World’s greatest athletes will once again assemble in London, UK for the London marathon. This comes just two weeks since Eliud Kipchoge set a new world record over the 26.2 mile- race.

It will be a star studded race with many bigwigs lining up to compete in the marathon. Kenyans and Ethiopians who have proven to be perennial rivals in the long-distance races will square it out once again.

The women’s race is expected to be a very tight one with defending champion Joyciline Jepkosgei going against Ethiopia’s world 10km record holder, Yalemzerf Yehualaw who is yet to be defeated in the four road races she has participated. Yehualaw made her debut in the Hamburg marathon where she won, clocking  2:17:23 – the fastest marathon debut in history. 

Also expected to grace the women’s marathon is former half marathon specialist Joan Chelimo Melly who made her debut early this year where she clocked  2:18:04 to win the Seoul marathon. Others to keep an eye on are Briton Charlotte Purdue, Judith Jeptum Korir  and Mary Ngugi.

The men’s marathon is slated to be a high stakes game with a strong lineup in the offing. Veteran athlete Kenenisa Bekele at 40 years old, has thrown his hat in the ring too. Bekele is hoping to dethrone go his compatriot  Sisay Lemma who is the defending champion. Kenya’s Amos Kipruto, the 2019 world silver medalist, must be at his best to stop a strong Ethiopian field at the London Marathon.

Other than multiple world champion Kenenisa Bekele and defending champion Sisay Lemma, Ethiopia has presented a very strong challenge to the honors of winning the marathon. The top five fastest athletes on the Sunday morning race are Ethiopians. Briton Mo Farah was expected to headline this year’s elite men’s race for the title but the four-time Olympic champion was forced to withdraw early this week due to a hip injury