Crazy Good 2022 London Marathon Women’s Field Released – It Will Feature A Record 8 Sub-2:19 and 5 Sub-2:18 Women
By Robert Johnson
July 5, 2022
The elite women’s field for the 2022 TCS London Marathon was released today and once again it’s absolute amazing.
This year’s London field will feature nine sub-2:20 women — a feat only accomplished at last year’s London race as well as the 2020 Olympics. And the majority of those nine women didn’t just barely squeak under 2:20. Eight of them have broken 2:19 — the most ever in a single marathon race — the previous record was six at the 2020 Olympics. And five of them have broken 2:18. Also a new record. We believe the previous record was four at the 2020 Olympics.
| Comparing The Last 6 London Elite Fields – Women | ||||||||
| Sub-2:18 | Sub-2:19 | Sub-2:20 | Sub-2:21 | Sub-2:22 | Sub-2:23 | Sub-2:24 | Sub-2:25 | |
| 2022 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 |
| 2021 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 |
| 2020 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 |
| 2019 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
| 2018 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
| 2017 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| 2022 London Vs 2020 Olympics | |||
| Sub-2:18 | Sub-2:19 | Sub-2:20 | |
| 2022 London | 5 | 8 | 9 |
| 2020 Olympics | 4 | 6 | 8 |
Here is the full 2022 London elite women’s field which also will serve as the debut marathon for British hope Eilish McColgan.
2022 TCS London Marathon elite women’s field
- Brigid KOSGEI (KEN): Marathon Personal best – 2:14:04 (WR)
- Yalemzerf YEHUALAW (ETH): 2:17:23
- Joyciline JEPKOSGEI (KEN): 2:17:43
- Degitu AZIMERAW (ETH): 2:17:58
- Ashete BEKERE (ETH): 2:17:58
- Joan Chelimo MELLY (ROU): 2:18:04
- Sutume Asefa KEBEDE (ETH): 2:18:12
- Alemu MEGERTU (ETH): 2:18:51
- Hiwot GEBREKIDAN (ETH): 2:19:10
- Ababel YESHANEH (ETH): 2:20:51
- Mary NGUGI (KEN): 2:21:32
- Charlotte PURDUE (GBR): 2:23:26
- Reia IWADE (JPN): 2:23:52
- Stephanie TWELL (GBR): 2:26:40
- Rose HARVEY (GBR): 2:27:20
- Marci KLIMEK (USA): 2:30:48
- Samantha HARRISON (GBR): 2:32:22
- Anna BRACEGIRDLE (GBR): 2:34:20
- Emma STYLES (GBR): 2:37:36
- Girmawit GEBRZIHAIR (ETH): Debut
- Eilish McCOLGAN (GBR): Debut
Yes, times aren’t what they used to be because of super shoes but the 2022 London field will feature 5 of the top 10 marathoners in the world from 2021 according to the LRC rankings.
2. Joyciline Jepkosgei, Kenya
Last year: 1st London (2:17:43 — #1 in world)
This year: 7th in Boston in 2:24:43
4. Brigid Kosgei, Kenya
Last year: 2nd Olympics (2:27:36), 4th London (2:18:40 — #5 in world)
This year: Won Tokyo in 2:16:02
5. Degitu Azimeraw, Ethiopia
Last year: 2nd London (2:17:58 — #3 in world)
This year: 8th in Boston in 2:25:23
6. Ashete Bekere, Ethiopia
Last year: 3rd London (2:18:18 — #4 in world)
This year: 2nd in Tokyo in 2:17:58
7. Hiwot Geberkidan, Ethiopia
Last year: 1st Milan (2:19:35 — #8 in world), 2nd Berlin (2:21:23)
This year: 5th in Tokyo in 2:19:10
Additionally, the 2022 London field will have a ton of in-form women as it includes 7 of the 13 women who have broken 2:20 in 2022 including 5 of the top 6 fastest women in 2022
The 6 Fastest Women of 2022 (Bold = Running London)
1 2:16:02 Brigid Kosgei KEN 1st Tokyo
2 2:17:18 Ruth Chepngetich KEN 8 Aug 94 1 Nagoya
3 2:17:23 NR Yalemzerf Yehualaw ETH 1st Hamburg
4 2:17:58 Ashete Bekele ETH 2nd Tokyo
5 2:18:04 NR Joan Chelimo ROU 1st Seoul
6 2:18:12 Sutume Asefa ETH 2nd Seoul
Quick Take: The London field is amazing, who is left for the other majors and Valencia?
We already knew that the marathoner we ranked #1 in 2021 — Peres Jepchirchir, who won both the Olympics and New York last year and has since won Boston — is going to defend her NY crown. The other huge name not on the 2022 London list is reigning Chicago Marathon champ Ruth Chepngetich, who won $250,000 in winning Nagoya earlier this year (2:17:18). We imagine she’ll head back to Chicago although that’s a quick turnaround from Worlds.
Here are the 5 women we ranked in our top 10 for the women’s marathon who aren’t in London this year.
1. Peres Jepchirchir, Kenya
Last year’s exploits: 1st Olympics (2:27:20), 1st New York (2:22:39)
This year’s exploits: 1st Boston. Next up: Worlds and then NYC
3. Angela Tanui, Kenya
Last year’s exploits: 1st Dhaka (2:29:04), 1st Tuscany (2:20:08), 1st Amsterdam (2:17:57 — #2 in world)
This year’s exploits: 4th in Tokyo in 2:18:42. Next up: Worlds then???
8. Nancy Jelagat, Kenya
Last year’s exploits: 1st Valencia (2:19:31 — #7 in world)
This year’s exploits: None. Next up: ???
9. Gotytom Gebreslase, Ethiopia
Last year’s exploits: 1st Berlin (2:20:09 — #9 in world)
This year’s exploits: 3rd in Tokyo in 2:18:18. Next up: Our guess is she goes to Berlin to defend her crown.
10. Molly Seidel, USA
Last year’s exploits: 3rd Olympics (2:27:46), 4th New York (2:24:42)
This year’s exploits: DNF Boston. Next up: Our guess is she goes back to NYC.
And here are the sub-2:20 women in 2022 besides Ruth Chepngetich who aren’t in London.
2:18:18 Gotytom Gebreselassie ETH 3rd Tokyo
2:18:42 Angela Tanui KEN 4th Tokyo – Running Worlds.
2:18:45 Lonah Chemtai Salpeter ISR 2nd Nagoya
2:19:12 Keira D’Amato USA 1st Houston TX – Running Worlds
2:19:48 Judith Korir KEN 1st Paris – Running Worlds
Talk about the 2022 London women’s field on our messageboard/fan forum: MB: 2022 London Marathon women’s field is out and it will feature a record 5 sub-2:18 and 8 sub-2:19 women.