Apr 14 26 Apr 15 24 Apr 16 23 Apr 17

09:00 89 65 87 70 75 96 65 80 92 93 62 82 81 84 78 51 58 72 83 75 68 58 77 89 64 78 48 65 55 82 68 76 67 55 80 67 60

10:00 91 56 87 56 74 94 61 64 88 91 58 78 82 78 72 36 56 71 74 65 63 49 69 88 54 81 43 54 49 79 58 69 55 49 88 54 61

11:00 94 52 87 45 68 93 56 62 88 91 50 64 73 66 61 33 47 61 65 57 80 38 55 90 46 78 35 80 46 80 51 61 46 48 86 55 57

12:00 94 51 79 30 65 71 50 57 75 88 51 60 64 54 54 28 43 67 57 51 46 31 50 85 44 81 30 73 42 77 44 55 51 48 79 46 48

Keep up to date with the latest weather forecast for the London Marathon on the Met Office webpage: www.metoffice.gov.uk/events/london-marathon.



09 VIRGIN MONEY GIVING MINI LONDON MARATHON

The Virgin Money Giving Mini London Marathon is a series of races for girls and boys aged between 11 and 17, divided into three age categories. It is run over the last three miles of the marathon course, starting at Old Billingsgate and finishing under the finish gantry in The Mall. The runners race along Victoria Embankment, through Parliament Square, down Birdcage Walk, and past Buckingham Palace. The race started in 1986 involving children from all 33 London boroughs. In 2001, selected teams from English counties were invited, based on their performances at the English Schools Cross Country Championships. From 2005, teams representing Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland were added. In 2009, a new format was introduced. The English county teams were replaced by regions, while the top finishers from the London boroughs scored points for a ‘united London team’ in the regional competition. In 2011, the races were adopted as the official British Athletics Road Running Championships for young athletes. More than 2,000 boys and girls take part in three age groups – under 13, under 15 and under 17. The following London boroughs compete in the London competition: Barking & Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith & Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington & Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, City of London, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, City of Westminster. The following regional teams compete in the UK Road Running Championships: East England, East Midlands, London, North East, North West, South East, South West, West Midlands, Yorkshire & Humberside; Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales. Mini London Wheelchair Marathon There are also four wheelchair races along the same course, open to youngsters aged under 14 and under 17 from all parts of the UK. They race as individuals rather than members of a team. A new event for ambulant para athletes was added in 2017.

Future stars

Over the years the Mini Marathon has unearthed a number of future stars of British athletics. A quick glance through the list of medallists reveals some young racers who have gone on to gain major international honours: Mo Farah, the Olympic, world and European 5000m and 10,000m champion, was a Mini Marathon winner for Hounslow three years in a row between 1998 and 2000. He went on to win gold medals in 5000m and 10,000m at the 2010 and 2014 European Championships, the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games and the 2013, 2015 and 2017 World Championships, among others. He broke the English record on his London Marathon debut in 2014 and races again this year. Scott Overall, who was third in the Mini Marathon in 2000, ran the marathon for Britain at the 2012 London Olympics. Freya Ross was fifth in the Mini Marathon in 2001 (as Freya Murray). She went on to represent Britain at London 2012 where she was 44th in the marathon. David Weir won the Mini Wheelchair Marathon seven times in his youth, and has since won the senior London Wheelchair Marathon six times and claimed six gold medals at Paralympic Games. Shelly Woods won the mini event twice before rising to become senior champion in 2007 and 2012. She won a marathon silver medal at the London 2012 Paralympics. Hannah Cockroft also won the event twice, in 2009 and 2010, before going on to break world and Paralympic records on the track for T34 100m and 200m, and to win gold medals at the London 2012 and 2016 Paralympics, and at the London 2017 World Para Athletics World Championships. The Mini London Marathon has also been a seedbed for talented athletes who have gone on to succeed in other sports, such as Alistair Brownlee, the double Olympic triathlon champion, who ran the Mini Marathon in 2002 and 2005, his brother Jonathan Brownlee, the Olympic triathlon bronze and silver medallist, and Non Stanford, four times a Mini Marathon winner between 2001 and 2005, who won the 2013 world triathlon title in London’s Hyde Park.


VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 What Happened in 2017 Josh Dickinson set one of three course records in the 2017 Virgin Money Giving Mini London Marathon. In an event that has seen the likes of Mo Farah, David Weir and Non Stanford win in the past, it was Dickinson of Yorkshire & Humberside who caught the eye, breaking the under 15 boys’ record set by Josh Cowperthwaite in 2016 by one second with a time of 14:47. He finished ahead of Charlie Brisley and Abdi Hasan. “It’s a privilege to represent the region,” Dickinson said. “I started running properly when I was 10 and two years ago I came third in this race.” Charlotte Alexander ran a course record in the under 15 girls’ race as she beat Lily-Jane Evans-Haggerty and Olivia Mason in 16:23. The South East athlete running her first Mini Marathon took five seconds off the previous best jointly held by Katy-Ann McDonald and Annabel Mason. The swimmer-turned-runner said: “It was an incredible atmosphere. I didn’t notice the hurt because of the crowd. I’ll definitely do it again. “I forgot about everyone else and kept my stride going. I’m new to running so I’m working on my arm technique and focusing on sprinting.” Naomi Toft of Kensington and Chelsea was the topranked runner in her age group and she duly won the under 13 girls’ race for London and set a course record and personal best of 17:01.

Eva Holland, also of London, and Lizzy Edge of the East Midlands finished second and third respectively. “I was at the back of the pack at the start,” said Toft. “Just before Westminster I moved up and then moved out at the front. I just kept overtaking everyone else.” London also claimed victory in the under 13 boys’ race, as Jaden Kennedy crossed the Finish Line in 15:57. In the wheelchair races, it was a case of ‘as you were’ as all four 2016 winners retained their titles. Jack Agnew and Kare Adenegan won the under 17 race while Andrew Greer and Shauna Bocquet were again the under 14 winners. “I wanted the course record (12:39, held by Jade Jones) but I think I’ve just missed it,” said Adenegan, who holds the under 14 girls’ wheelchair record. “I’m hoping for better luck next year. The conditions were good today.” Elsewhere, there was another victory for Yorkshire & Humberside as Toby Osman won the under 17 boys’ race ahead of Thomas Keen and Jeremy Demsey from the East region, while Scotland’s Erin Wallace was victorious in the under 17 girls’ category over Julia Paternain and Grace Brock. A new event for young ambulant para athletes was added in 2017 and Toby Markham triumphed in the under 17 boys’ category, completing the course in 20:06. Malik Berbiche was the quickest of the under 14 boys in 30:27 – both course records.

2017 Medallists Boys 1st 2nd U17 Toby Osman (Yorks & Humberside) 14:25 Thomas Keen (East) 14:25 U15 Joshua Dickinson (Yorks & Humb) 14:47 Charlie Brisley (South East) 15:03 U13 Jaden Kennedy (London) 15:57 Felix Vaughan (South East) 16:05 Girls U17 Erin Wallace (Scotland) 16:09 Julia Paternain (East) U15 Charlotte Alexander (South East) 16:23 Lily-Jane Evans-Haggerty (Scotland) U13 Naomi Toft (London) 17:01 Eva Holland (London)

3rd Jeremy Demsey (East) Abdifatah Hasan (South West) Alexander Thompson (Yorks & Humb)

14:26 15:03 16:09

16:12 Grace Brock (South West) 16:41 Olivia Mason (North West)

16:25 16:45

17:19 Lizzy Edge (East Midlands)

17:20

Wheelchair Boys U17 Jack Agnew U14 Andrew Greer

11:39 Craig Boardman 15:39 Thomas Miller

12:21 Graham Spencer 19:25 Nathan Freeman

12:39 20:23

Wheelchair Girls U17 Kare Adenegan U14 Shauna Bocquet

12:51 Catherine Stott 15:56 Courtney-Lea Daly

19:11 Lottie Wilcocks 19:57 Neve Allen

20:34 21:09

Ambulant Boys U17 Toby Markham U14 Malik Berbiche

20:06 Sufyan Mahmood 30:27

26:12 Henry Wellfair

35:12


VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 The 2018 Races The 2018 Mini London Marathon participants will be the first to cross the line on the morning of Sunday 22 April giving early spectators something to shout about as they wait for further action later in the day. Trials have been held over the winter months in 33 London boroughs and nine regions in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales to determine age-group teams to represent each area over the three-mile races in three age categories – under 13, under 15 and under 17. Each London borough, region and home nation team enters 36 runners, six for each of the race categories. There are also races for young para athletes. Both wheelchair and ambulant para athletes compete in under 14 and under 17 age groups. Athletes in these races compete as individuals. The wheelchair race will have an international flavour for the first time this year with two young athletes from Germany and two from Switzerland among the entries. The start times and T-shirt colours this year are:

WHEELCHAIR GIRLS UNDER 17 Start time: 08:42 Solar Pink

BOYS UNDER 15 Start time: 09:02 Pacific

WHEELCHAIR BOYS UNDER 17 Start time: 08:40 Flame

BOYS UNDER 13 Start time: 09:09 Team Red

WHEELCHAIR GIRLS UNDER 14 Start time: 08:42 Azalea

GIRLS UNDER 17 Start time: 09:16 White

WHEELCHAIR BOYS UNDER 14 Start time: 08:40 Toxic

BOYS UNDER 17 Start time: 08:55 Black

GIRLS UNDER 15 Start time: 09:23 Atomic Yellow

GIRLS UNDER 13 Start time: 09:30 Clear Sky

Current Course Records Boys U17 U15 U13

14:00 14:47 15:42

Ben Dijkstra Joshua Dickinson Tommy Dawson

East Midlands Yorkshire & Humberside Yorkshire & Humberside

2015 2017 2015

Girls U17 U15 U13

15:38 16:23 17:01

Jessica Judd Charlotte Alexander Naomi Toft

East South East London

2011 2017 2017

Wheelchair Boys U17 11:35 U14 13:22

Nathan Maguire Isaac Towers

Kingston & Poly Harriers Aks Lytham

2015 2013

Wheelchair Girls U17 12:39 U14 12:41

Jade Jones Kare Adenegan

New Marske Harriers Coventry

2013 2015

Ambulant Boys U17 20:06 U14 30:27

Toby Markham Malik Berbiche

2017 2017

More information and full results, including team results, from past races can be found at: www.minimarathon.co.uk



10

RECENT RACE REPORTS & RESULTS

Elite Races 2012-2017 Full race reports and digital results for all races from 1981 to 2017 are now available on the website: www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com. Here we provide brief race reports of elite races from 2012 to 2017.

22 April 2012 Men: Kipsang surges to debut title

Wilson Kipsang took the men’s title in the second fastest time ever on the London course, a performance that secured his place at the London 2012 Olympics. Already the second fastest man in history, Kipsang stamped his authority on a heavily loaded field with two bold surges in the second half of the race. He broke free after 20 miles and crossed the line more than two minutes clear in 2:04:44 missing Emmanuel Mutai’s course record by four seconds. Martin Lel, the three-times champion, repeated his runner-up place from 2011. He crossed the line in 2:06:51, winning a sprint finish by a second from Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Kebede. It was yet another remarkable run from the 33-year-old who had been left out of Kenya’s Olympic selection shortlist after dropping out of the Dubai Marathon that January.

Women: Keitany clocks Kenyan record

Mary Keitany retained her title on a brilliant morning, smashing the Kenyan and African record to become the second fastest woman in history as she led a second national medal-sweep in the women’s race. Keitany kicked away from her compatriots in the last four miles to clock 2:18:37, 10 seconds quicker than Catherine Ndereba’s 11-year-old mark. She was more than a minute ahead of world champion Edna Kiplagat, who broke 2:20 for the first time in second place, with world silver medallist Priscah Jeptoo third and two more Kenyans, Florence Kiplagat and Lucy Kabuu, fourth and fifth. “I’m so delighted to win for the second time in London,” said Keitany. “I knew I could run 2:18 but to break Catherine’s national record is special for me.”

As for Mutai, he was seventh (now sixth) in 2:08:01, his lowest finish in five London appearances, perhaps affected by the bout of typhoid he suffered a month before the race. Abel Kirui was a place ahead of him. Second at 40km, the double world champion faded in the closing stages and crossed the line in 2:07:56.

Keitany threw down the gauntlet in the second half, running 67:44 to make this one of the quickest marathon finishes ever seen. Kiplagat challenged the champion until 23 miles and maintained her form over the closing stages to cross the line in 2:19:50, a personal best by nearly a minute. There was also a PB for Jeptoo, the world silver medallist running 2:20:14.

It was a bad day for the then world record holder Patrick Makau too. He dropped out at 10 miles with a hamstring injury, scuppering his Olympic hopes.

Only Ethiopia’s Aberu Kebede could stay with the quintet of Kenyans after half way, and at the end she was the first non-Kenyan across the line in sixth place.

Lee Merrien was the first Briton for the second year in a row. He ran a PB of 2:13:41 to finish 15th (now 14th) and was selected for GB’s London Olympic team.

Germany’s Irina Mikitenko was the first European in seventh while there was good news for Britain as Claire Hallissey finished 11th in a PB of 2:27:44 to win her Olympic place. Scot Freya Murray (now Ross) was just a stride or two behind, clocking 2:28:04 on her debut.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Wilson Kipsang Martin Lel Tsegaye Kebede Jaouad Gharib Abel Kirui Emmanuel Mutai Marîlson dos Santos Samuel Tsegay Feyisa Lilesa Bazu Worku

KEN KEN ETH MAR KEN KEN BRA ERI ETH ETH

2:04:44 2:06:51 2:06:52 2:07:44 2:07:56 2:08:01 2:08:03 2:08:06 2:08:20 2:10:14

* Adil Annani (MAR) was initially 4th in 2:07:43 but the result was later annulled when he was suspended for doping.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Mary Keitany Edna Kiplagat Priscah Jeptoo Florence Kiplagat Lucy Kabuu Aberu Kebede Irina Mikitenko Jessica Augusto Atsede Baysa Jelena Prokopcuka

KEN KEN KEN KEN KEN ETH GER POR ETH LAT

2:18:37 2:19:50 2:20:14 2:20:57 2:23:12 2:24:04 2:24:53 2:24:59 2:25:59 2:27:04


VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 21 April 2013 Men: Kebede comes from behind

Women: Jeptoo leads a Kenyan 1-2

Kebede came from nearly a minute behind the leaders at 35km to regain the crown he won three years before. He crossed the line in 2:06:04 with his hand on his chest in memory of the victims of the recent Boston Marathon bombings. Mutai hung on for second in 2:06:33 while Kebede’s training partner Ayele Abshero was third in 2:06:57, giving Ethiopia two on the podium for the first time.

But while it was another day of joy for Kenya, there was disaster for Ethiopia’s Olympic champion Tiki Gelana who collided with wheelchair racer Josh Cassidy at a feeding station near the 15km mark.

Tsegaye Kebede ran a perfectly judged race to win the men’s title with a thrilling finish. The Ethiopian held enough back to surge past course record holder Emmanuel Mutai in the final half-mile of the race.

With the ‘greatest field ever assembled’ setting off from Blackheath, the first half of the race was dominated by talk of a world record. All the favourites were in the mix, including Kebede, Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich, defending champion Wilson Kipsang, world record holder Patrick Makau, course record holder Mutai and London debutant Abshero. Among them was Britain’s Mo Farah, running the first half as a test for his 2014 debut. He dropped out as planned just before half way, passed in 61:34, and the lead group gradually whittled down until Mutai hit the front alone passing the Tower of London at mile 22. The Kenyan, running his 13th marathon, seemed to have timed his effort to perfection, but Kebede, who had dropped off the leaders at half way, surged back into contention. By mile 24, he was just 28 seconds back and with a mile to go the gap was down to 12.

Priscah Jeptoo led a Kenyan one-two to add the women’s London Marathon crown to her world and Olympic silvers. She powered home ahead of world champion Edna Kiplagat while Yukiko Akaba came from behind to claim Japan’s first London podium place in third.

Battered and bruised, Gelana kept going to finish 16th, more than 16 minutes after Jeptoo had crossed the line in 2:20:15, a second outside her personal best. “I knew this morning I was going to run well,” said Jeptoo. “But there was such a good field it wasn’t until around 25 miles that I felt I could win.” Gelana had fallen in the Olympic race too, but then she had picked herself up to beat Jeptoo in the pouring rain. Conditions couldn’t have been more different this time as the women set off under cloudless skies in still conditions. At first Gelana seemed to recover well, and she was one of five who went through half way in 1:11:33 only to lose touch again in the 14th mile. By 30km Jeptoo and Kiplagat were alone in front. At first Kiplagat seemed to have the initiative, but Jeptoo was determined not to play the bridesmaid’s role again.

These two turned past Big Ben together at almost exactly midday. Mutai had nothing left as Kebede powered on and cruised into the finishing straight to claim his second London victory.

Her style is all elbows and knees compared to Kiplagat’s smoother gait, yet it was she who proved the stronger as they turned west and ran towards Westminster. She opened a stride’s gap, which slowly grew to two, then five, before the elastic finally snapped and Kiplagat settled for second.

Spain’s Ayad Lamdassem was the first European in ninth. Scott Overall dropped out of the race at 25km, leaving Derek Hawkins to come through as first Briton. He was 12th in 2:16:50.

Jeptoo took the tape in comfortable isolation well over a minute ahead. Akaba overtook Florence Kiplagat, Atsede Baysa and Meselech Melkamu to claim third while Gelana struggled home in 2:36:55.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

It was a better day for Britain’s Susan Partridge. The Scot ducked inside the World Championships qualifying time, finishing ninth in 2:30:46.

Tsegaye Kebede Emmanuel Mutai Ayele Abshero Feyisa Lilesa Wilson Kipsang Stephen Kiprotich Yared Asmerom Stanley Biwott Ayad Lamdassem Patrick Makau

ETH KEN ETH ETH KEN UGA ERI KEN ESP KEN

2:06:04 2:06:33 2:06:57 2:07:46 2:07:47 2:08:05 2:08:22 2:08:39 2:09:28* 2:14:10

* Hafid Chani (MAR) was initially 9th in 2:09:11 but his result was later annulled when he was suspended for a doping violation.


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Priscah Jeptoo Edna Kiplagat Yukiko Akaba Atsede Baysa Meselech Melkamu Florence Kiplagat Mai Ito Alevtina Biktirimova Susan Partridge Irvette van Zyl

KEN KEN JPN ETH ETH KEN JPN RUS GBR RSA

2:20:15 2:21:32 2:24:43 2:25:14 2:25:46 2:27:05 2:28:37 2:30:02 2:30:46 2:31:26

VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 13 April 2014 Men: Kipsang claims the course record

Wilson Kipsang broke the course record to regain his London Marathon men’s title on a glorious day, sprinting away from fellow Kenyan Stanley Biwott in the final mile and a half of the race. The two had pulled clear of a large pack around Canary Wharf, and Kipsang shrugged off his compatriot as they approached Westminster Bridge to win by 26 seconds in 2:04:29, beating Emmanuel Mutai’s three-year-old London best. It was an impressive effort from the 32-year-old who added a second London title to his world record victory at the Berlin Marathon the previous September. It was his seventh win in 10 career marathons and the 10th at a London Marathon by a Kenyan man. In 2012 Kipsang crossed the line more than two minutes clear of the field, but in 2014 he bided his time, kicking away from a pack of eight with a burst that only Biwott could match. The two ran shoulder-to-shoulder for 10km before Kipsang made his move with just over 2km left. From then on he was never in trouble and made up for a poorly-paced first half by sprinting down The Mall. Never among the pre-race favourites, Biwott was a surprise in second, clocking 2:04:55 to ensure 2014 will be remembered as the first time in 34 London Marathons that two men have broken 2:05. There was some consolation for Kenya’s great east African rivals Ethiopia as they filled the next three places. Defending champion Tsegaye Kebede, prominent for much of the race, had to be satisfied with third, his fifth podium finish in six London Marathons. Kebede outsprinted Ayele Abshero to cross the line a second ahead in 2:06:30, while the 18-year-old Dubai champion, Tsegaye Mekonnen, was fifth in 2:08:06. As for Britain’s Mo Farah, his much-anticipated debut ended in disappointment as the double world and Olympic track champion failed to break the longstanding British record, finishing eighth in 2:08:21, more than a minute outside his target. He did break the English record, and he beat Uganda’s world and Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich, who finished 12th in 2:11:37, one place behind Chris Thompson (2:11:19). 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Wilson Kipsang Stanley Biwott Tsegaye Kebede Ayele Abshero Tsegaye Mekonnen Geoffrey Mutai Emmanuel Mutai Mo Farah Feyisa Lilesa Ryan Vail

KEN KEN ETH ETH ETH KEN KEN GBR ETH USA

2:04:29 2:04:55 2:06:30 2:06:31 2:08:06 2:08:18 2:08:19 2:08:21 2:08:26 2:10:57

Women: Third time lucky for Kiplagat

Edna Kiplagat ran a perfectly judged race to finally win the London Marathon after finishing runner-up in the previous three years. She ran the last seven miles a step behind her fellow Kenyan and namesake, Florence Kiplagat, before sprinting ahead on The Mall to cross the finish line three seconds clear in 2:20:21. “I’m very happy to win today because I haven’t managed to the last three times,” said the champion. Three Ethiopians followed the Kiplagats home, led by Tirunesh Dibaba in 2:20:35, a fine debut for the track star who lost touch with the two Kenyans when she dropped her drinks bottle around the 30km mark. Feyse Tadese finished strongly to come fourth in 2:21:42, with Aberu Kebede fifth in 2:23:21. Reigning champion Priscah Jeptoo ran alongside the two Kiplagats early on while Olympic champion Tiki Gelana was present next to Dibaba, Tadese and Kebede. After her collision in 2013, Gelana was hoping for better fortune this time, but she again provided the early drama when she began to struggle after 10km. Jeptoo stayed at the front, looking imperious as the pacemakers took them through half way bang on schedule at 69:15. But the champion stopped suddenly 17 miles into the race and stepped off the course, leaving the two Kiplagats puzzled to find themselves alone with Dibaba approaching 30km. Then Dibaba showed her marathon inexperience by dropping her drinks bottle. Sensibly, she stopped to pick it up but the Kenyan pair grabbed their opportunity. Exchanging a glance, they swiftly picked up the pace, putting in a 5:16 mile to open a gap which they maintained to the end. With the finish in sight, Florence made a bid for glory, but Edna found another gear as the road opened up, sprinting away to break the tape. Gelana finished a disappointing ninth (now eighth), while Amy Whitehead was the first Briton to cross the line in 2:34:19, just inside the 2:35 qualifying time for the Commonwealth Games. Emma Stepto, the 44-year-old who only took up running in her 30s, was close behind in an impressive 2:36:03. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Edna Kiplagat Florence Kiplagat Tirunesh Dibaba Feyse Tadese Aberu Kebede Jessica Augusto Ana Dulce Félix Tiki Gelana Yuko Shimizu Diane Nukuru-Johnson

KEN KEN ETH ETH ETH POR POR ETH JPN BDI

2:20:21 2:20:24 2:20:35 2:21:42 2:23:21 2:24:25 2:26:46* 2:26:58 2:32:00** 2:33:01

* Tetyana Gamera (UKR) was initially 7th in 2:25:30 but her result was annulled when she was suspended for a doping violation. ** Lyudmila Kovalenko (UKR) was initially 9th in 2:31:31but her result was annulled when she was suspended for a doping violation.


VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 26 April 2015 Men: King Kipchoge outkicks Kipsang

Eliud Kipchoge snatched the title from his countryman Wilson Kipsang with a thrilling sprint finish over the final mile. The former 5000m world champion and London debutant surged ahead of the reigning champion to win in 2:04:42, just 13 seconds outside the course record set by Kipsang in 2014. Kipsang finished just metres behind in 2:04:47, while world record holder Dennis Kimetto completed a Kenyan sweep of the podium and 2014 runner-up Stanley Biwott made it four in four for the east African nation. Billed as the ‘Clash of the Champions’, the 35th edition of the London Marathon featured the greatest men’s field ever assembled, with five of the world’s all-time top 10 and eight men who had run sub-2:05. With such class in the field, the world’s fastest men began at a quick pace. It proved too much for 2011 New York champion Geoffrey Mutai who dropped out just after half way. Kipchoge and Kimetto moved to the front after 25km and a six-man group strode beneath Canary Wharf’s skyscrapers to reach 30km in 1:28:56. The half dozen matched each other stride for stride until they hit 35km in 1:44:02, the course record now out of sight. Kipchoge put in a testing surge along The Highway, which reduced the group to four, before he and Kipsang made the decisive move as they dipped out of sight beneath Blackfriars underpass. The pair emerged with a 20-metre lead over Biwott and Kimetto that gradually grew along the Embankment. Both looked supremely confident as a 2:48 kilometre took them to 40km in 1:58:29. Kipchoge briefly opened a stride’s advantage but Kipsang was back alongside him as the duo passed Big Ben. Kipchoge had finished runner-up to Kipsang at the 2013 Berlin Marathon, but he was not prepared to let history repeat itself. With 650m to go he kicked again, putting in a surge that finally killed off the champion and left him alone to race past Buckingham Palace and on to The Mall. Scott Overall was the first Briton home, the Blackheath & Bromley runner finishing 13th in 2:13:13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Eliud Kipchoge Wilson Kipsang Dennis Kimetto Stanley Biwott Tilahun Regassa Sammy Kitwara Javier Guerra Ghebre Kibrom Aleksey Reunkov Serhiy Lebid

KEN KEN KEN KEN ETH KEN ESP ERI RUS UKR

2:04:42 2:04:47 2:05:50 2:06:41 2:07:16 2:07:43 2:09:33 2:09:36 2:10:10 2:10:21

Women: Tufa breaks Kenya’s grip

Tigist Tufa tore up the prediction book to hand Ethiopia its first women’s winner since Derartu Tulu in 2001. It was billed as a battle between Kenya’s ‘fantastic four’, but Tufa delivered a shock to the favourites when she grabbed a topsy-turvy race by the scruff of its neck with a devastating burst between 35 and 40km that ripped apart a nine-strong group containing two-times London winner Mary Keitany and world half marathon record holder Florence Kiplagat. Tufa threw in a 24th mile of 5:05 to pull clear of the pack and strode home in 2:23:22. Keitany won the runner-up battle with a sprint finish over Tirfi Tsegaye, the New York champion crossing the line one second ahead in 2:23:40. Aselefech Mergia capped a great day for Ethiopia by finishing fourth ahead of Kiplagat who couldn’t match her second place from 2014. As for her namesake, Edna, the defending and two-times world champion was 11th (now 10th) in 2:27:16. Tufa’s tenacious finish broke a Kenyan stranglehold stretching back five years. The Kenyans had dominated pre-race publicity and Kiplagat even suggested Paula Radcliffe’s women-only world record could come under threat on the day of the Briton’s last ever performance. In the event, the gusty weather put paid to that ambition and it soon became clear the contenders were going to race not chase times as a pattern of fluctuating speed took them to half way in 71:42, two and a half minutes outside schedule. The uneven pace meant the group soon swelled and suddenly it was Ana Dulce Felix at the front, the Portuguese athlete finding herself in an unexpected position as they strode by 30km in 1:42:36 and 35km in 1:59:58. Tsegaye finally broke the deadlock, taking Tufa clear of Mergia, Keitany, Florence Kiplagat and Jeptoo. The pair opened a 50-metre gap with a 23rd mile of 5:19, but it was Tufa who had the edge. She gestured for her compatriot to keep up, but Tsegaye was finished. Tufa had blown a big lead in the closing stages of the Dubai Marathon three months earllier, but in London she timed it to perfection and crossed the line with arms aloft in celebration of the biggest win of her life. Sonia Samuels was first Briton in 16th, clocking 2:31:46, while Radcliffe rolled home with the leading club runners in 2:36:55, 10 years and nine days since setting that spectacular course record. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Tigist Tufa Mary Keitany Tirfi Tsegaye Aselefech Mergia Florence Kiplagat Jemima Sumgong Priscah Jeptoo Ana Dulce Félix Volha Mazuronak Edna Kiplagat

ETH KEN ETH ETH KEN KEN KEN POR BLR KEN

2:23:22 2:23:40 2:23:41 2:23:53 2:24:15 2:24:23 2:25:01 2:25:15 2:25:36 2:27:16*

* Rkia El Moukim (MAR) was initially 10th in 2:26:33 but her result was annulled when she was suspended for doping.


VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 24 April 2016 Men: Classy Kipchoge smashes record

Eliud Kipchoge retained his crown with a majestic performance that took him to second on the all-time list and smashed London’s two-year-old course record. The 31-year-old Kenyan finished in 2:03:05, just eight seconds outside the world record and more than a minute inside Wilson Kipsang’s London best of 2:04:29. The classy Kipchoge was in control throughout, leading from start to finish as he produced a masterclass in efficient running and perfect pacing to out-kick one of the best men’s fields ever seen. En route, he and countryman Stanley Biwott swept through 30km in a world record time of 1:27:13 shortly after shrugging off the attentions of Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele. Kipchoge made his move going into Blackfriars underpass, leaving Biwott to settle for second in a big personal best of 2:03:51. Bekele was third in 2:06:36 – an impressive achievement given that he claimed to be just 90 per cent fit. Kipchoge’s performance was even more notable given the blustery, cool conditions. After going through half way in 61:24, the fastest ever first half in London, a group of eight strung out to grab their drinks on The Highway. Kipsang took a tumble as he reached for his bottle and eventually dropped off the pace at 25km. Bekele dropped off too, then dragged himself back to join Kipchoge and Biwott before the Kenyan pair finally broke him at 18 miles (1:24:12). The two leaders went through 30km seven seconds inside the world record and ran side by side at world record pace along The Highway, passing 35km in 1:42:07. Kipchoge removed his arm warmers as the two men passed The Monument, flinging them aside as he powered on under Blackfriars underpass, emerging to kick away from the New York champion. He strode on to pass 40km in 1:56:49, saying afterwards: “I realised at 40km that I was 20 seconds off the world record so I tried to squeeze but it wasn’t possible today.” With his sixth win from seven marathons, this masterful performer cemented his place among the greats. Biwott also joined the select club who have run sub-2:04. Behind them, Callum Hawkins won a thrilling race among the Britons chasing Olympic selection. The Scot placed eighth overall in 2:10:52 to book his Rio place. Marathon debutant Tsegai Tewelde was next home, finishing 12th in 2:12:23, while Callum’s older brother, Derek, was third Briton, 14th in 2:12:57. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Eliud Kipchoge Stanley Biwott Kenenisa Bekele Ghirmay Ghebreslassie Wilson Kipsang Tilahun Regassa Sisay Lemma Callum Hawkins Dennis Kimetto Ghebre Kibrom

KEN KEN ETH ERI KEN ETH ETH GBR KEN ERI

2:03:05 2:03:51 2:06:36 2:07:46 2:07:52 2:09:47 2:10:45 2:10:52 2:11:44 2:11:56

Women: Sumgong seals dramatic win

Jemima Sumgong bounced back from a bang on the head to win the women’s crown when she recovered from a dramatic fall to clinch victory by just five seconds from defending champion Tigist Tufa. In 2015 it was Tufa who tore up the prediction book. This time it was the 31-year-old from Kenya’s Nandi Hills who defied the predictions to win in 2:22:58. Unheralded before the race, Sumgong was the insider’s tip for victory and she rewarded their faith when she shrugged off the tumble at 22 miles and held off Tufa over the final stretch to hand Kenya its eighth win. The pair pulled clear of world champion Mare Dibaba with two miles to go before Sumgong triumphed in a ding-dong battle. After placing sixth 12 months earlier and fourth at the World Championships in Beijing, this was by far the biggest victory of her career so far. Florence Kiplagat passed the fading Dibaba for third while Volha Mazuronak of Belarus broke her personal best to finish fourth (now third) in 2:23:54. Two-time champion Mary Keitany was ninth, a victim of the Sumgong fall. With the Rio Games on many runners’ minds, it was fitting that Olympian Sylvia Disley got the race underway following a 30-second tribute to her late husband, John, who had devised the London Marathon route 36 years earlier. Keitany was a marginal favourite, but she had been suffering with a cold and the New York champion was one of many sporting hats, gloves and long sleeves to ward off the chilly northern winds. The leaders passed half way in 70:44, some 90 seconds outside schedule, before skipping through 30km in 1:41:39 where 2010 champion Aselefech Mergia inadvertently caught Sumgong’s heels, sending the Kenyan into the back of Keitany. All three hit the Tarmac and Keitany rapidly lost 50 metres. Mergia also struggled to regain ground, but Sumgong was swiftly up with the pack, rubbing the back of her skull as she moved into the lead. Only Tufa and Dibaba could stay with her as they reached the Embankment where Dibaba soon lost touch. Tufa and Sumgong ran shoulder to shoulder through 40km before Sumgong opened a small gap that wouldn’t be closed. Alyson Dixon and Sonia Samuels booked their tickets to Rio as the first two Britons, placing13th and 14th in 2:31:52 and 2:32:00 respectively. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Jemima Sumgong Tigist Tufa Florence Kiplagat Volha Mazuronak Aselefech Mergia Mare Dibaba Feyse Tadese Priscah Jeptoo Mary Keitany Jessica Augusto

KEN ETH KEN BLR ETH ETH ETH KEN KEN POR

2:22:58 2:23:03 2:23:39 2:23:54 2:23:57 2:24:09 2:25:03 2:27:27 2:28:30 2:28:53


VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 23 April 2017 Men: Wanjiru completes Kenyan sweep through 30km in 1:28:21. Lilesa cracked as they turned west along Poplar High Street, leaving four to battle it out for the three podium places. At least that’s how it looked. Wanjiru put in a burst at 21 miles, pulling away from Kirui who was 10 metres ahead of Lilesa as they turned onto The Highway heading west. The Kenyan gained 20 metres and seemed to be clear, but Bekele wasn’t done. The world record holder for 5000m and 10,000m hauled himself back into contention, moving to third then passing Kirui into second. It seemed only a matter of time before the revived Ethiopian would reel in the inexperienced Wanjiru, who couldn’t resist a glance behind to assess the threat.

Daniel Wanjiru held off the Ethiopian track legend Kenenisa Bekele in a thrilling finish to win his first London Marathon in 2:05:48. The 24-year-old Kenyan made a break just before the 21-mile mark and battled hard over the final five miles to beat the fast-finishing favourite who had fallen behind after suffering with blisters caused by ill-fitting shoes. Bekele had run the world’s second fastest time in Berlin the previous September, and was just six seconds behind Wanjiru with one mile to go, but he couldn’t quite close the gap and had to settle for the runner-up spot. Nearly two minutes later Bedan Karoki took third on his marathon debut ahead of Abel Kirui to put three Kenyan men in the top four. The men’s field set off on a perfect morning for marathon running after Prince Harry and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had started the race. Bekele immediately went to the front of a 10-strong group of east Africans, tucked in behind the pacers. He was joined by four countrymen, Feyisa Lilesa, Asefa Mengstu, Tsefay Abera and Tilahun Regassa, along with the trio of Kenyans, a pair of Eritreans, world champion Ghirmay Ghebreslassie and Amanuel Mesel, and the Tanzanian, Alphonce Simbu. They went through 10km on world record pace at 28:51 before settling down to pass half way in 61:40 – perfect tempo to break Dennis Kimetto’s world record of 2:02:57. Lilesa, the Rio Olympic silver medallist, took his turn at the front as Bekele, surprisingly, began to struggle, explaining later that he had blisters “because my foot wasn’t in a good position in my shoe”. “I changed my running style and that affected my pace and balance,” he said, “which made my right hamstring sore and slowed me down.” Bekele dropped out of the top 10, still in touch but looking uncomfortable as the remaining eight strode through the twists and turns of the Isle of Dogs, now bathed in spring sunshine. Eight became five as Wanjiru and Kirui ran shoulder to shoulder at the front, clicking


“I knew someone was coming, so that gave me renewed purpose,” said Wanjiru. “I wasn’t scared when I saw Bekele; if someone’s coming from behind you have to push on to win the race.” And push on he did, keeping the gap to 10 seconds as the pair battled it out, thrilling the crowds lining the Embankment and crammed into the roads around Parliament Square. Bekele responded to Wanjiru’s surge, closing the gap to six seconds as they struggled up Birdcage Walk towards the Palace. It wasn’t enough and the Ethiopian started to rock and roll as he realised the London title was slipping from his grasp. Increasing his lead, Wanjiru turned onto The Mall knowing victory was his. He crossed the Finish Line, arms aloft, delighted to have held off a man renowned for his devastating sprint finish. “I am the happiest man in the world,” he said. “The fast pace at the start helped me enormously, and the rest of the race was just as good for me. Everything went well, it was perfect.” Bekele was second in 2:05:57, one place better than the year before, while Karoki completed a great marathon debut in 2:07:41. In the race for British World Championship selection, Josh Griffiths of Swansea Harriers delivered the shock of the day by finishing first Briton in 2:14:49 on his marathon debut. The 23-year-old wasn’t even in the elite field but his performance earned him a place on the British team for the London 2017 World Championships in August. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Daniel Wanjiru Kenenisa Bekele Bedan Karoki Abel Kirui Alphonce Simbu Ghirmay Ghebreslassie Asefa Mengstu Amanuel Mesel Javier Guerra Michael Shelley

KEN ETH KEN KEN TAN ERI ETH ERI ESP AUS

2:05:48 2:05:57 2:07:41 2:07:45 2:09:10 2:09:57 2:10:04 2:10:44 2:10:55 2:11:38

VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Women: Incredible Keitany cracks Radcliffe’s record

Mary Keitany produced one of the greatest women’s marathon performances in history to break the womenonly world record and become the second quickest marathon runner of all time. The 35-year-old ran alone for all-but two of the 26.2 miles, leaving the greatest field ever assembled in her wake and smashing the 30km world record en route to a dominant victory in 2:17:01. Only Paula Radcliffe has ever run quicker, when she set the mixed-race world record in 2003, but the Briton was forced to watch from the commentary box as her women-only mark of 2:17:42 was erased from the record books by the brave Kenyan who claimed a third London title to go with her three New York crowns. Keitany swept through half way with her pacemaker in 66:54 and passed 30km in 1:36:05, before holding head and body together in the final miles as Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba chased her down. “I thought I would run 2:17:59 or something, so to run 2:17:01 is amazing,” she said. “I’m very happy with the finish time.” No doubt, for her record-breaking win was worth a cool quarter of a million dollars in prize money to the 35-year-old mother of two. Behind her, Dibaba clocked 2:17:56 to become the third quickest woman in history and claim the Ethiopian record, while her compatriot Aselefech Mergia was third in 2:23:08. “I never expected Mary to sprint away so fast at the beginning and maintain it,” said Dibaba. “I followed at my own pace and am happy to have a personal best, but I would have preferred to come first.” Keitany had predicted that fine weather would put Radcliffe’s 12-year-old figures under pressure and she couldn’t have asked for better conditions as the runners set off on a cool spring morning behind pacemaker Caroline Kipkirui. An eight-strong elite group stretched out behind Keitany, including three other Kenyans – Chicago champion Florence Kiplagat, world silver medallist Helah Kiprop and debutante Vivian Cheruiyot – plus five Ethiopians, 2015 champion Tigist Tufa, Dibaba, Mergia, triple Berlin Marathon champion Aberu Kebede, and Tirunesh’s namesake, Mare, the world champion and Olympic bronze medallist. With such a collection of talent, a classic race was almost inevitable but few expected it to be such a onewoman show. Back in 2005, Radcliffe was already alone by the time she clicked off the first 5km in 15:47, and it was a similar story for Keitany, who passed the two-mile marker just behind the pacer in 10:14, already up on the Briton’s pace. By the time she reached 5km in 15:31 the rest were 50 metres adrift – not surprising as she was on for a 2:11 finish! Keitany has a history of going off too fast and paying for it later, but this time there was no holding back. She reached 10km just before the Cutty Sark in 31:17 before Kipkirui took her through Deptford and Rotherhithe, past 15km in 47:15 and 10 miles in 50:45, having run three sub-five-minute miles in the first four.

With sunshine now breaking through, Keitany tore off her long black arm warmers. No wonder, for she was cracking through south east London at the hottest pace in history, more than a minute inside Radcliffe’s mixedrace record of 2:15:25. They reached 20km on Tower Bridge in 63:26 and half way in a “crazy” 66:54, the chasers now nearly a minute behind. Kipkirui called it a day soon after, but Keitany ploughed on around the Isle of Dogs, reaching 25km in 1:19:43 and 30km with a 1:18 lead on Dibaba who was now alone in second. Having shrugged off Kiprop, the Ethiopian was on course for a huge personal best but still 70 seconds adrift. Keitany reached 35km on The Highway in 1:52:39 as the pain finally began to show, her arms working hard to maintain her low swift stride as she passed the Tower and swept down towards the Embankment. All that was against her now was the clock and her aching legs. Her 23rd mile was the slowest so far at 5:29. In 2005, Radcliffe got quicker towards the end, but Keitany was hanging on. Not as much as Dibaba, however, for the Ethiopian slowed to relieve stomach cramps as she emerged from Blackfriars underpass. Ahead of her Keitany passed 40km in 2:09:38 with the Thames shining to her left. Suddenly the bounce was back in her step and she strode up Birdcage Walk and onto The Mall to become only the second woman in history to break 2:18. At the end of one of the greatest runs in history, the dominant Kenyan dragged out one last effort as she sprinted under the gantry with her arms wide and her grin even wider. After being left out of her nation’s Rio Olympic team, won by the now-suspended Jemima Sumgong, Keitany had surely made her point. “We ran a crazy pace at the beginning and when I saw it was 66 minutes at half way I thought it was too fast,” she said. “In the end I was really happy to finish as the winner.” Dibaba rallied too and finished just 55 seconds later, the first time two women have broken 2:18 in the same race. Behind the flying medallists, a pair of Britons were also running faster than ever before. Alyson Dixon clocked 2:29:06 to place 14th and clinch a spot on the World Championship team, while Charlotte Purdue was second Briton home in 2:29:23, the 25-year-old’s first ever sub-2:30 marathon. As for Jo Pavey, the 43-year-old dropped out at 16 miles with illness, only the second time in more than 25 years of international racing that she had failed to finish a race. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Mary Keitany Tirunesh Dibaba Aselefech Mergia Vivian Cheruiyot Lisa Weightman Laura Thweatt Helah Kiprop Tigist Tufa Florence Kiplagat Jessica Trengove

KEN ETH ETH KEN AUS USA KEN ETH KEN AUS

2:17:01 2:17:56 2:23:08 2:23:50 2:25:15 2:25:38 2:25:39 2:25:52 2:26:25 2:27:01



Wheelchair Races 2012-2017 Full race reports and digital results for all wheelchair races from 1983 to 2017 are now available on the website: www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com. Here we provide brief reports of recent wheelchair races from 2012 to 2017.

22 April 2012

Men: Weir equals Tanni’s record

An emotional David Weir won one of the finest wheelchair marathons yet seen on the course to take his sixth title and match the London record of Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson. The Surrey man edged out Switzerland’s Marcel Hug after a sprint finish involving seven men separated on the line by just seven seconds. He broke the tape in 1:32:26. “This is really special, even better than the first one,” said Weir. “Tanni inspired me in this sport. I saw her compete in Sydney as a youngster and it is a privilege to be up there with her now.” Most of the best racers in the world were present on the Start Line, and a pack of 11 formed early on. It was soon reduced to eight, including former winner Josh Cassidy of Canada, veteran Swiss Heinz Frei, and Hug, the 2011 Berlin champion. There were seven left as they turned off Birdcage Walk into The Mall with Japan’s Masazumi Soejima and USA’s Krige Schabort shaping up for a fast final 150 metres. But Weir would not be beaten and he rode the home crowd support to victory, punching the air as he crossed the line.

Women: Woods regains her crown

Shelly Woods dominated the women’s race to win her second women’s wheelchair title and complete a memorable British double. In contrast to Weir’s sprint victory, Woods raced ahead of her high-class rivals to regain the crown she last won in 2007. She crossed the line in 1:49:10, almost four minutes ahead of Japan’s Wakako Tsuchida. The 25-year-old had been second to Amanda McGrory in 2011, and again in New York the previous November, but by half way in 2012 even Baroness Grey-Thompson was full of praise. “This is the best race Shelly has ever done,” she said in her BBC commentary. “It was so well executed. She’s in the best condition of her life.” Woods’ victory was even sweeter given the daylight she opened on a world-class field. Tsuchida clocked 1:53:04 in second with Canadian Diane Roy third. “I tried not to look back, stayed strong and kept a good rhythm,” said Woods. “I didn’t know until 25 miles how far ahead I was.” Tsuchida paid tribute to the British winner. “It was a tough race,” she said. “After Boston I was feeling very confident, but Shelly was just too strong for me.”

Hug was one second in front of Schabort, the 28-yearold Swiss matching his best London place. Schabort was a surprise in third, showing that even at 49 he can be a threat. His last appearance in London had been in 2008 when he was fourth.

The three top US athletes – McGrory, Tatyana McFadden and Shirley Reilly – were never in contention. McFadden dropped back early on to finish eighth, while Boston winner and London debutante Reilly was fourth and McGrory sixth.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

David Weir Marcel Hug Krige Schabort Masazumi Soejima Heinz Frei Tomasz Hamerlak Masayuki Higuchi Hiroyuki Yamamoto Josh Cassidy Kota Hokinoue


GBR SUI USA JPN SUI POL JPN JPN CAN JPN

1:32:26 1:32:27 1:32:28 1:32:29 1:32:30 1:32:31 1:32:33 1:33:00 1:33:54 1:36:00

Shelly Woods Wakako Tsuchida Diane Roy Shirley Reilly Christina Schwab-Ripp Amanda McGrory Sandra Graf Tatyana McFadden Meggan Dawson Farrell Sarah Piercy

GBR JPN CAN USA USA USA SUI USA GBR GBR

1:49:10 1:53:04 1:53:05 1:54:39 1:54:41 1:54:41 1:54:43 2:05:38 2:22:55 2:24:36

VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 21 April 2013

Men: Fearnley steals the show

Women: McFadden’s birthday win

“Anyone could have won it today,” said Fearnley who broke the course record when he won in 2009. “I’m just grateful it was me.”

It was the University of Illinois student’s second marathon victory in six days after she’d won the Boston Marathon the previous Monday. “It was really tough today so I knew it would come down to a sprint finish,” she said. “But this was all for Boston. The thought of doing it for everyone who was involved [in the bombings] on Monday carried all of us through the race.”

Australian Kurt Fearnley fought off tough competition to win the men’s wheelchair title in 1:31:29 after an eightman sprint down The Mall. The London 2012 Paralympic bronze medallist escaped from the leading pack to take the line just ahead of Swiss racer Marcel Hug and South African Ernst van Dyk, leaving Britain’s six-time champion David Weir back in fifth place.

Conditions were perfect for the top class field containing Paralympic medallists, past winners and numerous worldwide marathon champions. Eight stayed together from half way, including Fearnley, Paralympic silver medallist Hug, nine-times Boston winner van Dyk, and three-times London winner Heinz Frei. Most eyes were on Weir, however, the Briton wearing the ‘Weirwolf’ helmet presented to him by the London Marathon that January. He seemed poised to take his seventh London victory and become the most successful London Marathon wheelchair athlete ever. All eight turned into The Mall together and Weir began to unleash his sprint only to find the turbo chargers misfiring for once. As he slipped back, Fearnley and Hug pulled away. The Australian broke the tape but Hug was given the same time, finishing second for the second year in a row. Van Dyk clocked 1:31:30 for third, making the London podium for only the second time in eight appearances. Poland’s Tomasz Hamerlak was fourth, while Weir accepted defeat with honour. “I can’t win all the time and I’ll bounce back,” he said. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Kurt Fearnley Marcel Hug Ernst van Dyk Tomasz Hamerlak David Weir Kota Hokinoue Heinz Frei Hiroyuki Yamamoto Richard Colman Denis Lemeunier

AUS SUI RSA POL GBR JPN SUI JPN AUS FRA

1:31:29 1:31:29 1:31:30 1:31:30 1:31:31 1:31:31 1:31:32 1:31:33 1:35:44 1:36:34

An elated Tatyana McFadden celebrated her 24th birthday with her first London win, beating her teammate and training partner Amanda McGrory, who lost her course record in the process. Swiss athlete Sandra Graf was third.

It was third time lucky for McFadden after she was fourth in 2011 and eighth in 2012, although she had won four gold medals on the track at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. “Coming back to London was that little bit more special after the Paralympics,” she said. McFadden was challenged the whole way by McGrory, the 2009 and 2011 champion, who also dipped inside her old record of 1:46:31, clocking 1:46:04. Britain’s defending champion and Paralympic silver medallist Shelly Woods was dropped by the leading pack before The Mall and came home fifth in 1:50:44. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Tatyana McFadden Amanda McGrory Sandra Graf Christie Dawes Shelly Woods Shirley Reilly Susannah Scaroni Madison de Rozario Diane Roy Meggan Dawson Farrell

USA USA SUI AUS GBR USA USA AUS CAN GBR

1:46:02 1:46:04 1:48:01 1:50:43 1:50:44 1:50:46 1:50:47 1:53:44 2:03:59 2:18:23

These races were also the T53/54 events in the IPC Athletics Marathon World Cup.


VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 13 April 2014 Men: Hug denies Weir to clinch first win

Women: Record falls to magic McFadden

The race worked out perfectly for the 28-year-old, who had triumphed at the Paris Marathon a week before and won five IPC world titles the previous summer, but was only fourth fastest on paper. He denied Weir a record seventh London title with one of the finest sprint finishes yet seen by the London crowds. South Africa’s Ernst van Dyk was a fraction back in third, just ahead of Japan’s Kota Hokinoue.

After a phenomenal 2013, in which the 24-year-old won four major marathons in a row, and six gold medals at the IPC World Championships in Lyon, McFadden returned to the British capital as one of the greatest athletes of our time.

After three runner-up spots, Swiss world champion Marcel Hug finally claimed the London Marathon men’s wheelchair crown when he beat Britain’s Paralympic champion David Weir by a second in 1:32:41.

These four had broken away from the rest of the field by half way and turned into The Mall together, Hug’s silver bullet-shaped helmet reflecting the glorious London sunshine. It was no surprise that Hug and Weir led them out, and for a moment it looked like Weir might fulfil his quest for a magnificent seventh. But Hug had been in unbeatable form over the last year and was just too strong. “Conditions were perfect for racing,” said the Swiss. “I wanted to play an active part in the race, stay with the leaders and attack as many times as I could. I could see the others were on the limit, so it meant I was doing well. I’m very pleased to win and beat David. I love to compete against him – he makes it a challenge.” By contrast, Weir had limited his competitive appearances over the previous year and came to the race with a chest infection which caused him to withdraw from the Boston Marathon a week later. “I’ve had a little virus last week, but nothing major,” he explained. “Marcel tried to test me a couple of times, but I knew with the four of us in the pack, it was going to be between me and him. On another day it might have been me, but he just got me this time.” At 41, van Dyk made the podium again after finishing third in 2013. Hokinoue finished more than two minutes ahead of Frenchman Pierre Fairbank who led a second pack of six across the line in 1:35:05. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Marcel Hug SUI David Weir GBR Ernst van Dyk RSA Kota Hokinoue JPN Pierre Fairbank FRA Jordi Jimenez ESP Heinz Frei SUI Richard Colman AUS Roger Puigbo Verdaguer ESP Joshua George USA


1:32:41 1:32:42 1:32:42 1:32:43 1:35:05 1:35:05 1:35:05 1:35:05 1:35:05 1:35:08

Tatyana McFadden retained her women’s wheelchair title in style, breaking her own one-year-old course record as she crossed the line in 1:45:12 to win by more than a minute and a half from world champion Manuela Schär.

She did not disappoint, for the American, who won a Winter Paralympic silver at sit-skiing the previous month, looked in the shape of her life as she cruised away from the field. Leading the pack from half way, she fought off Schär and Japan’s Wakako Tsuchida to reach The Mall alone. “I did a lot of work in the team today,” said McFadden. “It was a tough race, but I stayed calm and relaxed and I tried to use the downhills as much as I could. “The transition was hard from skiing to road racing, but conditions were great today. The weather was gorgeous and I loved it. I love London and I’ll be back because I just love the support we get.” London debutante Schär took second in 1:46:44, one second ahead of 2010 champion Tsuchida. “It was a hard race and an amazing crowd,” said the Swiss star. “I just wanted to stay with the leaders and it worked out well.” Britain’s Shelly Woods was sixth behind American Susannah Scaroni and Canadian Christie Dawes. The Paralympic silver medallist clocked 1:54:52 while fellow Briton Jade Jones enjoyed her first London Marathon as a senior, recording a respectful 1:59:59 in ninth just 12 months after breaking the course record in the Mini London Marathon. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Tatyana McFadden Manuela Schär Wakako Tsuchida Susannah Scaroni Christie Dawes Shelly Woods Diane Roy Shirley Reilly Jade Jones Sarah Piercy

USA SUI JPN USA AUS GBR CAN USA GBR GBR

1:45:12 1:46:44 1:46:45 1:51:01 1:51:01 1:54:52 1:54:54 1:59:57 1:59:59 2:27:08

These wheelchair races were also the T53/54 events in the IPC Athletics Marathon World Cup.

VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 26 April 2015 Men: George takes first as Weir slips

Joshua George beat David Weir for the first time to deny Britain’s six-times Paralympic champion a seventh London Marathon title. George took his first by a second in 1:31:31 before joking that he was now “the most hated man in London”. “Dave is a great guy and I’ve been racing him my entire career,” said George, who was 10th in 2014. “But I’m allowed to get one every now and again.” Bronze and third place went to Japan’s Masazumi Soejima. At 45, the veteran racer clocked 1:31:33 to edge out Frenchman Pierre Fairbank and finish five seconds ahead of South African Ernst van Dyk. The wet conditions made pushing tricky and Weir was hampered by a slipping left glove, meaning he had to rely on his right arm to do most of the work. “I was just hoping in the sprint I could manage it without the contact on the left side,” he said. “To win a race like that you’ve got to have both arms working well.” Weir wasn’t the only one to suffer as reigning champion Marcel Hug dropped out at Tower Bridge with a puncture leaving seven men in the hunt: George, Weir, Fairbank, Van Dyk and Soejima, plus Soejima’s Japanese teammate Kota Hokinoue and Poland’s Tomasz Hamerlak. The sprint for home started as they passed Buckingham Palace and entered The Mall. Weir moved to the side and made a bid for victory but George matched his speed and pulled ahead to take World Championship gold. “I think it’s my sixth World Championship medal,” said George. “To add to that collection feels great, but to win in London is just amazing.” “It will come,” said Weir “I don’t know how many more years I can keep doing it, but it will come.” 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Joshua George David Weir Masazumi Soejima Pierre Fairbank Ernst van Dyk Tomasz Hamerlak Kota Hokinoue Jordi Jimenez Heinz Frei Simon Lawson

USA GBR JPN FRA RSA POL JPN ESP SUI GBR

1:31:31 1:31:32 1:31:33 1:31:33 1:31:38 1:31:56 1:32:22 1:33:22 1:33:23 1:34:21

Women: Three from three for flawless McFadden

Tatyana McFadden claimed her third victory in a row, taking gold in the Marathon World Championships and clocking her third course record in three years. The American swept home in 1:41:14, knocking more than four minutes off her own mark, to complete a sparkling US wheelchair double. “It’s a wonderful victory and a great day for Team USA,” McFadden beamed after the race. “We had a hard time in London 2012 so it’s great to finally bring home some medals. “It was really tough,” she added. “We didn’t know if it would rain all day or just in the morning. I was just scared about getting punctures all the way round.” In truth, it didn’t look tough for McFadden who was uttlerly dominant, beating silver medallist Manuela Schär by more than two and a half minutes. The Swiss racer crossed the line in 1:43:56 followed by McFadden’s teammate Amanda McGrory in 1:46:25. Schär was content to play second fiddle yet again on a difficult day. “I struggled in the first half; it cost me too much energy,” she said. “I really wanted to keep up with Tatyana. I was actually able to keep up with her on the hills, but after the hills she attacked again and that was just too much.” Schär was far from the only one to struggle in the conditions. British hope Shelly Woods caught a puncture and dropped out when she lost contact. Jade Jones also failed to make it home, but two Britons did sneak into the top 10 – Sarah Piercy in ninth and Martyna Snopek a place behind. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Tatyana McFadden Manuela Schär Amanda McGrory Sandra Graf Susannah Scaroni Christie Dawes Wakako Tsuchida Chelsea McClammer Sarah Piercy Martyna Snopek

USA SUI USA SUI USA AUS JPN USA GBR GBR

1:41:14 1:43:56 1:46:25 1:46:27 1:47:06 1:56:20 1:56:48 2:02:31 2:20:45 2:26:40

These wheelchair races were also the T53/54 events in the IPC Athletics Marathon World Championships.


VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 24 April 2016 Women: McFadden makes it four in a row Tatyana McFadden secured her fourth London Marathon victory in a row with a one-second win over her Swiss rival Manuela Schär. The American track and road star, who had won in Boston earlier in the week, finished in 1:44:14, exactly three minutes outside her one-year-old course record. “It’s a little birthday present to myself and it is wonderful to win again,” the American said just three days after celebrating her 27th birthday.

Marcel Hug regained the men’s wheelchair title to make it two victories in six days for the Swiss ‘Silver Bullet’.

“It’s really different to Boston, polar opposites,” added McFadden after the race. “In Boston, there are lots of climbs but here it’s relatively flat – so you just have to be smart.”

After winning the Boston Marathon six days before, Hug produced a superb sprint finish to hold off Australian Kurt Fearnley and Britain’s David Weir for his second London crown in 1:35:24.

McFadden had broken the course record in all three of her previous London victories, but had lost for the first time in three years at the Tokyo Marathon in February when Japanese racer Wakako Tsuchida took victory.

“It’s crazy so soon after Boston, but it feels great,” said the 30-year-old. “It wasn’t an easy victory and there was a tough sprint.”

Tsuchida finished third in London, as she had in Boston, more than a minute behind the leading two as the cool, blustery weather meant big gaps opened in the field of 15.

Men: Hug regains his crown

Hug had to contend with a competitive field containing six-time winner Weir, course record holder Fearnley, who won in 2009 and 2013, and New York champion Ernst van Dyk of South Africa. They were all in the leading pack alongside Japanese racer, Hiroki Nishida, and two Americans, Aaron Pike and James Senbeta. Time and again Hug attempted to break from the rest, but Weir and Fearnley did not stray from his side. In the last mile, Senbeta burst from the back of the pack but it was not enough. After dropping out at half way with a puncture in 2015, this time Hug was ready and he unleashed his victorious sprint, crossing the line a second ahead of Fearnley, with Weir third in 1:35:26. “I thought I was in a good position today,” said Weir, still striving for a record seventh title. “I just didn’t have anything left. Some of the speeds Marcel was pushing were unbelievable, another level. He’s an amazing athlete.” After winning in Boston, Hug doubled his points tally in the new Abbott World Marathon Majors wheelchair series and already looked well-placed for the US$50,000 prize. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Marcel Hug Kurt Fearnley David Weir Ernst van Dyk James Senbeta Hiroki Nishida Aaron Pike Kota Hokinoue Pierre Fairbank Simon Lawson


SUI AUS GBR RSA USA JPN USA JPN FRA GBR

1:35:24 1:35:25 1:35:26 1:35:28 1:35:29 1:35:32 1:35:33 1:35:37 1:35:57 1:37:02

After negotiating the damp conditions in the early stages, McFadden and Schär eventually broke clear at half way with a group of five. McFadden’s US teammate, Amanda McGrory, the 2009 and 2011 London Marathon winner, and China’s Zou Lihong were alongside the eventual medallists. At 18 miles, McFadden, Schär and Tsuchida pulled clear and from then on it was a tactical affair. “It was like a yo-yo effect today,” said McFadden. “We had a big group at the start, then we’d break away, then we’d get back together. I got nervous towards the end, as I wasn’t smart enough, but it’s all about mental focus.” Britain’s duo of Shelly Woods and Jade Jones were forced to pull out during the race, leaving Nikki Emerson to be first Briton home in 11th. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Tatyana McFadden Manuela Schär Wakako Tsuchida Amanda McGrory Zou Lihong Sandra Graf Susannah Scaroni Chelsea McClammer Christie Dawes Nataliya Kocherova

USA SUI JPN USA CHN SUI USA USA AUS RUS

1:44:14 1:44:15 1:45:28 1:47:41 1:52:42 1:52:49 1:52:50 1:55:58 1:56:46 1:58:43

These wheelchair races were also the T53/54 events in the World Para Athletics Marathon World Cup.

VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 23 April 2017 Men: Magnificent seven for recordbreaking Weir

David Weir became the most successful athlete in the London Marathon’s 37-year history when he won his seventh wheelchair title to finally move ahead of Baronness Tanni Grey-Thompson at the top of the alltime winners’ board. The Briton, who won his first title in 2002 and his sixth in 2012, sped clear of defending champion Marcel Hug at the head of a huge pack to cross the Finish Line in 1:31:06, finally ending a five-year drought. After finishing second, second and third over the last three years Weir was an emotional winner afterwards, saying: “It hasn’t really sunk in yet. It’s the first time I’ve felt comfortable for years to be honest.” The win put an end to a turbulent few months for the 37-year-old, who announced his retirement from track athletics in January and admitted he’d been battling with mental health issues in recent times. “It’s been a tough four months personally,” Weir said. “I’ve kept it quiet that I’ve been suffering from depression. This has allowed me to channel my anger. It’s been nice to get out in the park and kill that negative pain.” The conditions were perfect for wheelchair racing and with so many top athletes on the Start Line the leading pack was the biggest it had been for years. Some 16 chairs turned into The Mall together to fight for the top prize. Weir moved out of the bunch and with Hug on his tail, pushed hard for the record-breaking win. Hug was chasing his third London win but had to settle for second, just one second behind the Briton. Kurt Fearnley was third in the same time as 16 men finished within six seconds. “I’ve had a couple of tussles with Weir over the years,” Hug said. “But he was just too strong for me today.” Fearnley agreed. “That was a really handy result,” said the course record holder. “I wasn’t sure what to expect and it was a brilliant finish from Dave.” 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

David Weir Marcel Hug Kurt Fearnley Ernst van Dyk Rafael Botello Jimenez Kota Hokinoue Aaron Pike Joshua George Hiroyuki Yamamoto Krige Schabort

GBR SUI AUS RSA ESP JPN USA USA JPN USA

1:31:06 1:31:07 1:31:07 1:31:08 1:31:09 1:31:09 1:31:10 1:31:10 1:31:10 1:31:11

Women: Super Schär smashes course record

Swiss star Manuela Schär produced her second devastating display of wheelchair racing in six days to win her first London Marathon title in a course record. The 32-year-old won the Boston Marathon in the fastest wheelchair time in history just six days earlier, and in London clocked 1:39:57 to knock almost two minutes off Tatyana McFadden’s best-ever London time. Schär began the race as favourite after four-time winner McFadden withdrew through illness. After placing runner-up to the American for the last three years, Schär broke finally free from the field in the second half of the race and went on to win by nearly five minutes. “It’s incredible,” said an ecstatic Schär afterwards. “It’s been such a great week with Boston and London. I have no words. I never expected a course record, so that’s great. I just attacked at the hills and I was able to break away.” Tokyo champion Amanda McGrory was isolated in second in 1:44:34 while her fellow American and University of Illinois teammate, Susannah Scaroni, was third in 1:47:37. “I am really happy with my time and I think it’s extremely close to a PB,” said McGrory, who won the London crown in 2009 and 2011. “I’m a little bit disappointed not to hang on to Manuela, but my biggest aim this year was to crack the podium and I’ve done that now.” Britain’s Jade Jones was pleased to improve on her recent London Marathon performances, finishing fifth in 1:51:46, while Mel Nicholls was eighth in 1:59:07 as Britain managed to get three in the top 10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Manuela Schär Amanda McGrory Susannah Scaroni Margriet van den Broek Jade Jones Katrina Gerhard Shirley Reilly Mel Nicholls Diane Roy Martyna Snopek

SUI USA USA NED GBR USA USA GBR CAN GBR

1:39:57 1:44:34 1:47:37 1:49:50 1:51:46 1:54:34 1:54:34 1:59:07 2:00:05 2:35:40

These wheelchair races were also the T53/54 events in the World Para Athletics Marathon World Cup.



World Para Athletics Marathon World Cup Races 2013-2017 21 April 2013

13 April 2014

Chentouf shines as records tumble

Chentouf wins again as Rodriguez breaks record

Marathon debutant El Amin Chentouf emerged as the star of the inaugural IPC Athletics Marathon World Cup. The Moroccan not only beat the London 2012 Paralympic silver and bronze medallists to win the race for visually impaired athletes but broke the world record for his T12 class in the process. The man from Rabat crossed the line in 2:24:00, taking 50 seconds from the record set by Spaniard Alberto Suarez Laso at the London Paralympics just eight months earlier. The Paralympic 5000m champion won by more than four minutes from Abderrahim Zhiou of Tunisia, the London 2012 marathon bronze medallist, with Gabriel Macchi of Portugal third. Spain’s Maria Paredes Rodriguez (a T12 athlete) won the women’s race for visually impaired runners in 3:17:10 with USA’s three-times Boston winner Ivonne MosqueraSchmidt (T11) second in 3:38:16 – official world records for both, although well short of the personal bests they have run on non-licensed courses. Britain’s Richard Whitehead was the solo winner of the T42/43 race for athletes with limb impairments in 3:15:53 (also an official world record for T42) while Alessandro di Lello of Italy beat Spain’s Jose Antonio Castilla to win the T44-46 race. Ozivam Bonfim was third ahead of his Brazilian teammate and Paralympic champion Tito Sena. T11-13 Men 1. El Amin Chentouf 2. Abderrahim Zhiou 3. Gabriel Macchi 4. Manuel Garnica 5. Elkin Alonso Serna Moreno

MAR TUN POR ESP COL

2:24:00 2:28:12 2:37:23 2:39:55 2:41:34

T11-13 Women 1. Maria Paredes Rodriguez 2. Ivonne Mosquera-Schmidt

ESP USA

3:17:10 3:38:16

T42/43 Men 1. Richard Whitehead

GBR

3:15:53

T44-46 Men 1. Alessandro di Lello 2. Jose Antonio Castilla 3. Ozivam Bonfim 4. Tito Sena 5. Johann Lendner

ITA ESP BRA BRA GER

2:32:06 2:38:06 2:39:23 2:42:56 2:44:27

The T53/54 Wheelchair results are on page 149.

El Amin Chentouf retained his title in the T11-13 race, storming home in 2:25:07, just one minute and seven seconds outside the world record he set in 2013. The Moroccan was again well ahead of Tunisian Abderrahim Zhiou with Portugal’s Gabriel Macchi third for the second year in a row. Maria Paredes Rodriguez went one better, smashing the world record she set a year before to keep the women’s title. The Spaniard crossed the line in 2:59:22, 10 minutes ahead of world number one T12 runner Misato Michishita. Michishita’s Japanese teammate Mihoko Nishijimi was third. Britain’s Richard Whitehead took the T42/43 title for the second time, though considerably slower than in 2013. Brazil’s T46 2012 Paralympic champion, Tito Sena, once again enjoyed success on the streets of London as he won the T44-46 men’s race in 2:35:45. Sena improved from fourth in 2013 to beat the inaugural champion, Alessandro di Lello of Italy, with compatriot Ezequiel da Costa third. Santiago Sanz came out on top in the first ever T51/52 wheelchair event, the Spaniard edging out American Ray Martin and Britain’s Rob Smith. T11-13 Men 1. El Amin Chentouf 2. Abderrahim Zhiou 3. Gabriel Macchi 4. Igor Khavlin 5. Joaquim Machado

MAR TUN POR RUS POR

2:25:07 2:27:44 2:40:24 2:40:57 2:41:53

T11-13 Women 1. Maria Paredes Rodriguez 2. Misato Michishita 3. Mihoko Nishijimi 4. Yumiko Fujii 5. Yumiko Konno

ESP JPN JPN JPN JPN

2:59:22 3:09:40 3:20:18 3:26:10 3:36:04

T42/43 Men 1. Richard Whitehead

GBR

3:42:04

T44-46 Men 1. Tito Sena 2. Alessandro di Lello 3. Ezequiel Marcelo da Costa 4. Pedro Meza

BRA ITA BRA MEX

2:35:45 2:41:05 2:47:17 2:49:16

T51/52 Men 1. Santiago Sanz 2. Raymond Martin 3. Rob Smith

ESP USA GBR

1:58:16 2:00:35 2:09:33




24 April 2016 Record-breaking Zheng wins for China

China’s Zheng Jin made a big impression on her London Marathon debut as she smashed the women’s T11 world record to take the T11/12 World Cup title. The 24-year-old, a 1500m world champion, knocked a remarkable 13 minutes off the mark set by Germany’s Regina Vollbrecht in London 12 months earlier as she crossed the line in 3:13:15. Japan’s Mihoko Nishijimi (3:23:47) was second with her compatriot Yumiko Fuji (3:44:27) third. Brazil’s reigning world champion Aniceto dos Santos took nearly three minutes off his personal best to win the men’s T13 class. The 40-year-old clocked 2:32:52 as he took victory for the second consecutive year. New Zealand’s former Paralympic 800m champion Tim Prendergast was second in 2:46:56. Japan’s Yutaka Kumagai (2:33:24) won the men’s T11/12 class with second going to Russia’s Oleg Antipin (2:36:53). Portugal’s Jorge Pina (2:42:19) completed the podium. China’s Li Chaoyan topped the podium in the men’s T45/46 event as he stopped the clock at 2:27:07, just 13 seconds shy of the world record set by Spain’s Abderrahman Ait Khamouch in 2015. He was more than four minutes ahead of Morocco’s Abdelhadi El Harti, while Italy’s former world champion Alessandro di Lello (2:32:44) had to settle for third.

T11/12 Men 1 Yutaka Kumagai 2 Oleg Antipin 3 Jorge Pina 4 Joaquim Machado 5 Igor Khavlin

JPN RUS POR POR RUS

T11/12 Women 1 Zheng Jin 2 Mihoko Nishijimi 3 Yumiko Fujii

CHN 3:13:15 JPN 3:23:47 JPN 3:44:27

2:33:24 2:36:53 2:42:19 2:44:26 2:47:47

T13 Men 1 Aniceto Antonio dos Santos BRA 2:32:52 2 Tim Prendergast NZL 2:46:56 T45/46 Men 1 Li Chaoyan 2 Abdelhadi El Harti 3 Alessandro di Lello 4 Manuel Mendes 5 Derek Rae

CHN MAR ITA POR GBR

2:27:07 2:31:20 2:32:44 2:37:22 2:37:28

T51/52 Men 1 Raymond Martin 2 Santiago Sanz 3 Cristian Torres 4 Rob Smith 5 Stefan Strobel

USA ESP COL GBR GER

1:59:53 2:00:25 2:02:35 2:12:16 3:11:57


Ray Martin had the edge on Santiago Sanz for the second year in a row in the T51/52 wheelchair race. He won by half a minute in 1:59:53.

Japan’s Yutaka Kumagai winning the T11/12 men’s race in 2016


VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 23 April 2017

USA’s Ray Martin

Martin makes it three in a row

US Para athlete Ray Martin notched up his third consecutive London Marathon victory in the World Para Athletics Marathon World Cup. The 23-year-old clocked 1:57:15 to win the men’s T51/52 event as he saw off Colombia’s world bronze medallist Cristian Torres (1:59:10) and Spain’s former marathon world champion Santiago Sanz (1:59:42). “I really love this marathon the most, it definitely plays to my strengths with all the flats,” said Martin, who won 400m and 1500m T52 gold at the Rio Paralympics seven months earlier. “I’ve only been training five times a week in my race chair so I was a little nervous, and I knew Santi is always a good racer so I was really glad I was able to hold on.” Brazil’s world silver medallist Alex Pires da Silva was the fastest on paper in the men’s T45/46 class, and he lived up to expectations as he took the tape in 2:28:20. Morocco’s Abdelhadi El Harti (2:29:38) finished second with Britain’s Derek Rae (2:33:24) third. Japan’s Shinya Wada (2:34:59) finished 2016 as world ranked number one after running a personal best in Fukuoka in December, and the 39-year-old continued that impressive form in London, winning the T11/12 class. Portugal’s Gabriel Macchi (2:39:38) was second while Japan’s world bronze medallist Tadashi Hirokoshi (2:39:57) had to settle for third once again. There was another win for Japan in the women’s T11/12 race as Paralympic marathon T12 silver medallist Misato Michishita finished well clear of her rivals in 3:00:50. Spain’s Maria Paredes Rodriguez (3:09:41), a World Cup winner in 2013 and 2014, was second with Japan’s Mihoko Nishijima (3:19:31) third. Poland’s Patryk Lukaszewski (2:32:20) was first over the line in the T13 class, with New Zealander Tim Prendergast (2:41:38) nearly ten minutes behind.


T11/12 Men 1 Shinya Wada 2 Gabriel Macchi 3 Tadashi Hirokoshi 4 Jorge Pina 5 Masato Hatate

JPN POR JPN POR JPN

2:34:59 2:39:38 2:39:57 2:43:11 2:52:12

T11/12 Women 1 Misato Michishita 2 Maria Paredes Rodriguez 3 Mihoko Nishijimi 4 Yumiko Fujii 5 Hiroko Kondo

JPN ESP JPN JPN JPN

3:00:50 3:09:41 3:19:31 3:24:39 3:26:15

T13 Men 1 Patryk Lekaszewski 2 Tim Prendergast

POL NZL

2:32:20 2:41:38

T45/46 Men 1 Alex Pires da Silva 2 Abdelhadi El Harti 3 Derek Rae 4 Manuel Mendes 5 Efrain Sotacuro

BRA MAR GBR POR PER

2:28:20 2:29:38 2:33:24 2:38:56 2:38:56

T51/52 Men 1 Raymond Martin 2 Cristian Torres 3 Santiago Sanz 4 Rob Smith 5 Garrett Culliton

USA COL ESP GBR IRL

1:57:15 1:59:11 1:59:42 2:02:44 2:29:14



IPC Athletics Marathon World Championships 2015 Morocco’s El Amin Chentouf

26 April 2015 Four records fall at London Worlds

Four world records were broken at the IPC Athletics Marathon World Championships as Morocco’s El Amin Chentouf (T12), Spain’s Abderrahman Ait Khamouch (T46) and Russia’s Yelena Paulova (T12) clinched gold with best-ever times for their categories, and Regina Vollbrecht of Germany clocked an official record for T11 women. Reigning world champion Chentouf, 33, secured his third consecutive London Marathon victory in style, knocking nearly two and a half minutes off the previous world mark set two years previously when he won the inaugural IPC Athletics Marathon World Cup. “I’m so happy today to win the London Marathon and set a new world record,” said the 33-year-old. “The world record and the world title was my objective.” Ait Khamouch secured his world record in the men’s T45/46 event, improving on the seven-year-old mark set by Mexico’s Mario Santillan Hernandez at the Beijing Paralympic Games with 2:26:54. Pautova smashed the T12 world record as she clocked 2:58:23 to top the podium in the women’s T11/12 event. The 29-year-old, who holds Paralympic, world and European titles in the T12 1500m, finished more than four minutes ahead of the field. Vollbrecht finished seventh in the race, but her time of 3:26:18 was an official IPC Athletics world record for T11s. Brazil’s Aniceto Antonio Dos Santos took gold in the men’s T13, Israel’s Eitan Hermon secured his first world gold with victory in the men’s T42/43/44 event and quadruple Paralympic champion Ray Martin turned the tables on world number one Santiago Sanz to win the T51/52 wheelchair race after finishing behind the Spaniard in 2014.

T11/12 Men 1. El Amin Chentouf 2. Alberto Suarez Laso 3. Tadashi Horikoshi 4. Masahiro Okamura 5. Yutaka Kumagai

MAR ESP JPN JPN JPN

2:21:33 2:21:47 2:27:42 2:31:40 2:37:48

T11/12 Women 1. Elena Pautova 2. Elena Congost 3. Misato Michishita 4. Maria Paredes Rodriguez 5. Mihoko Nishijima

RUS ESP JPN ESP JPN

2:58:23 3:02:50 3:03:16 3:07:35 3:21:02

T13 Men 1. Aniceto Dos Santos 2. Youssef Benibrahim 3. Tim Prendergast 4. Jason Romero 5. Stephen Marklew

BRA MAR NZL USA GBR

2:35:42 2:36:07 2:47:23 2:51:53 3:01:03

T42/43/44 Men 1. Eitan Hermon

ISR

3:07:10

T45/46 Men 1. Abderrahman Ait Khamouch 2. Alex Pires da Silva 3. Alessandro di Lello 4. Ahmed Farhat 5. Derek Rae

ESP BRA ITA MAR GBR

2:26:54 2:27:36 2:31:25 2:40:21 2:40:40

T51/52 Men 1. Raymond Martin 2. Santiago Sanz 3. Cristian Torres 4. Rob Smith 5. Hirikazu Ueyonabaru

USA ESP COL GBR JPN

1:52:27 1:53:33 2:08:52 2:12:43 2:40:08




11

STATISTICS & RECORDS

LONDON MARATHON STATISTICS Champions & Course Records Champions Year Men 1981 Dick Beardsley USA Inge Simonsen NOR 1982 Hugh Jones GBR 1983 Mike Gratton GBR 1984 Charlie Spedding GBR 1985 Steve Jones GBR 1986 Toshihiko Seko JPN 1987 Hiromi Taniguchi JPN 1988 Henrik Jorgensen DEN 1989 Douglas Wakiihuri KEN 1990 Allister Hutton GBR 1991 Yakov Tolstikov URS 1992 Antonio Pinto POR 1993 Eamonn Martin GBR 1994 Dionicio Ceron MEX 1995 Dionicio Ceron MEX 1996 Dionicio Ceron MEX 1997 Antonio Pinto POR 1998 Abel Anton ESP 1999 Abdelkader El Mouaziz MAR 2000 Antonio Pinto POR 2001 Abdelkader El Mouaziz MAR 2002 Khalid Khannouchi USA 2003 Gezahegne Abera ETH 2004 Evans Rutto KEN 2005 Martin Lel KEN 2006 Felix Limo KEN 2007 Martin Lel KEN 2008 Martin Lel KEN 2009 Sammy Wanjiru KEN 2010 Tsegaye Kebede ETH 2011 Emmanuel Mutai KEN 2012 Wilson Kipsang KEN 2013 Tsegaye Kebede ETH 2014 Wilson Kipsang KEN 2015 Eliud Kipchoge KEN 2016 Eliud Kipchoge KEN 2017 Daniel Wanjiru KEN

Women Joyce Smith

GBR

Joyce Smith Grete Waitz Ingrid Kristiansen Ingrid Kristiansen Grete Waitz Ingrid Kristiansen Ingrid Kristiansen Veronique Marot Wanda Panfil Rosa Mota Katrin Dorre Katrin Dorre Katrin Dorre Malgorzata Sobanska Liz McColgan Joyce Chepchumba Catherina McKiernan Joyce Chepchumba Tegla Loroupe Derartu Tulu Paula Radcliffe Paula Radcliffe Margaret Okayo Paula Radcliffe Deena Kastor Zhou Chunxiu Irina Mikitenko Irina Mikitenko Aselefech Mergia Mary Keitany Mary Keitany Priscah Jeptoo Edna Kiplagat Tigist Tufa Jemima Sumgong Mary Keitany

GBR NOR NOR NOR NOR NOR NOR GBR POL POR GER GER GER POL GBR KEN IRL KEN KEN ETH GBR GBR KEN GBR USA CHN GER GER ETH * KEN KEN KEN KEN ETH ETH KEN

* Liliya Shobukhova (RUS) and Inga Abitova (RUS) were initially 1st and 2nd respectively in 2:22:00 and 2:22:19, with Mergia 3rd, but the Russians’ results have been annulled following their suspensions for doping violations.

Course Records Men Women Women

2016 2003 2017

Eliud Kipchoge Paula Radcliffe Mary Keitany

KEN GBR KEN

2:03:05 2:15:25 (mixed race) 2:17:01 (women only)



Margins of Victory Men Year 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Winner Dick Beardsley/Inge Simonsen Hugh Jones Mike Gratton Charlie Spedding Steve Jones Toshihiko Seko Hiromi Tanighuchi Henrik Jorgensen Douglas Wakiihuri Allister Hutton Yakov Tolstikov Antonio Pinto Eamonn Martin Dionicio Ceron Dionicio Ceron Dionicio Ceron Antonio Pinto Abel Anton Abdelkader El Mouaziz Antonio Pinto Abdelkader El Mouaziz Khalid Khannouchi Gezahegne Abera Evans Rutto Martin Lel Felix Limo Martin Lel Martin Lel Sammy Wanjiru Tsegaye Kebede Emmanuel Mutai Wilson Kipsang Tsegaye Kebede Wilson Kipsang Eliud Kipchoge Eliud Kipchoge Daniel Wanjiru


Winning margin (min:sec) Runner-up 1 min 5 secs Trevor Wright (3rd) 2:57 Oyvind Dahl 0:29 Gerry Helme 1:44 Kevin Forster 0:17 Charlie Spedding 1:42 Hugh Jones 0:19 Nechadi El Mostafa 0:32 Kevin Forster 0:03 Steve Moneghetti 0:30 Salvatore Bettiol 1:04 Manuel Matias 0:05 Jan Huruk 0:03 Isidro Rico 0:24 Abebe Mekonnen 0:03 Steve Moneghetti 0:26 Vincent Rousseau 0:02 Stefano Baldini 0:10 Abdelkader El Mouaziz 1:03 Antonio Pinto 0:57 Abdelkader El Mouaziz 1:04 Paul Tergat 0:10 Paul Tergat 0:00 Stefano Baldini 0:30 Sammy Korir 0:23 Jaouad Gharib 0:02 Martin Lel 0:03 Abderrahim Goumri 0:09 Sammy Wanjiru 0:10 Tsegaye Kebede 1:04 Emmanuel Mutai 1:05 Martin Lel 2:06 Martin Lel 0:29 Emmanuel Mutai 0:26 Stanley Biwott 0:05 Wilson Kipsang 0:46 Stanley Biwott 0:09 Kenenisa Bekele


Women Year 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Winner Joyce Smith Joyce Smith Grete Waitz Ingrid Kristiansen Ingrid Kristiansen Grete Waitz Ingrid Kristiansen Ingrid Kristiansen Veronique Marot Wanda Panfil Rosa Mota Katrin Dorre Katrin Dorre Katrin Dorre Malgorzata Sobanska Liz McColgan Joyce Chepchumba Catherina McKiernan Joyce Chepchumba Tegla Loroupe Derartu Tulu Paula Radcliffe Paula Radcliffe Margaret Okayo Paula Radcliffe Deena Kastor Zhou Chunxiu Irina Mikitenko Irina Mikitenko Aselefech Mergia Mary Keitany Mary Keitany Priscah Jeptoo Edna Kiplagat Tigist Tufa Jemima Sumgong Mary Keitany

Winning margin (min:sec) Runner-up 9:00 Gillian Drake 6:32 Lorraine Moller 2:51 Mary O’Connor 5:40 Priscilla Welch 7:00 Sarah Rowell 5:58 Mary O’Connor 4:03 Priscilla Welch 4:57 Ann Ford 1:09 Wanda Panfil 1:30 Francie Larrieu-Smith 1:21 Francie Larrieu-Smith 0:20 Renata Kokowska 0:18 Lisa Ondieki 0:43 Lisa Ondieki 0:10 Manuela Machado 2:55 Joyce Chepchumba 0:01 Liz McColgan 0:28 Liz McColgan 0:44 Adriana Fernandez 0:13 Lidia Simon 0:07 Svetlana Zakharova 3:35 Svetlana Zakharova 4:31 Catherine Ndereba 3:27 Lyudmila Petrova 5:08 Constantina Tomescu-Dita 1:53 Lyudmila Petrova 1:07 Gete Wami 0:25 Svetlana Zakharova 1:01 Mara Yamauchi 0:39 Bezunesh Bekele * 1:27 Edna Kiplagat ** 1:13 Edna Kiplagat 1:17 Edna Kiplagat 0:03 Florence Kiplagat 0:18 Mary Keitany 0:05 Tigist Tufa 0:55 Tirunesh Dibaba

* Liliya Shobukhova (RUS) and Inga Abitova (RUS) were initially 1st and 2nd respectively in 2:22:00 and 2:22:19, with Mergia 3rd and Bekele 4th, but the Russians’ results have been annulled following their suspensions for doping violations. ** Liliya Shobukhova (RUS) was initially 2nd in 2:20:15 but her result was later annulled when she was suspended for a doping violation.



Records Broken in London Marathons Men World Records 2:05:38

Khalid Khannouchi

USA

2002

Area & Commonwealth Records European 2:06:36 North American 2:05:38 Commonwealth 2:05:48

António Pinto Khalid Khannouchi Paul Tergat

POR USA KEN

2000 2002 2002

British Records: None, butEngland 2:08:21

Mo Farah

GBR

2014

Current National Records set in London Denmark 2:09:43 Italy 2:07:22 Lesotho 2:10:55 Morocco 2:05:27 Norway 2:10:17 Portugal 2:06:36 Rwanda 2:09:55 Sierra Leone 2:33:38 Slovakia 2:09:53 Sri Lanka 2:13:47 Tanzania 2:08:01 USA 2:05:38

Henrik Jørgensen Stefano Baldini Thabiso Moqhali Jaouad Gharib Geir Kvernmo António Pinto Mathias Ntawalikura Idriussa Kargbo Róbert Stefko Anuradha Cooray Samson Ramadhani Khalid Khannouchi

1985 2006 1992 2009 1987 2000 2000 2014 1998 2015 2003 2002

National Records set in London 2000-17 Portugal 2:06:36 Rwanda 2:09:55 USA 2:05:38 Ethiopia 2:06:35 Italy 2:07:29 Tanzania 2:08:01 Italy 2:07:22 Lebanon 2:28:29 Morocco 2:05:30 Morocco 2:05:27 Mongolia 2:11:35 Sierra Leone 2:33:38 Sri Lanka 2:13:47

António Pinto Mathias Ntawalikura Khalid Khannouchi Haile Gebrselassie Stefano Baldini Samson Ramadhani Stefano Baldini Daoud Mustapha Abderrahim Goumri Jaouad Gharib Ser-Od Bat-Ochir Idriussa Kargbo Anuradha Cooray

2000 2000 2002 2002 2002 2003 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2014 2015


VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Women World Records 2:25:29 2:21:06 2:18:56 2:15:25 2:17:42 2:17:01

Grete Waitz Ingrid Kristiansen Paula Radcliffe Paula Radcliffe Paula Radcliffe Mary Keitany

NOR NOR GBR GBR GBR KEN

1983 1985 2002 (women only) 2003 2005 (women only) 2017 (women only)

Area & Commonwealth Records European 2:25:29 European 2:24:26 European 2:21:06 Central American 2:24:06 European 2:15:25 Commonwealth 2:15:25 North American 2:21:16 North American 2:19:36 African 2:18:37 African 2:17:01

Grete Waitz Ingrid Kristiansen Ingrid Kristiansen Adriana Fernández Paula Radcliffe Paula Radcliffe Deena Drossin Deena Kastor (Drossin) Mary Keitany Mary Keitany

British Records 2:29:57 Joyce Smith 2:29:43 Joyce Smith 2:28:06 Sarah Rowell 2:26:51 Priscilla Welch 2:25:56 Véronique Marot 2:18:56 Paula Radcliffe 2:15:25 Paula Radcliffe

1981 1982 1985 1987 1989 2002 2003

Current National Records set in London Burundi 2:27:50 Colombia 2:33:33 Costa Rica 2:44:33 Denmark 2:29:34 Finland 2:28:00 Great Britain & NI 2:15:25 Gibraltar 4:22:51 Kenya 2:17:01 Montenegro 2:39:07 Namibia 2:26:09 New Zealand 2:25:21 Norway 2:21:06 Puerto Rico 2:44:58 Sierra Leone 2:46:20 Tunisia 2:40:13 USA 2:19:36

Diane Nukuri Érica Abril Vilma Peña Dorthe Rasmussen Ritva Lemettinen Paula Radcliffe Anabel Felipes Mary Keitany Sladana Perunovic Helalia Johannes Kim Smith Ingrid Kristiansen Yolanda Mercado Mamie Konneh-Lahun Amira Benamor Deena Kastor

2015 2012 1992 1989 1995 2003 1998 2017 2012 2012 2010 1985 2007 2014 2012 2006

National Records set in London 2000-17 Great Britain & NI 2:15:25 USA 2:21:16 Romania 2:22:50 Ethiopia 2:21:52 USA 2:19:36 Puerto Rico 2:44:58 New Zealand 2:25:21 Kenya 2:18:37 Namibia 2:26:09 Colombia 2:33:33 Montenegro 2:39:07 Tunisia 2:40:13 Sierra Leone 2:46:20 Burundi 2:27:50 Gibraltar 3:05:29 Kenya 2:17:01 Ethiopia 2:17:56

Paula Radcliffe Deena Drossin Constantina Dita/Tomescu Berhane Adere Deena Kastor (Drossin) Yolanda Mercado Kim Smith Mary Keitany Helalia Johannes Érica Abril Sladana Perunovic Amira Benamor Mamie Konneh-Lahun Diane Nukuri Emma Montiel Mary Keitany Tirunesh Dibaba

2003 2003 2005 2006 2006 2007 2010 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2014 2015 2016 2017 2017

NOR NOR NOR MEX GBR GBR USA USA KEN KEN

1983 1984 1985 1999 2003 2003 2003 2006 2012 2017

Note: Liliya Shobukhova ran a Russian record of 2:20:15 in 2011 but that result has been annulled following her suspension for a doping violation.



Top 50 Performances in London Men Time Name Country Position 2:03:05 Eliud Kipchoge KEN 1 2:03:51 Stanley Biwott KEN 2 2:04:29 Wilson Kipsang KEN 1 2:04:40 Emmanuel Mutai KEN 1 2:04:42 Kipchoge 1 2:04:44 Kipsang 1 2:04:47 Kipsang 2 2:04:55 Biwott 2 2:05:10 Sammy Wanjiru KEN 1 2:05:15 Martin Lel KEN 1

Year 2016 2016 2014 2011 2015 2012 2015 2014 2009 2008

2:05:19 Tsegaye Kebede ETH 2:05:20 Kebede 2:05:24 Wanjiru 2:05:27 Jaouad Gharib MAR 2:05:30 Abderrahim Goumri MAR 2:05:38 Khalid Khannouchi USA 2:05:45 Lel 2:05:45 Patrick Makau KEN 2:05:48 Paul Tergat KEN 2:05:48 Daniel Wanjiru KEN

1 2 2 3 3 1 2 3 2 1

2010 2009 2008 2009 2008 2002 2011 2011 2002 2017

2:05:50 Dennis Kimetto KEN 2:05:57 Kenenisa Bekele ETH 2:06:04 Kebede 2:06:15 Mutai 2:06:17 Ryan Hall USA 2:06:18 Evans Rutto KEN 2:06:23 Mutai 2:06:30 Kebede 2:06:31 Ayele Abshero ETH 2:06:33 Mutai

3 2 1 4 5 1 2 3 4 2

2015 2017 2013 2008 2008 2004 2010 2014 2014 2013

2:06:34 Marilson Gomes dos Santos BRA 2:06:35 Haile Gebrselassie ETH 2:06:36 Antonio Pinto POR 2:06:36 Bekele 2:06:38 Deriba Merga ETH 2:06:39 Felix Limo KEN 2:06:41 Lel 2:06:41 Biwott 2:06:48 Sammy Korir KEN 2:06:51 Lel

4 3 1 3 6 1 2 4 2 2

2011 2002 2000 2016 2008 2006 2006 2015 2004 2012

2:06:52 Abdelkader El Mouaziz MAR 2:06:52 Kebede 2:06:53 Mutai 2:06:55 Hendrick Ramaala RSA 2:06:55 Gharib 2:06:57 Abshero 2:07:04 Khannouchi 2:07:06 Ian Syster RSA 2:07:11 El Mouaziz 2:07:12 Gharib

4 3 4 3 3 3 4 5 1 3

2002 2012 2009 2006 2010 2013 2006 2002 2001 2004

.



Women Time Name Country Position Year 2:15:25 Paula Radcliffe GBR 1 2003 2:17:01 Mary Keitany KEN 1 2017 2:17:42 Radcliffe 1 2005 2:17:56 Tirunesh Dibaba ETH 2 2017 2:18:37 Keitany 1 2012 2:18:56 Radcliffe 1 2002 2:19:19 Keitany 1 2011 2:19:36 Deena Kastor USA 1 2006 2:19:50 Edna Kiplagat KEN 2 2012 2:19:55 Catherine Ndereba KEN 2 2003 2:20:14 Priscah Jeptoo KEN 2:20:15 Jeptoo 2:20:21 E Kiplagat 2:20:24 Florence Kiplagat KEN 2:20:35 Dibaba 2:20:38 Zhou Chunxiu CHN 2:20:46 E Kiplagat 2:20:57 F Kiplagat 2:21:06 Ingrid Kristiansen NOR 2:21:16 Drossin (Kastor)

3 2012 1 2013 1 2014 2 2014 3 2014 1 2007 3 2011 4 2012 1 1985 3 2003

2:21:29 Lyudmila Petrova RUS 2:21:32 E Kiplagat KEN 2:21:42 Feysa Tadesse ETH 2:21:45 Gete Wami ETH 2:21:46 Susan Chepkemei KEN 2:21:52 Berhane Adere ETH 2:21:58 Galina Bogomolova RUS 2:22:11 Irina Mikitenko GER 2:22:31 Svetlana Zakharova RUS 2:22:33 Petrova

2 2006 2 2013 4 2014 2 2007 3 2006 4 2006 5 2006 1 2009 2 2002 3 2002

2:22:35 Margaret Okayo KEN 2:22:38 Aselefech Mergia ETH 2:22:46 Reiko Tosa JPN 2:22:48 Kristiansen 2:22:50 Constantina Tomescu-Dita ROU 2:22:58 Jemima Sumgong KEN 2:23:03 Tigist Tufa ETH 2:23:08 Mergia 2:23:12 Chepkemei 2:23:12 Mara Yamauchi GBR

1 2004 1 2010 4 2002 1 1987 2 2005 1 2016 2 2016 3 2017 4 2003 2 2009

2:23:12 Lucy Kabuu KEN 2:23:14 Petrova 2:23:17 Bezunesh Bekele ETH 2:23:19 Chepkemei 2:23:21 Aberu Kebede ETH 2:23:22 Joyce Chepchumba KEN 2:23:22 Tufa 2:23:39 F Kiplagat 2:23:40 Keitany 2:23:41 Tirfi Tsegaye ETH

5 2012 5 2003 2 2010 5 2002 5 2014 1 1999 1 2015 3 2016 2 2015 3 2015

Note, the following results have been annulled following the athletes’ suspensions for doping violations: 2:20:15 Liliya Shobukhova RUS (2) 2011 2:22:00 Shobukhova (1) 2010 2:22:19 Inga Abitova RUS (2) 2010



Top 20 Britons in London Men Time Name 2:08:16 Steve Jones 2:08:21 Mo Farah 2:08:33 Charlie Spedding 2:08:36 Richard Nerurkar 2:09:16 Allister Hutton 2:09:17 Mark Steinle 2:09:18 Paul Evans 2:09:24 Hugh Jones 2:09:31 Jon Brown 2:09:43 Mike Gratton 2:09:54 Tony Milovsorov 2:10:12 Gerry Helme 2:10:30 Dave Long 2:10:50 Eamonn Martin 2:10:52 Kevin Forster 2:10:52 Callum Hawkins 2:11:05 Mike O’Reilly 2:11:19 Chris Thompson 2:11:44 Jim Dingwall 2:11:45 Steve Brace

Position Year 1 1985 8 2014 2 1985 5 1997 3 1985 8 2002 8 1997 1 1982 6 2005 1 1983 6 1989 2 1983 4 1991 1 1993 2 1988 8 2016 5 1990 11 2014 5 1983 7 1991

Women Time Name 2:15:25 Paula Radcliffe 2:17:42 Radcliffe 2:23:12 Mara Yamauchi 2:25:56 Veronique Marot 2:26:51 Priscilla Welch 2:26:52 Liz McColgan 2:27:44 Claire Hallissey 2:28:06 Sarah Rowell 2:28:10 Freya Murray 2:28:24 Jo Pavey 2:28:33 Liz Yelling 2:28:38 Sally-Ann Hales 2:29:06 Alyson Dixon 2:29:18 Hayley Haining 2:29:23 Charlotte Purdue 2:29:43 Joyce Smith 2:30:00 Louise Damen 2:30:38 Ann Ford 2:30:42 Tracy Barlow 2:30:46 Susan Partridge 2:31:06 Angie Pain


Position Year 1 2003 1 2005 2 2009 1 1989 2 1987 2 1997 11 2012 2 1985 13 2012 18 2011 9 2008 3 1985 14 2017 12 2008 15 2017 1 1982 22 2011 2 1988 16 2017 9 2013 7 1989


Top 20 Overseas Athletes in London Men Time Name 2:03:05 Eliud Kipchoge 2:03:51 Stanley Biwott 2:04:29 Wilson Kipsang 2:04:40 Emmanuel Mutai 2:05:10 Sammy Wanjiru 2:05:15 Martin Lel 2:05:19 Tsegaye Kebede 2:05:27 Jaouad Gharib 2:05:30 Abderrahim Goumri 2:05:38 Khalid Khannouchi 2:05:45 Patrick Makau 2:05:48 Paul Tergat 2:05:48 Daniel Wanjiru 2:05:50 Dennis Kimetto 2:05:57 Kenenisa Bekele 2:06:17 Ryan Hall 2:06:18 Evans Rutto 2:06:31 Ayele Abshero 2:06:34 Marîlson dos Santos 2:06:35 Haile Gebrselassie

Country Position KEN 1 KEN 2 KEN 1 KEN 1 KEN 1 KEN 1 ETH 1 MAR 3 MAR 3 USA 1 KEN 3 KEN 2 KEN 1 KEN 3 ETH 2 USA 5 KEN 1 ETH 4 BRA 4 ETH 3

Year 2016 2016 2014 2011 2009 2008 2010 2009 2008 2002 2011 2002 2017 2015 2017 2008 2004 2014 2011 2002

Country Position KEN 1 ETH 2 USA 1 KEN 2 KEN 2 KEN 3 KEN 2 ETH 3 CHN 1 NOR 1 RUS 2 ETH 4 ETH 2 KEN 3 ETH 4 RUS 5 GER 1 RUS 2 KEN 1 ETH 1

Year 2017 2017 2006 2012 2003 2012 2014 2014 2007 1985 2006 2014 2007 2006 2006 2006 2009 2002 2004 2010

Women Time Name 2:17:01 Mary Keitany 2:17:56 Tirunesh Dibaba 2:19:36 Deena Kastor 2:19:50 Edna Kiplagat 2:19:55 Catherine Ndereba 2:20:14 Priscah Jeptoo 2:20:24 Florence Kiplagat 2:20:35 Tirunesh Dibaba 2:20:38 Zhou Chunxiu 2:21:06 Ingrid Kristiansen 2:21:29 Lyudmila Petrova 2:21:42 Feysa Tadesse 2:21:45 Gete Wami 2:21:46 Susan Chepkemei 2:21:52 Berhane Adere 2:21:58 Galina Bogomolova 2:22:11 Irina Mikitenko 2:22:31 Svetlana Zakharova 2:22:35 Margaret Okayo 2:22:38 Aselefech Mergia

Note: the following results have been annulled following the athletes’ suspensions for doping violations: 2:20:15 Liliya Shobukhova RUS (2) 2011 2:22:00 Shobukhova (1) 2010 2:22:19 Inga Abitova RUS (2) 2010



WORLD MARATHON STATISTICS World & Continental Records Men World Commonwealth African North American South American Asian European Central American Oceanian World Junior (U20) Veterans 35+ Veterans 40+

2:02:57 2:02:57 2:02:57 2:05:38 2:06:05 2:06:11 * 2:06:16 2:05:48 * 2:06:36 2:06:36 2:08:30 2:08:16 2:04:32 2:03:59 2:08:38

Dennis Kimetto Dennis Kimetto Dennis Kimetto Khalid Khannouchi Ronaldo da Costa Yuta Shitara Toshinari Takaoka Sondre Nordstad Moen António Pinto Benoît Zwierzchlewski Dionicio Cerón Steve Moneghetti Tsegaye Mekonnen Haile Gebrselassie Kenneth Mungara

KEN KEN KEN USA BRA JPN JPN NOR POR FRA MEX AUS ETH ETH KEN

Berlin Berlin Berlin London Berlin Tokyo Chicago Fukuoka London Paris London Berlin Dubai Berlin Milan

28 Sep 2014 28 Sep 2014 28 Sep 2014 14 Apr 2002 20 Sep 1998 25 Feb 2018 13 Oct 2002 3 Dec 2017 16 Apr 2000 6 Apr 2003 2 Apr 1995 21 Apr 1986 24 Jan 2014 28 Sep 2008 3 Apr 2016

2:15:25 2:17:01 2:15:25 2:15:25 2:17:01 2:19:12 2:19:36 2:22:36 2:22:59 2:26:48 2:20:59 2:19:19 2:23:31

Paula Radcliffe Mary Keitany Paula Radcliffe Paula Radcliffe Mary Keitany Mizuki Noguchi Deena Kastor Benita Johnson Madai Pérez Inés Melchor Shure Demise Irina Mikitenko Lydia Cheromei

GBR KEN GBR GBR KEN JPN USA AUS MEX PER ETH GER KEN

London London London London London Berlin London Chicago Chicago Berlin Dubai Berlin Shanghai

13 Apr 2003 23 Apr 2017 13 Apr 2003 13 Apr 2003 23 Apr 2017 25 Sep 2005 23 Apr 2006 22 Oct 2006 22 Oct 2006 28 Sep 2014 23 Jan 2015 28 Sep 2008 12 Nov 2017

Women World World (women only) Commonwealth European African Asian North American Oceanian Central American South American World Junior (U20) Veterans 35+ Veterans 40+ * Awaiting ratification Note: the following times were run on Boston’s point-to-point downhill course which is not recognised for records: Men North American Central American Oceanian

2:04:58 2:07:19 2:07:51


Ryan Hall Andrés Espinosa Rob de Castella

USA MEX AUS

Boston Boston Boston

18 Apr 2011 18 Apr 1994 21 Apr 1986


World All-Time Top 50

(as at 31 March 2018)

Men Time 2:02:57* 2:03:03 2:03:05 2:03:13 2:03:13 2:03:23* 2:03:32 2:03:38* 2:03:42 2:03:45 2:03:46 2:03:51 2:03:52 2:03:58 2:03:59* 2:04:00 2:04:00 2:04:02 2:04:05 2:04:06 2:04:06 2:04:08 2:04:15 2:04:15 2:04:23 2:04:24 2:04:27 2:04:27 2:04:28 2:04:32 2:04:32 2:04:33 2:04:38 2:04:44 2:04:45 2:04:48 2:04:48 2:04:49 2:04:50 2:04:50 2:04:52 2:04:52 2:04:53 2:04:54 2:04:55* 2:04:56 2:04:56 2:05:03 2:05:04 2:05:09 2:05:10 2:05:13 2:05:13 2:05:13 2:05:15 2:05:16 2:05:21 2:05:21

Name Country Place Dennis Kimetto KEN 1 Kenenisa Bekele ETH 1 Eliud Kipchoge KEN 1 Emmanuel Mutai KEN 2 Wilson Kipsang KEN 2 Kipsang KEN 1 Kipchoge 1 Patrick Makau KEN 1 Kipsang 1 Kimetto 1 Guye Adola ETH 2 Stanley Biwott KEN 2 E Mutai 2 Kipsang 2 Haile Gebrselassie ETH 1 Kipchoge KEN 1 Mosinet Geremew (10) ETH 1 Leul Gebrselassie ETH 2 Kipchoge KEN 2 Tamirat Tola ETH 3 Asefa Mengistu ETH 4 (21 performances by 13 men) Sisay Lemma ETH 5 Geoffrey Mutai KEN 1 Berhanu Legesse ETH 6 Ayele Abshero ETH 1 Tesfaye Abera ETH 1 Duncan Kibet KEN 1 James Kwambai (20) KEN 2 Sammy Kitwara KEN 2 Tsegaye Mekonnen ETH 1 Dickson Chumba KEN 3 Haile Lemi ETH 2 Tsegaye Kebede ETH 1 Abdiqak Tura ETH 7 Lelisa Desisa ETH 1 Yemane Tsegay Adhane ETH 1 Berhanu Shiferaw ETH 2 Tadesse Tola (30) ETH 3 Dino Sefir ETH 2 Getu Feleke ETH 2 Feyisa Lilesa ETH 2 Endeshaw Negesse ETH 4 Bernard Koech KEN 5 Markos Geneti ETH 3 Paul Tergat KEN 1 Sammy Korir KEN 2 Jonathan Maiyo KEN 4 Moses Mosop (40) KEN 3 Abel Kirui KEN 3 Lawrence Cherono KEN 1 Samuel Wanjiru KEN 1 Vincent Kipruto KEN 3 Wilson Loyanae KEN 1 Norbert Kigen KEN 2 Martin Lel KEN 1 Levi Matebo Omari KEN 2 Eliud Kiptanui KEN 2 Daniel Wanjiru (50) KEN 1

On point-to-point and downhill course (drop of 139m overall) 2:03:02 Geoffrey Mutai KEN 2:03:06 Moses Mosop KEN 2:04:53 Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam ETH 2:04:58 Ryan Hall USA

1 2 3 4

City Berlin Berlin London Berlin Berlin Berlin Berlin Berlin Frankfurt Chicago Berlin London Chicago Tokyo Berlin Berlin Dubai Dubai Berlin Dubai Dubai

Date 28 Sep 14 25 Sep 16 24 Apr 16 28 Sep 14 25 Sep 16 29 Sep 13 24 Sep 17 25 Sep 11 30 Oct 11 13 Oct 13 24 Sep 17 24 Apr 16 13 Oct 13 26 Feb 17 28 Sep 08 27 Sep 15 26 Jan 18 26 Jan 18 29 Sep 13 26 Jan 18 26 Jan 18

Dubai Berlin Dubai Dubai Dubai Rotterdam Rotterdam Chicago Dubai Chicago Dubai Chicago Dubai Dubai Rotterdam Dubai Dubai Dubai Rotterdam Chicago Dubai Dubai Dubai Berlin Berlin Dubai Rotterdam Rotterdam Amsterdam London Rotterdam Seoul Amsterdam London Frankfurt Berlin Amsterdam

26 Jan 18 30 Sep 12 26 Jan 18 27 Jan 12 22 Jan 16 5 Apr 09 5 Apr 09 12 Oct 14 24 Jan 14 12 Oct 14 22 Jan 15 7 Oct 12 26 Jan 18 25 Jan 13 15 Apr 12 25 Jan 13 25 Jan 13 27 Jan 12 15 Apr 12 7 Oct 12 25 Jan 13 25 Jan 13 27 Jan 12 28 Sep 03 28 Sep 03 27 Jan 12 15 Apr 12 5 Apr 09 15 Oct 17 26 Apr 09 11 Apr 10 20 Mar 16 15 Oct 17 13 Apr 08 30 Oct 11 27 Sep 15 16 Oct 16

Boston Boston Boston Boston

18 Apr 11 18 Apr 11 18 Apr 11 18 Apr 11

* World record


VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Women Time Name Country Place 2:15:25* Paula Radcliffe GBR 1 2:17:01 Mary Keitany KEN 1 2:17:18* Radcliffe 1 2:17:42 Radcliffe 1 2:17:56 Tirunesh Dibaba ETH 2 2:18:31 T Dibaba 1 2:18:37 Keitany KEN 1 2:18:47* Catherine Ndereba KEN 1 2:18:56 Radcliffe 1 2:18:58 Tiki Gelana ETH 1 (10 performances by 5 women) 2:19:12 Mizuki Noguchi JPN 1 2:19:17 Roza Dereje ETH 1 2:19:19 Irina Mikitenko GER 1 2:19:25 Gladys Cherono (10) KEN 1 2:19:30 Feyse Tadesse ETH 2 2:19:31 Aselefech Mergia ETH 1 2:19:34 Lucy Wangui Kabuu KEN 2 2:19:36 Deena Kastor USA 3 2:19:39 Sun Yingjie ¶ CHN 1 2:19:41 Yoko Shibui JPN 1 2:19:41 Tirfi Tsegaye ETH 1 2:19:44 Florence Kiplagat KEN 1 2:19:46* Naoko Takahashi JPN 1 2:19:46 Yebrqual Melese (20) ETH 3 2:19:47 Sarah Chepchirchir KEN 1 2:19:50 Edna Kiplagat KEN 2 2:19:51 Zhou Chunxiu CHN 1 2:19:51 Birhane Dibaba ETH 1 2:19:52 Mare Dibaba ETH 3 2:19:57 Rita Jeptoo ¶ KEN 1 2:20:13 Haftamnesh Tesfay ETH 5 2:20:14 Priscah Jeptoo KEN 3 2:20:22 Brigid Kosgei KEN 2 2:20:30 Bezenesh Bekele ETH 4 2:20:30 Aberu Kebede (30) ETH 1 2:20:41 Ruti Aga ETH 2 2:20:42 Berhane Adere ETH 1 2:20:43 Tegla Loroupe KEN 1 2:20:45 Gelete Burka ETH 6 2:20:47 Galina Bogomolova RUS 2 2:20:48 Jemima Sumgong ¶ KEN 2 2:20:48 Amane Beriso ETH 2 2:20:53 Valary Aiyabei KEN 3 2:20:55 Purity Rionoripo KEN 1 2:20:57 Jordan Hasay (40) USA 3 2:20:59 Shure Demise ETH 4 2:20:59 Agnes Barsosio KEN 2 2:21:01 Meselech Melkamu ETH 1 2:21:06* Ingrid Kristiansen NOR 1 2:21:09 Meseret Hailu ETH 1 2:21:14 Shalane Flanagan USA 3 2:21:17 Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa BRN 1 2:21:21 Joan Benoit USA 1 2:21:22 Filomena Cheyech (50) KEN 3

City London London Chicago London London Chicago London Chicago London Rotterdam

Date 13 Apr 03 23 Apr 17 13 Oct 02 17 Apr 05 23 Apr 17 8 Oct 17 22 Apr 12 7 Oct 01 14 Apr 02 15 Apr 12

Berlin Dubai Berlin Berlin Dubai Dubai Dubai London Beijing Berlin Dubai Berlin Berlin Dubai Tokyo London Seoul Tokyo Dubai Chicago Dubai London Chicago Dubai Berlin Berlin Chicago Berlin Dubai Chicago Chicago Dubai Berlin Paris Chicago Dubai Paris Frankfurt London Amsterdam Berlin Nagoya Chicago Paris

25 Sep 05 26 Jan 18 28 Sep 08 27 Sep 15 26 Jan 18 27 Jan 12 27 Jan 12 23 Apr 06 19 Oct 03 26 Sep 04 22 Jan 16 25 Sep 11 30 Sep 01 26 Jan 18 26 Feb 17 22 Apr 12 12 Mar 06 25 Feb 18 27 Jan 12 13 Oct 13 26 Jan 18 22 Apr 12 8 Oct 17 27 Jan 12 30 Sep 12 24 Sep 17 22 Oct 06 26 Sep 99 26 Jan 18 22 Oct 06 13 Oct 13 22 Jan 16 24 Sep 17 9 Apr 17 8 Oct 17 23 Jan 15 9 Apr 17 28 Oct 12 21 Apr 85 21 Oct 12 28 Sep 14 12 Mar 17 20 Oct 85 9 Apr 17

On point-to-point and downhill course (drop of 139m overall) 2:18:57 Rita Jeptoo ¶ KEN 2:19:59 Buzunesh Deba ETH 2:20:41 Jemima Sumgong KEN 2:20:43 Margaret Okayo KEN

1 2 4 1

Boston Boston Boston Boston

21 Apr 14 21 Apr 14 21 Apr 14 15 Apr 02

Drugs disqualification 2:18:20 Liliya Shobukhova ¶ 2:20:23 Wei Yanan ¶

(1) (1)

Chicago Beijing

9 Oct 11 20 Oct 02

RUS CHN

* World record; ¶ drugs disqualification earlier or later in career



World Record Progression Men Time 2:55:19 2:52:46 2:46:53 2:46:05 2:42:31 2:40:35 2:38:17 2:36:07 2:32:36* 2:29:02 2:27:49 2:26:44 2:26:42 2:25:39 2:20:43 2:18:41 2:18:35 2:17:40 2:15:17 2:15:17 2:15:16 2:14:28 2:13:55 2:12:12 2:12:00 2:09:37 2:08:34 2:08:18 2:08:05 2:07:12 2:06:50 2:06:05 2:05:42 2:05:38 2:04:55 2:04:26 2:03:59 2:03:38 2:03:23 2:02:57

Name Country Race Johnny Hayes USA London (OG) Robert Fowler USA Yonkers James Clark USA New York Albert Raines USA New York Fred Barrett GBR London Thure Johansson SWE Stockholm Harry Green GBR London Alexis Ahlgren SWE London Hannes Kolehmainen FIN Antwerp (OG) Albert Michelsen USA Port Chester Fusashige Suzuki JPN Tokyo Yasuo Ikenaka JPN Tokyo Kitei Son** JPN Tokyo Yun Bok Suh KOR Boston Jim Peters GBR Chiswick Peters Chiswick Peters Turku Peters Chiswick Sergey Popov URS Stockholm Abebe Bikila ETH Rome (OG) Toru Terasawa JPN Beppu Buddy Edelen USA Chiswick Basil Heatley GBR Chiswick Bikila Tokyo (OG) Morio Shigematsu JPN Chiswick Derek Clayton AUS Fukuoka Clayton Antwerp Rob de Castella AUS Fukuoka Steve Jones GBR Chicago Carlos Lopes POR Rotterdam Belayneh Dinsamo ETH Rotterdam Ronaldo da Costa BRA Berlin Khalid Khannouchi MAR Chicago Khannouchi USA London Paul Tergat KEN Berlin Haile Gebrselassie ETH Berlin Gebrselassie Berlin Patrick Makau KEN Berlin Wilson Kipsang KEN Berlin Dennis Kimetto KEN Berlin

Date 24 Jul 08 1 Jan 09 12 Feb 09 8 May 09 26 May 09 31 Aug 09 12 May 13 31 May 13 22 Aug 20 12 Oct 25 31 Mar 35 3 Apr 35 3 Nov 35 19 Apr 47 14 Jun 52 13 Jun 53 4 Oct 53 26 Jun 54 24 Aug 58 10 Sep 60 17 Feb 63 15 Jun 63 13 Jun 64 21 Oct 64 12 Jun 65 3 Dec 67 30 May 69 6 Dec 81 21 Oct 84 20 Apr 85 17 Apr 88 20 Sep 98 24 Oct 99 14 Apr 02 28 Sep 03 30 Sep 07 28 Sep 08 25 Sep 11 29 Sep 13 28 Sep 14

*42.75km ** Sohn Kee Chung (KOR) Note: ineligible for world record because of the point-to-point downhill nature of the Boston course. 2:03:02 Geoffrey Mutai KEN Boston 18 Apr 11


VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Women Time 3:37:07 3:27:25 3:19:33 3:15:22 3:07:27 3:02:53 3:01:42 2:55:22 2:49:40 2:46:36 2:46:24 2:43:55 2:42:24 2:40:16 2:38:19 2:35:16 2:34:48 2:32:30 2:27:33 2:25:42 2:25:29 2:22:43 2:21:06 2:20:47 2:20:43 2:19:46 2:18:47 2:17:18 2:15:25

Name Country Race Merry Lepper USA Culver City Dale Greig GBR Ryde Mildred Sampson NZL Auckland Maureen Wilton CAN Toronto Anni Pede-Erdkamp GER Waldniel Caroline Walker USA Seaside Beth Bonner USA Philadelphia Bonner New York Cheryl Bridges USA Culver City Miki Gorman USA Culver City Chantal Langlace FRA Neuf Brisach Jacqueline Hansen USA Culver City Lianne Winter GER Boston Christa Vahlensieck GER Dulmen Hansen Eugene Langlace Oyarzun Vahlensieck West Berlin Grete Waitz NOR New York Waitz New York Waitz New York Waitz London Joan Benoit USA Boston Ingrid Kristiansen NOR London Tegla Loroupe KEN Rotterdam Loroupe Berlin Naoko Takahashi JPN Berlin Catherine Ndereba KEN Chicago Paula Radcliffe GBR Chicago Radcliffe London

Women-only world bests since 1984 (approved courses only) 2:24:52 Joan Benoit USA Los Angeles (Oly) 2:23:51 Lisa Ondieki AUS Osaka 2:23:24 Lidia Simon ROU Osaka 2:23:22 Joyce Chepchumba KEN London 2:22:12 Eri Yamaguchi JPN Tokyo 2:18:56 Paula Radcliffe GBR London 2:17:42 Radcliffe London 2:17:01 Mary Keitany KEN London


Date 16 Dec 63 23 May 64 21 Jul 64 6 May 67 16 Sep 67 28 Feb 70 9 May 71 19 Sep 71 5 Dec 71 2 Dec 73 27 Oct 74 1 Dec 74 21 Apr 75 3 May 75 12 Oct 75 1 May 77 10 Sep 77 22 Oct 78 21 Oct 79 26 Oct 80 17 Apr 83 18 Apr 83 21 Apr 85 19 Apr 98 26 Sep 99 30 Sep 01 7 Oct 01 13 Oct 02 13 Apr 03 8 Aug 84 31 Jan 88 31 Jan 99 18 Apr 99 21 Nov 99 14 Apr 02 17 Apr 05 23 Apr 17


World’s Best in 2017 Men 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

Time 2:03.32 2:03.46 2:03:58 2:04:11 2:05:09 2:05:13 2:05:15 2:05:26 2:05:30 2:05:39 2:05:43 2:05:48 2:05:48 2:05:50 2:05:51 2:05:57 2:06:03 2:06:04 2:06:05 2:06:10 2:06:12 2:06:13 2:06:13 2:06:14 2:06:15 2:06:25 2:06:25 2:06:27 2:06:38 2:06:43 2:06:44 2:06:52 2:06:54 2:06:56 2:06:57 2:07:10 2:07:10 2:07:12 2:07:13 2:07:19 2:07:19 2:07:21 2:07:21 2:07:25 2:07:26 2:07:32 2:07:33 2:07:34 2:07:39 2:07:39

Name Eliud Kipchoge Guye Adola Wilson Kipsang Tamirat Tola Lawrence Cherono Norbert Kigen Sammy Kitwara Abraham Kiptum Evans Kiplagat Chebet Mule Wasihun Amos Kipruto Daniel Wanjiru Sondre Nordstad Moen Tola Shura Gideon Kipketer Kenenisa Bekele Felix Kandie Marius Kimutai Mark Korir Paul Lonyangata Mosinet Geremew Festus Talam Felix Kirwa Vincent Kipruto Luka Kanda Dickson Chumba Laban Korir Wilson Loyanae Deribe Robi Marius Kipserem Abera Kuma Philemon Rono Felix Kiprotich Kelkile Gezahegn Stephen Chebogut Dejene Debela Stephen Kiprotich Solomon Kirwa Yego Edwin Koech Lucas Rotich Suguru Osako Yitayal Atnafu Benson Kipruto Eliud Kiptanui Tsegaye Mekonnen Mathew Kisorio Jacob Kibet Kendagor Samuel Tsegay Alfers Lagat Tesfaye Abera

Country KEN ETH KEN ETH KEN KEN KEN KEN KEN ETH KEN KEN NOR ETH KEN ETH KEN KEN KEN KEN ETH KEN KEN KEN KEN KEN KEN KEN ETH KEN ETH KEN KEN ETH KEN ETH UGA KEN KEN KEN JPN ETH KEN KEN ETH KEN KEN ERI KEN ETH

Place City 1 Berlin 2 Berlin 1 Tokyo 1 Dubai 1 Amsterdam 2 Amsterdam 1 Valencia 3 Amsterdam 2 Valencia 4 Amsterdam 5 Amsterdam 1 London 1 Fukuoka 1 Frankfurt 2 Tokyo 2 London 2 Seoul 1 Rotterdam 3 Seoul 1 Paris 3 Berlin 1 Eindhoven 2 Eindhoven 5 Berlin 1 Chuncheon 3 Tokyo 3 Rotterdam 5 Seoul 3 Valencia 3 Eindhoven 4 Valencia 8 Toronto 1 Gyeongju 2 Frankfurt 2 Paris 4 Eindhoven 2 Fukuoka 3 Paris 1 Milan 5 Rotterdam 3 Fukuoka 4 Paris 2 Gyeongju 5 Valencia 1 Hamburg 1 Daegu 6 Seoul 6 Valencia 5 Tokyo 8 Amsterdam

Date 24 Sep 24 Sep 26 Feb 20 Jan 15 Oct 15 Oct 19 Nov 15 Oct 19 Nov 15 Oct 15 Oct 23 Apr 3 Dec 29 Oct 26 Feb 23 Apr 19 Mar 9 Apr 19 Mar 9 Apr 24 Sep 8 Oct 8 Oct 24 Sep 29 Oct 26 Feb 9 Apr 19 Mar 19 Nov 8 Oct 19 Nov 22 Oct 15 Oct 29 Oct 9 Apr 8 Oct 3 Dec 9 Apr 2 Apr 9 Apr 3 Dec 9 Apr 15 Oct 19 Nov 23 Apr 2 Apr 19 Mar 19 Nov 26 Feb 15 Oct


VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Women 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

Time 2:17:01 2:17:56 2:19:47 2:20:22 2:20:23 2:20:41 2:20:53 2:20:55 2:20:57 2:20:59 2:21:17 2:21:19 2:21:22 2:21:36 2:21:37 2:21:52 2:21:54 2:22:15 2:22:36 2:22:36 2:22:43 2:22:51 2:22:51 2:22:57 2:23:08 2:23:09 2:23:31 2:23:35 2:23:35 2:23:47 2:23:59 2:24:04 2:24:18 2:24:20 2:24:22 2:24:25 2:24:27 2:24:44 2:24:51 2:25:01 2:25:15 2:25:17 2:25:23 2:25:29 2:25:30 2:25:32 2:25:34 2:25:38 2:25:39 2:25:44

Name Mary Keitany Tirunesh Dibaba Sarah Chepchirchir Brigid Kosgei Gladys Cherono Ruti Aga Valary Aiyabei Purity Rionoripo Jordan Hasay Agnes Barsosio Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa Birhane Dibaba Filomena Cheyech Yuka Ando Visiline Jepkesho Edna Kiplagat Tadelech Bekele Amane Beriso Worknesh Degefa Ruth Chepngetich Roza Dereje Yebrqual Melese Helen Tola Shure Demise Aselefech Mergia Amane Gobena Lydia Cheromei Vivian Cheruiyot Damte Hirut Mao Kiyota Gulume Tollesa Hirut Tibebu Meskerem Assefa Nancy Kiprop Risa Shigemoto Rebecca Kangogo Eunice Chumba Madaí Pérez Gladys Chesire Letebrhan Gebreslasea Lisa Weightman Lucy Karimi Azmera Abreha Margaret Agai Jéssica Augusto Viola Kibiwot Abebech Afework Laura Thweatt Helah Kiprop Misato Horie


Country Place KEN 1 ETH 2 KEN 1 KEN 2 KEN 1 ETH 2 KEN 3 KEN 1 USA 3 KEN 2 BRN 1 ETH 2 KEN 3 JPN 2 KEN 4 KEN 1 ETH 1 ETH 2 ETH 1 KEN 1 ETH 1 ETH 5 ETH 4 ETH 2 ETH 3 ETH 3 KEN 2 KEN 1 ETH 3 JPN 3 ETH 4 ETH 4 ETH 1 KEN 1 JPN 1 KEN 2 BRN 2 MEX 4 KEN 2 ETH 1 AUS 5 KEN 3 ETH 3 KEN 5 POR 1 KEN 4 ETH 1 USA 6 KEN 7 JPN 2

City London London Tokyo Chicago Berlin Berlin Berlin Paris Chicago Paris Nagoya Tokyo Paris Nagoya Paris Boston Amsterdam Prague Dubai Istanbul Shanghai Paris Berlin Dubai London Tokyo Shanghai Frankfurt Shanghai Nagoya Shanghai Prague Rotterdam Vienna Osaka Vienna Rotterdam Chicago Amsterdam Dongying London Rotterdam Amsterdam Shanghai Hamburg Amsterdam Gold Coast London London Osaka

Date 23 Apr 23 Apr 26 Feb 8 Oct 24 Sep 24 Sep 24 Sep 9 Apr 8 Oct 9 Apr 12 Mar 26 Feb 9 Apr 12 Mar 9 Apr 17 Apr 15 Oct 7 May 20 Jan 12 Nov 12 Nov 9 Apr 24 Sep 20 Jan 23 Apr 26 Feb 12 Nov 29 Oct 12 Nov 12 Mar 12 Nov 7 May 9 Apr 23 Apr 29 Jan 23 Apr 9 Apr 8 Oct 15 Oct 7 May 23 Apr 9 Apr 15 Oct 12 Nov 23 Apr 15 Oct 2 Jul 23 Apr 23 Apr 29 Jan


World’s Best in 2018

(as at 31 March 2018)

Men Time 2:04:00 2:04:02 2:04:06 2:04:06 2:04:08 2:04:15 2:04:44 2:05:30 2:06:11 2:06:33 2:06:47 2:06:54 2:06:57 2:07:03 2:07:11 2:07:30 2:07:45 2:07:53 2:07:57 2:08:08 2:08:08 2:08:17 2:08:22 2:08:23 2:08:26 2:08:26

Name Mosinet Geremew Leul Gebrselassie Tamirat Tola Asefa Mengistu Sisay Lemma Berhanu Legesse Abdiwak Tura Dickson Chumba Yuta Shitara Amos Kipruto Gideon Kipketer Hirohito Inoue Wilson Loyanae Mark Korir Benson Kipruto Feyisa Lilesa Marius Kimutai Joseph Ndirangu Felix Kiprotich Ryo Kiname Anthony Maritim Albert Korir Dickson Tuwei Laban Mutei Jake Robertson Silas Too

Country Place ETH 1 ETH 2 ETH 3 ETH 4 ETH 5 ETH 6 ETH 7 KEN 1 JPN 2 KEN 3 KEN 4 JPN 5 KEN 1 KEN 2 KEN 3 ETH 6 KEN 4 KEN 1 KEN 5 JPN 7 KEN 1 KEN 2 KEN 1 KEB 2 NZL 3 KEN 2

City Dubai Dubai Dubai Dubai Dubai Dubai Dubai Tokyo Tokyo Tokyo Tokyo Tokyo Seoul Seoul Seoul Tokyo Seoul Lake Biwa Seoul Tokyo Barcelona Lake Biwa Seville Seville Lake Biwa Barcelona

Date 26 Jan 26 Jan 26 Jan 26 Jan 26 Jan 26 Jan 26 Jan 25 Feb 25 Feb 25 Feb 25 Feb 25 Feb 17 Mar 17 Mar 17 Mar 25 Feb 17 Mar 4 Mar 17 Mar 25 Feb 11 Mar 4 Mar 25 Feb 25 Feb 4 Mar 11 Mar

Name Roza Dereje Feyse Tadesse Yebrqual Melese Birhane Dibaba Worknesh Degefa Haftamnesh Tesfay Gelete Burka Ruti Aga Amy Cragg Dera Dida Meskerem Assefa Shure Demise Mizuki Matsuda Valary Jemeli Hanami Sekine Honami Maeda Desi Jisa Mekonin Damte Hirut Senbere Teferi Margaret Agai Monica Jepkoech Biruktayit Degefa Belaynesh Oljira Mulu Seboka Boulaid Kaoutar

Country Place ETH 1 ETH 2 ETH 3 ETH 1 ETH 4 ETH 5 ETH 6 ETH 2 USA 3 ETH 7 ETH 1 ETH 4 JPN 1 KEN 2 JPN 3 JPN 2 BRN 8 ETH 1 ETH 9 KEN 2 KEN 3 ETH 1 ETH 2 ETH 4 MAR 1

City Dubai Dubai Dubai Tokyo Dubai Dubai Dubai Tokyo Tokyo Dubai Nagoya Tokyo Osaka Nagoya Nagoya Osaka Dubai Seoul Dubai Seoul Seoul Houston Houston Seoul Seville

Date 26 Jan 26 Jan 26 Jan 25 Feb 26 Jan 26 Jan 26 Jan 25 Feb 25 Feb 26 Jan 11 Mar 25 Feb 29 Jan 11 Mar 11 Mar 29 Jan 26 Jan 17 Mar 26 Jan 17 Mar 17 Mar 14 Jan 14 Jan 17 Mar 25 Feb

Women Time 2:19:17 2:19:30 2:19:46 2:19:51 2:19:53 2:20:13 2:20:45 2:21:19 2:21:42 2:21:45 2:21:45 2:22:07 2:22:44 2:22:48 2:23:07 2:23:48 2:24:05 2:24:08 2:24:11 2I24:30 2:24:31 2:24:51 2:24:57 2:25:01 2:25:35



World Record Pace Guide

Women’s Record PAULA RADCLIFFE 2:15:25 at London 03 (her actual mile splits)

Women Only Record MARY KEITANY 2:17:01 at London 17 (her actual mile splits)

Mile Time Time 1 5:10 5:15 2 10:18 10:14 3 15:15 14:57 4 20:22 19:53 5 25:32 24:57 6 30:54 30:08 7 36:06 35:17 8 41:17 40:22 9 46:35 45:31 10 51:48 50:45 11 56:58 55:51 12 1:02:14 1:01:07 13 1:07:30 1:06:18 13.1 1:08:02 1:06:54 14 1:12:38 1:11:35 15 1:17:48 1:16:49 16 1:23:01 1:22:07 17 1:28:08 1:27:23 18 1:33:19 1:32:37 19 1:38:26 1:37:57 20 1:43:33 1:43:14 21 1:48:44 1:48:33 22 1:53:50 1:53:59 23 1:59:03 1:59:28 24 2:04:06 2:04:55 25 2:09:14 2:10:20 26 - 2:15:13 26.2 2:15:25 2:17:01

Men’s Record DENNIS KIMETTO 2:02:57 at Berlin 14 (km splits; mile splits not taken) Km Time Km split 1 2:52 2:52 2 5:47 2:55 3 8:46 2:59 4 11:43 2:57 5 14:42 2:59 6 17:36 2:55 7 20:32 2:56 8 23:29 2:57 9 26:26 2:57 10 29:24 2:58 11 32:18 2:55 12 35:22 3:04 13 38:22 3:00 14 41:19 2:57 15 44:10 2:51 16 47:03 2:54 17 49:58 2:55 18 52:52 2:54 19 55:44 2:52 20 58:36 2:52 21 1:01:28 2:53 22 1:04:23 2:55 23 1:07:16 2:53 24 1:10:10 2:54 25 1:13:08 2:58 26 1:16:02 2:55 27 1:18:56 2:54 28 1:21:53 2:57 29 1:24:46 2:53 30 1:27:38 2:52 31 1:30:24 2:47 32 1:33:15 2:51 33 1:36:01 2:46 34 1:38:50 2:49 35 1:41:47 2:57 36 1:44:39 2:52 37 1:47:35 2:56 38 1:50:33 2:58 39 1:53:28 2:55 40 1:56:29 3:01 41 1:59:24 2:55 42 2:02:20 2:56 42.195 2:02:57 (Halves: 61:45/61:12)

Kimetto’s 5km splits were: 5km 14:42 10km 14:42 15km 14:46 20km 14:26 25km 14:32 30km 14:30 35km 14:09 40km 14:42 42.195km 6:28



5km Split Times Men World record DENNIS KIMETTO 2:02:57 Berlin 14 Km 5 14:42 10 29:24 15 44:10 20 58:36 half 1:01:45 25 1:13:08 30 1:27:38 35 1:41:47 40 1:56:29 finish 2:02:57

Course record ELIUD KIPCHOGE 2:03:05 London 16 14:16 28:37 43:17 58:10 1:01:24 1:12:39 1:27:13 1:42:07 1:56:49 2:03:05

British record STEVE JONES 2:07:13 Chicago 85 14:47 29:30 43:52 58:28 1:01:43 1:13:30 1:28:40 1:44:14 2:00:11 2:07:13

Women World (women only) & Course record MARY KEITANY 2:17:01 London 17 Km 5 15:31 10 31:17 15 47:15 20 1:03:26 half 1:06:54 25 1:19:43 30 1:36:05 35 1:52:39 40 2:09:38 finish 2:17:01

World (mixed) and British record PAULA RADCLIFFE 2:15:25 London 03 15:48 32:01 48:15 1:04:38 1:08:02 1:20:36 1:36:36 1:52:33 2:08:29 2:15:25



Mile & Kilometre Pace Charts Here are two tables to convert a runner’s pace to the time needed to cover a particular distance. To see the average race pace, look at the finish time and read the pace from the left-hand column. The table on this page is based on minutes per mile; the table on the following page on minutes per kilometre.

Mile Pace 1 5 10 Half 15 20 25 Mar 0:04:30 0:22:30 0:45:00 0:59:00 1:07:30 1:30:00 1:52:30 1:58:00 0:04:40 0:23:20 0:46:40 1:01:11 1:10:00 1:33:20 1:56:40 2:02:22 0:04:45 0:23:45 0:47:30 1:02:16 1:11:15 1:35:00 1:58:45 2:04:32 0:04:50 0:24:10 0:48:20 1:03:22 1:12:30 1:36:40 2:00:50 2:06:44 0:05:00 0:25:00 0:50:00 1:05:33 1:15:00 1:40:00 2:05:00 2:11:06 0:05:10 0:25:50 0:51:40 1:07:44 1:17:30 1:43:20 2:09:10 2:15:28 0:05:15 0:26:15 0:52:30 1:08:50 1:18:45 1:45:00 2:11:15 2:17:39 0:05:20 0:26:40 0:53:20 1:09:55 1:20:00 1:46:40 2:13:20 2:19:51 0:05:30 0:27:30 0:55:00 1:12:06 1:22:30 1:50:00 2:17:30 2:24:13 0:05:40 0:28:20 0:56:40 1:14:17 1:25:00 1:53:20 2:21:40 2:28:35 0:05:45 0:28:45 0:57:30 1:15:23 1:26:15 1:55:00 2:23:45 2:30:46 0:05:50 0:29:10 0:58:20 1:16:29 1:27:30 1:56:40 2:25:50 2:32:57 0:06:00 0:30:00 1:00:00 1:18:40 1:30:00 2:00:00 2:30:00 2:37:19 0:06:10 0:30:50 1:01:40 1:20:51 1:32:30 2:03:20 2:34:10 2:41:42 0:06:15 0:31:15 1:02:30 1:21:56 1:33:45 2:05:00 2:36:15 2:43:53 0:06:20 0:31:40 1:03:20 1:23:02 1:35:00 2:06:40 2:38:20 2:46:04 0:06:30 0:32:30 1:05:00 1:25:13 1:37:30 2:10:00 2:42:30 2:50:26 0:06:40 0:33:20 1:06:40 1:27:24 1:40:00 2:13:20 2:46:40 2:54:48 0:06:45 0:33:45 1:07:30 1:28:30 1:41:15 2:15:00 2:48:45 2:56:59 0:06:50 0:34:10 1:08:20 1:29:35 1:42:30 2:16:40 2:20:50 2:59:10 0:07:00 0:35:00 1:10:00 1:31:46 1:45:00 2:20:00 2:55:00 3:03:33 0:07:10 0:35:50 1:11:40 1:33:57 1:47:30 2:23:20 2:59:10 3:07:55 0:07:15 0:36:15 1:12:30 1:35:03 1:48:45 2:25:00 3:01:15 3:10:06 0:07:20 0:36:40 1:13:20 1:36:08 1:50:00 2:26:40 3:03:20 3:12:17 0:07:30 0:37:30 1:15:00 1:38:20 1:52:30 2:30:00 3:07:30 3:16:39 0:07:40 0:38:20 1:16:40 1:40:31 1:55:00 2:33:20 3:11:40 3:21:01 0:07:45 0:38:45 1:17:30 1:41:36 1:56:15 2:35:00 3:13:45 3:23:12 0:07:50 0:39:10 1:18:20 1:42:42 1:57:30 2:36:40 3:15:50 3:25:24 0:08:00 0:40:00 1:20:00 1:44:53 2:00:00 2:40:00 3:20:00 3:29:46 0:08:10 0:40:50 1:21:40 1:47:04 2:02:30 2:43:20 3:24:10 3:34:08 0:08:15 0:41:15 1:22:30 1:48:10 2:03:45 2:45:00 3:26:15 3:36:19 0:08:20 0:41:40 1:23:20 1:49:15 2:05:00 2:46:40 3:28:20 3:38:30 0:08:30 0:42:30 1:25:00 1:51:26 2:07:30 2:50:00 3:32:30 3:42:52 0:08:40 0:43:20 1:26:40 1:53:37 2:10:00 2:53:20 3:36:40 3:47:15 0:08:45 0:43:45 1:27:30 1:54:43 2:11:15 2:55:00 3:38:45 3:49:26 0:08:50 0:44:10 1:28:20 1:55:48 2:12:30 2:56:40 3:40:50 3:51:37 0:09:00 0:45:00 1:30:00 1:58:00 2:15:00 3:00:00 3:45:00 3:55:59 0:09:05 0:45:25 1:30:50 1:59:05 2:16:15 3:01:40 3:47:05 3:58:10 0:09:10 0:45:50 1:31:40 2:00:11 2:17:30 3:03:20 3:49:10 4:00:21



Kilometre Pace 1km 0:02:45 0:02:50 0:02:55 0:03:00 0:03:05 0:03:10 0:03:15 0:03:20 0:03:25 0:03:30 0:03:35 0:03:40 0:03:45 0:03:50 0:03:55 0:04:00 0:04:05 0:04:10 0:04:15 0:04:20 0:04:25 0:04:30 0:04:35 0:04:40 0:04:45 0:04:50 0:04:55 0:05:00 0:05:05 0:05:10 0:05:15 0:05:20 0:05:25 0:05:30 0:05:35 0:05:40 0:05:45 0:05:50

1M 0:04:26 0:04:34 0:04:42 0:04:50 0:04:58 0:05:06 0:05:14 0:05:22 0:05:30 0:05:38 0:05:46 0:05:54 0:06:06 0:06:10 0:06:18 0:06:26 0:06:34 0:06:42 0:06:50 0:06:58 0:07:06 0:07:14 0:07:23 0:07:31 0:07:39 0:07:47 0:07:55 0:08:03 0:08:11 0:08:19 0:08:27 0:08:35 0:08:43 0:08:51 0:08:59 0:09:07 0:09:15 0:09:23

5km 10km 15km 20km Half 25km 30km 35km 40km Mar 0:13:45 0:27:30 0:41:15 0:55:00 0:58:01 1:08:45 1:22:30 1:36:15 1:50:00 1:56:02 0:14:10 0:28:20 0:42:30 0:56:40 0:59:47 1:10:50 1:25:00 1:39:10 1:53:20 1:59:33 0:14:35 0:29:10 0:43:45 0:58:20 1:01:32 1:12:55 1:27:30 1:42:05 1:56:40 2:03:04 0:15:00 0:30:00 0:45:00 1:00:00 1:03:18 1:15:00 1:30:00 1:45:00 2:00:00 2:06:35 0:15:25 0:30:50 0:46:15 1:01:40 1:05:03 1:17:05 1:32:30 1:47:55 2:03:20 2:10:06 0:15:50 0:31:40 0:47:30 1:03:20 1:06:49 1:19:10 1:35:00 1:50:50 2:06:40 2:13:37 0:16:15 0:32:30 0:48:45 1:05:00 1:08:34 1:21:15 1:37:30 1:53:45 2:10:00 2:17:08 0:16:40 0:33:20 0:50:00 1:06:40 1:10:19 1:23:20 1:40:00 1:56:40 2:13:20 2:20:39 0:17:05 0:34:10 0:51:15 1:08:20 1:12:05 1:25:23 1:42:30 1:59:35 2:16:40 2:24:10 0:17:30 0:35:00 0:52:30 1:10:00 1:13:50 1:27:30 1:45:00 2:02:30 2:20:00 2:27:41 0:17:55 0:35:50 0:53:45 1:11:40 1:15:36 1:29:35 1:47:30 2:05:25 2:23:20 2:31:12 0:18:20 0:36:40 0:55:00 1:13:20 1:17:21 1:31:40 1:50:00 2:08:20 2:26:40 2:34:43 0:18:45 0:37:30 0:56:15 1:15:00 1:19:07 1:33:45 1:52:30 2:11:25 2:30:00 2:38:14 0:19:10 0:38:20 0:57:30 1:16:40 1:20:52 1:35:50 1:55:00 2:14:10 2:33:20 2:41:45 0:19:35 0:39:10 0:58:45 1:18:20 1:22:38 1:37:55 1:57:30 2:17:05 2:36:40 2:45:16 0:20:00 0:40:00 1:00:00 1:20:00 1:24:23 1:40:00 2:00:00 2:20:00 2:40:00 2:48:47 0:20:25 0:40:50 1:01:15 1:21:40 1:26:09 1:42:05 2:02:30 2:22:55 2:43:20 2:52:18 0:20:50 0:41:40 1:02:30 1:23:20 1:27:54 1:44:10 2:05:00 2:25:50 2:46:40 2:55:49 0:21:15 0:42:30 1:03:45 1:25:00 1:29:40 1:46:15 2:07:30 2:28:45 2:50:00 2:59:20 0:21:40 0:43:30 1:05:00 1:26:40 1:31:25 1:48:20 2:10:00 2:31:40 2:53:20 3:02:51 0:22:05 0:44:10 1:06:15 1:28:20 1:33:11 1:50:25 2:12:30 2:34:35 2:56:40 3:06:22 0:22:30 0:45:00 1:07:30 1:30:00 1:34:56 1:52:30 2:15:00 2:37:30 3:00:00 3:09:53 0:22:55 0:45:50 1:08:45 1:31:40 1:36:42 1:54:35 2:17:30 2:40:25 3:03:20 3:13:24 0:23:20 0:46:40 1:10:00 1:33:20 1:38:27 1:56:40 2:20:00 2:43:20 3:06:40 3:16:55 0:23:45 0:47:30 1:11:15 1:35:00 1:40:13 1:58:45 2:22:30 2:46:15 3:10:00 3:20:26 0:24:10 0:48:20 1:12:30 1:36:40 1:41:58 2:00:50 2:25:00 2:49:10 3:13:20 3:23:57 0:24:35 0:49:10 1:13:45 1:38:20 1:43:43 2:02:55 2:27:30 2:52:05 3:16:40 3:27:28 0:25:00 0:50:00 1:15:00 1:40:00 1:45:29 2:05:00 2:30:00 2:55:00 3:20:00 3:30:58 0:25:25 0:50:50 1:16:15 1:41:40 1:47:15 2:07:05 2:32:30 2:57:55 3:23:20 3:34:29 0:25:50 0:51:40 1:17:30 1:43:20 1:49:00 2:09:10 2:35:00 3:00:50 3:26:40 3:38:00 0:26:15 0:52:30 1:18:45 1:45:00 1:50:46 2:11:15 2:37:30 3:03:45 3:30:00 3:41:31 0:26:40 0:53:20 1:20:00 1:46:40 1:52:31 2:13:20 2:40:00 3:06:40 3:33:20 3:45:02 0:27:05 0:54:10 1:21:15 1:48:20 1:54:17 2:15:25 2:42:30 3:09:35 3:36:40 3:48:33 0:27:30 0:55:00 1:22:30 1:50:00 1:56:02 2:17:30 2:45:00 3:12:30 3:40:00 3:52:04 0:27:55 0:55:50 1:23:45 1:51:40 1:57:48 2:19:35 2:47:30 3:15:25 3:43:20 3:55:35 0:28:20 0:56:40 1:25:00 1:53:20 1:59:33 2:21:40 2:50:00 3:18:20 3:36:40 3:59:06 0:28:45 0:57:30 1:26:15 1:55:00 2:01:19 2:23:45 2:52:30 3:21:15 3:50:00 4:02:37 0:29:10 0:58:20 1:27:30 1:56:40 2:03:04 2:25:50 2:55:00 3:24:10 3:53:20 4:06:08



30km Records World Records Men

1:27:13 + 1:27:13 +

Eliud Kipchoge Stanley Biwott

KEN KEN

London London

24 Apr 2016 24 Apr 2016

Women Mixed Women only

1:38:42 + 1:38:49 + 1:36:05 +

Aberu Kebede Mizuki Noguchi Mary Keitany

ETH JPN KEN

Berlin Berlin London

25 Sep 2016 25 Sep 2005 23 Apr 2017

The fastest 30km times recorded in 2017 were: Men 1:27:24 + Eliud Kipchoge 1:27:24 + Guye Adola

KEN ETH

Berlin Berlin

24 Sep 24 Sep

Women

Mary Keitany

KEN

London

23 Apr

1:36:05 +

Area Records Men Africa Asia Europe NACAC South America

1:27:13 + 1:27:13 + 1:28:00 1:29:00 + 1:28:35 + 1:29:21 +

Eliud Kipchoge Stanley Biwott Takayuki Matsumiya António Pinto Bolota Asmerom Marîlson dos Santos

KEN KEN JPN POR USA BRA

London London Kumamoto London London London

24 Apr 2016 24 Apr 2016 27 Feb 2005 14 April 2002* 21 April 2013 17 April 2011

Women Africa Asia Europe NACAC Oceania South America

1:36:05 + 1:38:49 + 1:39:22 + 1:39:15 + 1:40:12 + 1:43:30

Mary Keitany Mizuki Noguchi Paula Radcliffe Shalane Flanagan Benita Johnson (Willis) Inés Melchor

KEN JPN GBR USA AUS PER

London Berlin Helsinki Berlin Chicago Berlin

23 Apr 2017 25 Sep 2005 14 Aug 2005** 28 Sep 2014 22 Oct 2006 28 Sep 2014

+ = en route to longer distance * Britain’s Steve Jones ran an unofficially timed 1:28:40+ to 30km at the 1985 Chicago Marathon (20 Oct 1985). ** Paula Radcliffe was timed at 1:21:03 (25km) and 1:37:27 (30km) during the 2005 London Marathon, but no records were applied for in either case. In 2005 there were only Champion Chip times at 25km and 30km but since then there have been official time keepers at the 30km mark to ratify any times for IAAF world record purposes.

Notes: 1. There are no time keepers at the 25km point in London because, at 8.5m above sea level, this point is more than a 25-metre drop from the start (39.459m asl) so 25km times are not eligible for official records. The 30km mark (10.794m on the north side of the road; 10.558m on the south side) is within the limit for records. 2. The men’s official IAAF track world record for 30,000m is 1:26:47.4 by Moses Mosop (KEN) at Eugene on 3 June 2011. 3. The following result has been annulled following the athlete’s suspension for a doping violation. 30km 1:38:23 + Liliya Shobukhova RUS Chicago


9 Oct 2011


BRITISH MARATHON STATISTICS British All-Time Top 20 Men Time Name Place City Time 2:07:13 Steve Jones 1 Chicago 20 Oct 85 2:08:21 Mo Farah 8 London 13 Apr 14 2:08:33 Charlie Spedding 2 London 21 Apr 85 2:08:36 Richard Nerurkar 5 London 13 Apr 97 2:08:52 Paul Evans 1 Chicago 20 Oct 96 2:09:08 Geoff Smith 2 New York 23 Oct 83 2:09:12 Ian Thompson 1 Christchurch 31 Jan 74 2:09:16 Allister Hutton 3 London 21 Apr 85 2:09:17 Mark Steinle 8 London 14 Apr 02 2:09:24 Hugh Jones (10) 1 London 9 May 82 2:09:28 Ron Hill 1 Edinburgh 23 Jul 70 2:09:28 John Graham 1 Rotterdam 23 May 81 2:09:31 Jon Brown 7 London 17 Apr 05 2:09:43 Mike Gratton 1 London 17 Apr 83 2:09:49 Dewi Griffiths 5 Frankfurt 29 Oct 17 2:09:54 Tony Milovsorov 6 London 23 Apr 89 2:10:12 Gerry Helme 2 London 17 Apr 83 2:10:17 Callum Hawkins 4 London (W Champs) 6 Aug 17 2:10:30 David Long 4 London 21 Apr 91 2:10:35 Steve Brace (20) 2 Houston 21 Jan 96 2:10:37 Tomas Abyu 2 Dublin 29 Oct 07 2:10:39 Mike O’Reilly 4 Fukuoka 5 Dec 93 2:10:48 Bill Adcocks 1 Fukuoka 8 Dec 68 2:10:50 Eamonn Martin 1 London 18 Apr 93 No. of British men under 2:11:00 – 28; 2:12:00 – 42; 2:13:00 – 61

Women Time 2:15:25 2:23:12 2:25:56 2:26:51 2:26:52 2:27:44 2:28:04 2:28:06 2:28:10 2:28:24 2:28:33 2:28:38 2:28:39 2:28:42 2:29:06 2:29:18 2:29:23 2:29:29 2:29:43 2:29:47

Name Paula Radcliffe Mara Yamauchi Véronique Marot Priscilla Welch Liz McColgan Claire Hallissey Sonia Samuels Sarah Rowell Freya Ross (Murray) Jo Pavey (10) Liz Yelling Sally-Ann Hales Kathy Butler Marian Sutton Alyson Dixon Hayley Haining Charlotte Purdue Sally Eastall Joyce Smith Paula Fudge (20)

Note: best in women only race 2:17:42 Paula Radcliffe

Place 1 2 1 2 2 11 9 2 13 18 9 3 9 7 14 12 15 1 1 3

City Time London 13 Apr 03 London 26 Apr 09 London 23 Apr 89 London 10 May 87 London 13 Apr 97 London 22 Apr 12 Berlin 27 Sep 15 London 21 Apr 85 London 22 Apr 12 London 17 Apr 11 London 13 Apr 08 London 21 Apr 85 Chicago 22 Oct 06 Chicago 24 Oct 99 London 23 Apr 17 London 13 Apr 08 London 23 Apr 17 Sacramento 8 Dec 91 London 9 May 82 Chicago 30 Oct 88

1

London 17 Apr 05

No. of British women under 2:32:00 – 29; 2:35:00 – 52



British Record Progression Men Time Name Club 3:16:08.6 William Clarke Sefton H 2:42:31 Harry Barrett Poly H 2:38:16.2 t Harry Green 2:37:40.4 Bobby Mills Leics H 2:35:58.2 Sam Ferris RAF 2:35:27 Ferris 2:34:34 Harry Payne Woodford G 2:33:00 Ferris 2:30:57.6 Payne 2:29:24 Jim Peters Essex Beagles 2:20:42.2 Peters 2:18:40.2 Peters 2:18:34.8 Peters 2:17:39.4 Peters 2:14:43 Brian Kilby Coventry G 2:13:55 Basil Heatley Coventry G 2:13:45 Alastair Wood Aberdeen AAC 2:12:16.8 Bill Adcocks Coventry G 2:10:47.8 Adcocks 2:10:30 Ron Hill Bolton U H 2:09:28 Hill 2:09:12 Ian Thompson Luton 2:09:08 Geoff Smith Liverpool 2:08:05 Steve Jones Newport 2:07:13 Jones

Race White City (OG) Polytechnic Stamford Bridge Polytechnic Polytechnic Liverpool Polytechnic Liverpool Polytechnic Polytechnic Polytechnic Polytechnic Turku Polytechnic Port Talbot Polytechnic Inverness Karl Marx Stadt Fukuoka Boston Edinburgh (CG) Christchurch (CG) New York Chicago Chicago

Date 24 July 1908 26 May 1909 12 May 1913 17 July 1920 30 May 1925 28 Sep 1927 6 July 1928 26 Sep 1928 5 July 1929 16 Jun 1951 14 Jun 1952 13 Jun 1953 4 Oct 1953 26 Jun 1954 6 July 1963 13 Jun 1964 9 July 1966 19 May 1968 8 Dec 1968 20 Apr 1970 23 July 1970 31 Jan 1974 23 Oct 1983 21 Oct 1984 20 Oct 1985

Race IoW Guildford Korso, Finland Feltham Rugby Sandbach Eugene, USA Waldniel, GER Sandbach Tokyo London London LA (OG) London Chicago London London London Chicago London

Date 23 May 1964 19 Oct 1975 26 Oct 1975 4 Apr 1976 3 Sep 1978 6 July 1979 9 Sep 1979 22 Sep 1979 22 July 1980 16 Nov 1980 29 Mar 1981 9 May 1982 5 Aug 1984 21 Apr 1985 20 Oct 1985 10 May 1987 23 Apr 1989 14 Apr 2002 13 Oct 2002 13 Apr 2003

t = track race

Women Time Name Club 3:27:25 Dale Greig 3:11:54 Anne Clarke Highgate H 3:07:47 Margaret Thompson Luton 2:50:55 Christine Readdy (Kilkenny) Stoke 2:50:54 Rosemary Cox (Harrold) Enfield 2:41:37 Joyce Smith Barnet 2:41:03 Gillian Adams (Horowitz) Kent 2:36:27 Smith 2:33:32 Smith 2:30:27 Smith 2:29:57 Smith 2:29:43 Smith 2:28:54 Priscilla Welch Ranelagh 2:28:06 Sarah Rowell Dartford 2:28:04 Veronique Marot Leeds 2:26:51 Welch 2:25:56 Marot 2:18:56 Paula Radcliffe Bedford 2:17:18 Radcliffe 2:15:25 Radcliffe



WHEELCHAIR MARATHON STATISTICS London Wheelchair Champions Men 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Gordon Perry Kevin Breen Chris Hallam Gerry O’Rourke Chris Hallam Ted Vince David Holding Hakan Ericsson Farid Amarouch Daniel Wesley George Vandamme David Holding Heinz Frei David Holding David Holding Heinz Frei Heinz Frei Kevin Papworth Denis Lemeunier David Weir Joel Jeannot Saul Mendoza Saul Mendoza David Weir David Weir David Weir Kurt Fearnley Josh Cassidy David Weir David Weir Kurt Fearnley Marcel Hug Joshua George Marcel Hug David Weir

GBR IRL GBR IRL GBR CAN GBR SWE FRA CAN BEL GBR SUI GBR GBR SUI SUI GBR FRA GBR FRA MEX MEX GBR GBR GBR AUS CAN GBR GBR AUS SUI USA SUI GBR

3:20:07 (back start) 2:38:40 2:19:53 2:26:38 2:08:34 2:01:37 1:59:31 1:57:12 1:52:52 1:51:42 1:44:10 1:46:06 1:39:14 1:43:48 1:42:15 1:35:18 1:35:27 1:41:50 1:42:37 1:39:44 1:32:02 1:36:56 (course deviation) 1:35:51 1:29:48 1:30:49 1:33:56 1:28:56 1:35:21 1:30:05 1:32:26 1:31:29 1:32:41 1:31:31 1:35:24 1:31:06


VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Women 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Denise Smith Kay McShane Kay McShane Kay McShane Karen Davidson Karen Davidson Josie Cidhockyj Connie Hansen Connie Hansen Tanni Grey Rose Hill Tanni Grey Rose Hill Tanni Grey Monica Wetterstrom Tanni Grey Monica Wetterstrom Sarah Piercy Tanni Grey-Thompson Tanni Grey-Thompson Francesca Porcellato Francesca Porcellato Francesca Porcellato Francesca Porcellato Shelly Woods Sandra Graf Amanda McGrory Wakako Tsuchida Amanda McGrory Shelly Woods Tatyana McFadden Tatyana McFadden Tatyana McFadden Tatyana McFadden Manuela Schär


GBR IRL IRL IRL GBR GBR GBR DEN DEN GBR GBR GBR GBR GBR SWE GBR SWE GBR GBR GBR ITA ITA ITA ITA GBR SUI USA JPN USA GBR USA USA USA USA SUI

4:29:03 (back start) 3:10:04 2:47:12 3:02:40 2:45:30 2:41:45 3:03:54 2:10:25 2:04:40 2:17:23 2:03:05 2:08:26 2:17:02 2:00:10 1:49:09 2:02:01 1:57:38 2:23:30 2:13:55 2:22:51 2:04:21 2:04:58 1:57:00 1:59:57 1:50:40 1:48:04 1:50:39 1:52:33 1:46:31 1:49:10 1:46:02 1:45:12 1:41:14 1:44:14 1:39:57


Best Times in London Men Time Name 1:28:56 Kurt Fearnley 1:28:57 David Weir 1:28:58 Ernst van Dyk 1:29:48 Weir 1:30:05 Weir 1:30:07 Heinz Frei 1:30:13 Masazumi Soejima 1:30:15 Frei 1:30:49 Weir 1:30:50 Fearnley 1:30:54 Tomasz Hamerlak 1:30:55 Roger Puigbo Verdageur 1:30:56 Josh Cassidy 1:30:57 Nobukazu Hamaoka 1:31:01 Saul Mendoza 1:31:01 Choke Yasuoka 1:31:01 Denis Lemeunier 1:31:06 Weir 1:31:07 Marcel Hug 1:31:07 Fearnley 1:31:08 van Dyk 1:31:09 Rafael Botello Jimenez 1:31:09 Kota Hokinoue 1:31:10 Aaron Pike 1:31:10 Joshua George 1:31:10 Hiroyuki Yamamoto 1:31:11 Krige Schabort 1:31:11 James Senbeta 1:31:11 Ryota Yoshida 1:31:11 Hiroki Nishida 1:31:12 Jordi Madera 1:31:12 Frei 1:31:12 Tomoki Suzuki 1:31:29 Fearnley 1:31:29 Hug 1:31:30 van Dyk 1:31:30 Hamerlak 1:31:31 Weir 1:31:31 Hokinoue 1:31:31 George 1:31:32 Frei 1:31:32 Weir 1:31:33 Yamamoto 1:31:33 Soejima 1:31:33 Pierre Fairbank 1:31:38 van Dyk 1:31:56 Hamerlak 1:32:02 Joel Jeannot 1:32:22 Hokinoue 1:32:26 Weir

Country AUS GBR RSA GBR GBR SUI JPN SUI GBR AUS POL ESP CAN JPN MEX JPN FRA GBR SUI AUS RSA ESP JPN USA USA JPN USA USA JPN JPN ESP SUI JPN AUS SUI RSA POL GBR JPN USA SUI GBR JPN JPN FRA RSA POL FRA JPN GBR

Year 2009 2009 2009 2006 2011 2011 2009 2009 2007 2007 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2015 2013 2015 2013 2015 2015 2015 2015 2003 2015 2012


VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2018 Women Time Name 1:39:57 Manuela Schär 1:41:14 Tatyana McFadden 1:43:56 Schär 1:44:14 McFadden 1:44:15 Schär 1:44:34 Amanda McGrory 1:45:12 McFadden 1:45:28 Wakako Tsuchida 1:46:02 McFadden 1:46:04 McGrory 1:46:25 McGrory 1:46:27 Sandra Graf 1:46:31 McGrory 1:46:31 Shelly Woods 1:46:33 Graf 1:46:34 McFadden 1:46:44 Schär 1:46:45 Tsuchida 1:47:06 Susannah Scaroni 1:47:37 Scaroni 1:47:41 McGrory 1:48:01 Graf 1:48:04 Graf 1:49:09 Monica Wetterstrom 1:49:10 Woods 1:49:50 Margriet van den Broek 1:50:39 McGrory 1:50:40 Woods 1:50:40 Graf 1:50:41 Diane Roy 1:50:42 Edith Hunkeler 1:50:43 Christie Dawes 1:50:43 Dawes 1:50:44 Woods 1:50:46 Woods 1:50:46 Shirley Reilly 1:50:47 Scaroni 1:51:01 Scaroni 1:51:01 Dawes 1:51:46 Jade Jones 1:51:58 McGrory 1:52:33 Tsuchida 1:52:34 Graf 1:52:36 McGrory 1:52:42 Zou Lihong 1:52:49 Graf 1:52:50 Scaroni 1:53:04 Tsuchida 1:53:05 Roy 1:53:44 Madison de Rozario


Country SUI USA SUI USA SUI USA USA JPN USA USA USA SUI USA GBR SUI USA SUI JPN USA USA USA SUI SUI SWE GBR NED USA GBR SUI CAN SUI AUS AUS GBR GBR USA USA USA AUS GBR USA JPN SUI USA CHN SUI USA JPN CAN AUS

Year 2017 2015 2015 2016 2016 2017 2014 2016 2013 2013 2015 2015 2011 2011 2011 2011 2014 2014 2015 2017 2016 2013 2008 1997 2012 2017 2009 2007 2009 2009 2009 2009 2013 2013 2009 2013 2013 2014 2014 2017 2008 2010 2010 2010 2016 2016 2016 2012 2012 2013


World & British Records World Para Athletics World Records Men T54 1:20:14 Women T54 1:38:07

Heinz Frei

SUI

Oita

1999

Manuela Schär Wakako Tsuchida

SUI JPN

Oita Oita

2013 2013

David Weir

GBR

Boston

2016

Shelly Woods

GBR

Padua

2008

British Bests Men T54 1:26:17 Women T54 1:37:44

London Marathon Course Records Men 1:28:56 Women 1:39:57

Kurt Fearnley

AUS

2009

Manuela Schär

SUI

2017

Marcel Hug Ernst van Dyk

SUI RSA

Boston Boston

2017 2017

Manuela Schär

SUI

Boston

2017

World’s Fastest Times Men 1:18:04 Women 1:28:17

The Boston course is not accepted for world records.

Starters & Finishers Year Entrants Starters Finishers 1983 21 19 17 1984 28 26 26 1985 37 33 32 1986 48 42 37 1987 46 42 41 1988 51 48 43 1989 57 50 49 1990 77 63 60 1991 52 44 42 1992 66 52 50 1993 68 53 47 1994 59 49 48 1995 69 52 51 1996 64 45 45 1997 69 54 54 1998 60 49 48 1999 58 41 40 2000 55 42 40 2001 42 32 32 2002 59 46 44 2003 51 45 43 2004 42 31 29 2005 48 40 40 2006 35 28 26 2007 40 33 31 2008 39 37 35 2009 44 39 38 2010 48 39 34 2011 41 41 36 2012 48 38 38 2013 59 46 46 2014 54 41 41 2015 74 63 53 2016 70 68 61 2017 78 75 65



WORLD PARA ATHLETICS MARATHON WORLD CUP STATISTICS World Para Athletics Marathon World Cup Champions T11-13 Men 2013 2014

El Amin Chentouf El Amin Chentouf

MAR MAR

2:24:00 2:25:07

Women 2013 2014

Maria Paredes Rodriguez Maria Paredes Rodriguez

ESP ESP

3:17:10 2:59:22

Men 2016 2017

Yutaka Kumagai Shinya Wada

JPN JPN

2:33:24 2:34:59

Women 2016 2017

Zheng Jin Misato Michishita

CHN JPN

3:13:15 3:00:50

Aniceto Antonio dos Santos BRA Patryk Lekaszewski POL

2:32:52 2:32:20

Richard Whitehead Richard Whitehead

GBR GBR

3:15:53 3:42:04

Alessandro di Lello Tito Sena

ITA BRA

2:32:06 2:35:45

Li Chaoyan Alex Pires da Silva

CHN BRA

2:27:07 2:28:20

Santiago Sanz Raymond Martin Raymond Martin

ESP USA USA

1:58:16 1:59:53 1:57:15

Men 2013 2014 2016 2017

Kurt Fearnley Marcel Hug Marcel Hug David Weir

AUS SUI SUI GBR

1:31:29 1:32:41 1:35:19 1:31:06

Women 2013 2014 2016 2017

Tatyana McFadden Tatyana McFadden Tatyana McFadden Manuela Schär

USA USA USA SUI

1:46:02 1:45:12 1:44:14 1:39:57

T11/12

T13

Men 2016 2017

T42/43 Men 2013 2014

T44-46 Men 2013 2014

T45/46 Men 2016 2017

T51/52 Men 2014 2016 2017

T53/54



World & British Records World Para Athletics World Records Men T11 T12 T13 T42 T46 T51 T52 T53/54

2:31:59 2:21:33 2:22:55 3:15:53 2:26:54 2:23:08 1:40:07 1:20:14

Andrea Cionna ITA El Amin Chentouf MAR Carlos Talbot USA Richard Whitehead GBR Abderrahman Ait Khamouch ESP Heinrich Koberle GER Thomas Geierspichler AUT Heinz Frei SUI

Rome London Seoul PG London London Berlin Beijing PG Oita

18 Mar 2007 26 Apr 2015 24 Oct 1988 21 Apr 2013 26 Apr 2015 24 Sep 1995 17 Sep 2008 31 Oct 1999

Women T11 T12 T52 T53/54

3:13:15 2:58:23 2:07:28 1:38:07 1:38:07

Zheng Jin Elena Pautova Tomomi Yamaki Manuela Schär Wakako Tsuchida

London London Oita Oita Oita

24 Apr 2016 26 Apr 2015 9 Nov 2008 27 Oct 2013 27 Oct 2013

CHN RUS JPN SUI JPN

Note: Official IPC world records are only accredited if they are set at IPC licensed events and a record application form is received by World Para Athletics.

World Para Athletics World Records Set in London Men T12 T12 T42 T46

2:24:00 2:21:33 3:15:53 2:26:54

El Amin Chentouf MAR El Amin Chentouf MAR Richard Whitehead GBR Abderrahman Ait Khamouch ESP

21 Apr 2013 26 Apr 2015 21 Apr 2013 26 Apr 2015

Women T11 T11 T11 T11 T12 T12

3:38:16 3:36:04 3:26:18 3:13:15 3:17:10 2:58:23

Ivonne Mosquera-Schmidt Yumiko Konno Regina Vollbrecht Zheng Jin Maria Paredes Rodriguez Elena Pautova

21 Apr 2013 13 Apr 2014 26 Apr 2015 24 Apr 2016 21 Apr 2013 26 Apr 2015

USA JPN GER CHN ESP RUS

Note: The following result was not ratified as a world record because IPC Athletics did not receive the record application forms. T12 2:59:22 Maria Paredes Rodriguez ESP 13 Apr 2014

Unofficial British Bests Men T11 T12 T13 T42 T44 T46 T52 T53 T54

2:55:22 2:47:16 2:36:58 2:42:54 2:52:55 2:37:28 1:56:43 1:25:06 1:26:17

Chris Goodwin Steve Marklew Steve Marklew Richard Whitehead Abdifatah Dhuhulow Derek Rae Rob Smith Simon Lawson David Weir

Valencia London London Chicago London London Dubai Boston Boston

20 Nov 2016 17 Apr 2011 26 Apr 2009 10 Oct 2010 17 Apr 2011 24 Apr 2016 24 Jan 2014 17 Apr 2017 18 Apr 2016

Women T11 T53 T54

4:58:16 2:17:46 1:40:03

Louise Simpson Nikki Emerson Shelly Woods

Chester London Beijing

4 Oct 2015 25 Apr 2010 17 Sep 2008

Note: There are no official British para athletics marathon records at the current time.



VETERAN STATISTICS Top 10 Veterans All Time (40+) Men

Time 2:08:38 2:08:46 2:10:13 2:10:18 2:10:33 2:10:47 2:10:50 2:11:00 2:11:04a 2:11:18

Women Time 2:23:31 2:24:54 2:25:43 2:26:51 2:26:57 2:27:05a 2:27:08 2:27:47 2:28:06 2:28:18

Name Kenneth Mungara Andres Espinosa Hassane Ahouchar Rachid Kisri Mohamed Ezzher Jonathan Cherono Japhet Kosgei Mariko Kiplagat John Campbell Jack Foster

Country Place KEN Milan MEX Berlin MAR Valencia MAR Ottawa FRA Paris KEN Beijing KEN Gold Coast KEN Beijing NZL Boston NZL Christchurch

Year 2016 2003 2015 2015 2011 2001 2011 2015 1990 1974

Name Lydia Cheromei Irina Mikitenko Lyudmila Petrova Priscilla Welch Christelle Daunay Firaya Sultanova Zhdanova Lucy Karimi Deena Kastor Irina Bogacheva Miranda Boonstra

Country Place KEN Shanghai GER Berlin RUS New York GBR London FRA New York RUS Duluth KEN Dubai USA Chicago KGZ Nashville NED Eindhoven

Year 2017 2013 2008 1987 2015 2003 2015 2015 2003 2012

Country UKR SWE NZL GBR

Year 2016 1986 1991 1999

Country GBR RUS GBR

Year 1987 2009 1982

a = assisted course

Top Veterans in London (40+) Men

Time Name 2:14:07 Serhiy Lebid 2:16:00 Kjell-Erik Stahl 2:17:22 John Campbell 2:17:22 Eamonn Martin

Women

Time Name 2:26:51 Priscilla Welch 2:27:42 Lyudmila Petrova 2:29:43 Joyce Smith

Note: from 1981 to 2008, women of 35 and over were considered veterans at the London Marathon. From 2009 the veteran categories were changed to 40+ for both men and women.

Awards and Bonuses (men and women 40+)

1 $1,000 2 $500 3 $250

Veteran age groups 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70+
