Greatest Ever Women’s Field Assembled For 2023 London Marathon

  • Three current world record holders, two reigning Olympic champions and four national record holders included in field
  • Defending champion Yehualaw, world record holder Kosgei and Olympic champion Jepchirchir all signed up
  • Double Olympic champion Sifan Hassan to make marathon debut

Press Release
February 2, 2022

The world’s greatest line-up of female distance runners will take on the elite women’s race at the 2023 TCS London Marathon on Sunday 23 April.

Among those taking part in the most star-studded race in the history of marathon running are the defending champion and world 10K record holder Yalemzerf Yehualaw (ETH), the marathon world record holder Brigid Kosgei (KEN) and the Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir (KEN).

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In addition to that stellar trio, the reigning Olympic 10000m and 5000m champion Sifan Hassan (NED) will be making her marathon debut.

Also on the Start Line will be the 1500m world record holder Genzebe Dibaba (ETH), the 2016 Olympic 10000m champion Almaz Ayana (ETH) and the reigning Berlin Marathon champion Tigist Assefa (ETH), the fifth-fastest women’s marathoner in history.

The field will also include Britain’s Eilish McColgan, the reigning Commonwealth Games 10000m champion making her marathon debut (as announced on Tuesday 31 Jan), as well as three national record holders: Emily Sisson (USA), Sinead Diver (AUS) and Natasha Wodak (CAN).

American record holder Sisson will have a fascinating duel with compatriot Keira D’Amato who held the US record for 10 months, from January to October last year, with a time of 2:19:12 set at the 2022 Houston Marathon. Sisson reduced the US record even further at last October’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon when she ran 2:18:29 to finish second overall*. She has since gone on to become the USA’s half marathon record holder as well, running 66:52 in Houston on 15 January.

Hugh Brasher, Event Director of the TCS London Marathon, said: “This is quite simply the greatest women’s field ever assembled for a marathon – arguably the greatest field ever assembled for a women’s distance race. We have two reigning Olympic champions, three world record holders and multiple national record holders, in addition to an incredibly strong British contingent led by Eilish McColgan.

“It’s going to be a race the whole world will be anticipating and I can’t wait to see what happens on Sunday 23 April. We’ve had such a rich pedigree of incredible women’s results here in London. We have had world records and unforgettable performances from the likes of Grete Waitz, Ingrid Kristiansen, Paula Radcliffe and Mary Keitany. I am sure this amazing 2023 women’s field will provide another extraordinary chapter in the London Marathon’s rich and proud history of stunning races.”

Reigning champion Yehualaw said“My victory at last year’s TCS London Marathon was a day I will never forget. I am very much looking forward to returning to London and being part of this amazing field.”

Hassan, the double Olympic champion, said: “I am considering my plans for next year’s Paris Olympic Games with both the track and marathon options for me. However, before I can make a final decision on which direction to go, I need to test myself over the marathon distance and I believe the best place for me to do that is in London with the best female marathon athletes around me.

“Stepping up to the marathon distance has always been in my plans and it doesn’t mean that I will be retiring from the track. I am planning a track season this summer but before that I’m really excited to be making my marathon debut at the TCS London Marathon. It will be a step into the unknown in many ways for me but I’m looking forward to it.”

In total, the 2023 TCS London Marathon elite women’s field will feature 10 women who have run inside 2:19 and five who have gone under 2:18.

The elite women’s field is the final announcement of the 2023 TCS London Marathon Elite Week. To find out more about the elite men’s field which was announced yesterday (Wednesday 1 February), click here. For more information on the elite wheelchair athlete races, click here and to read about Sir Mo Farah’s return to London, click here.

2023 TCS London Marathon elite women’s field

  • Yalemzerf Yehualaw (ETH, personal best 2:17:23)
  • Brigid Kosgei (KEN, 2:14:04 WR/NR)
  • Tigist Assefa (ETH, 2:15:37)
  • Peres Jepchirchir (KEN, 2:17:16)
  • Almaz Ayana (ETH, 2:17:20)
  • Genzebe Dibaba (ETH, 2:18:05)
  • Sutume Asefa Kebede (2:18:12)
  • Judith Jeptum Korir (KEN, 2:18:20)
  • Emily Sisson (USA, 2:18:29 NR)
  • Alemu Megertu (ETH, 2:18:32)
  • Keira D’Amato (USA, 2:19:12)
  • Sinead Diver (AUS, 2:21:34 NR)
  • Jess Piasecki (GBR, 2:22:27)
  • Natasha Wodak (CAN, 2:23:12 NR)
  • Charlotte Purdue (GBR, 2:23:26)
  • Susanna Sullivan (USA, 2:25:14)
  • Ellie Pashley (AUS, 2:26:21)
  • Stephanie Davis (GBR, 2:27:16)
  • Maor Tiyouri (ISR, 2:29:04)
  • Rosie Edwards (GBR, 2:31:56)
  • Samantha Harrison (GBR, 2:32:22)
  • Eilish McColgan (GBR, debut)
  • Sifan Hassan (NED, debut)
  • Girmawit Gebrzihair (ETH, debut)
  • Dominique Scott (RSA, debut)

* The only other US woman to have run inside 2:20 is Deena Kastor, who held the American record for 16 years, with a time of 2:19:36 set in winning the London Marathon in 2006.

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