London Marathon: Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir wins race in women's-only world record time

Peres Jepchirchir celebrates winning the women's elite race and breaking the women's record during the TCS London Marathon

Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir won a thrilling London Marathon in a women's-only world record time.

The Kenyan kicked for home as she turned down The Mall and won the race in 2:16:16, the previous world record for a women's-only race was 2:17.01, set by Mary Jepkosgei Keitany in London in 2017.

Four runners were in with a shout down the final straight as Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa came home in second (2:16:23), ahead of Kenya's Joyciline Jepkosgei in third (2:16:24), with Megertu Alemu fourth.

The men's race was won by Kenyan Alexander Munyao in 2:04:01, ahead of 41-year-old track great Kenenisa Bekele who finished in 2:04:15.

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Ethiopian Bekele was attempting to win London for the first time, some 20 years after he won Olympic 10,000m gold but Munyao, 27, broke clear of his rival with three miles to go.

Alexander Mutiso Munyao of Kenya crosses the finish line to win the men's race at the London Marathon

Britain's Emile Cairess ran to finish third with a time of 2:06:46 whilst his counterpart Mahamed Mahamed finished fourth in 2:07:05.

Marcel Hug, 38, won the men's wheelchair race for a record fourth consecutive time, clocking in at 1:28:33. It is the fifth time in total the Swiss has won the race.

America's Daniel Romanchuk came second, finishing in 1:29:06, while Britain's David Weir was third in his 25th consecutive London Marathon, clocking 1:45:51.

The women's wheelchair race was won by a distance by another Swiss, Catherine Debrunner, who broke the course record to win in 2022.

Switzerland's Catherine Debrunner (R) and Marcel Hug (L) dominated the wheelchair race at the London Marathon

The 29-year-old finished the race in 1:38:54, with Swiss counterpart Manuela Schar second in 1:45:00.

American's Tatyana McFadden finished in third place (1:45:51), while Boston Marathon winner Eden Rainbow-Cooper was the highest British finisher, coming sixth in 1:50:39.

Best dressed in pictures

A competitor dressed as a giraffe in Blackheath before the TCS London Marathon

A minion costume was also spotted during the London Marathon

Another London Marathon runner dressed up as an aeroplane

There was also a competitor dressed as a tap ahead of the race

A man was pictured was dressed as a telephone running the race too

A competitor dressed as a fire engine in Blackheath before the TCS London Marathon

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