Everything you need to know about this weekend’s big event in the British capital

As the London Marathon reverts to its traditional spring date, the 2023 event on Sunday (April 23) looks poised to be bigger and better than ever. All of the elite and wheelchair race winners from the last event in October return to defend their titles with many more world-class distance runners capable of claiming their crown. If you enjoy trying to pick winners, last weekend’s Grand National horse race at Aintree was probably easier to predict.

Last October the elite races were won by Amos Kipruto of Kenya and Yalemzerf Yehualaw of Ethiopia with Swiss duo Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner taking wheelchair victories. With the Boston Marathon six days before London, the British event is never likely to get everyone it wants. Most notably, Eliud Kipchoge chose to run Boston rather than chase his fifth London victory. Nevertheless, London can be pretty proud of its line-ups.

As well as the defending champions, Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia and Kelvin Kiptum of Kenya both have sub-2:02 PBs on their running resume. There’s also world champion Tamirat Tola and fellow Ethiopian and 2:02 man Birhanu Legese.

It is 30 years since a British man won the London Marathon. In 1993 Eamonn Martin stormed to victory and has told AW he doesn’t want to go to his grave being the last male domestic winner of this iconic event. We’re unlikely to see the 30-year curse broken this year but there are high hopes for Emile Cairess doing something special in his debut, while Phil Sesemann, Weynay Ghebresilassie, Chris Thompson and of course British record-holder Mo Farah in possibly his final major race will be determined to make an impact too.

The women’s field is even more stacked with Yalemzerf defending his title against world record-holder Brigid Kosgei of Kenya, Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya, Dutch debutante Sifan Hassan, plus Ethiopians Almaz Ayana and Genzebe Dibaba.

Eilish McColgan leads the British challenge in the women’s race and if she can master the marathon on her debut and overcome the fuelling problems that saw her scratch from last year’s race then she could give Paula Radcliffe’s British record of 2:15:25 a fright. That performance by Radcliffe celebrates its 20^th anniversary this month and, while it was described as a ‘quantum leap’ in 2003, it could be made to look fairly ordinary on Sunday if the afore-mentioned elites lace up their super-shoes and perform to their potential.

Here is a closer look at the elite fields.

Women’s contenders with PBs

Brigid Kosgei (KEN) 2:14:04 – broke Paula Radcliffe’s long-standing world record in Chicago 2018 and has won in London in 2019 and 2020.

Peres Jepchirchir (KEN) 2:17:16 – unbeaten over the marathon distance, winning all five of her races to date in Saitama, Valencia, New York, Boston and the Olympics in Sapporo.

Almaz Ayana (ETH) 2:17:20 – set a world 10,000m record when winning Olympic gold in Rio in 2016 but then had a quiet spell due to injury and motherhood before returning to run the then-fastest debut marathon by a woman in Amsterdam last October.

Yalemzerf Yehualaw (ETH) 2:17:23 – her best time came when winning in Hamburg 12 months ago but she then clocked 2:17:26 to win in London a few months later. Holds the world 10km record with 29:14 and her half-marathon best of 63:51 is No.2 all-time.

Sheila Chepkirui (KEN) 2:17:29 – a former teenage track talent, she took a break from the sport for a while and last year placed third in Valencia on her marathon debut. Originally due to race Boston this week.

Tadu Teshome (ETH) 2:17:36 – only 21 years old, placed fourth in Valencia in December. She nearly didn’t become an athlete at all after doctors advised that she should have her leg amputated following injuries sustained by flood waters caused by a storm. Fortunately her mother refused to let her daughter have surgery.

Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) 2:18:05 – world record holder for 1500m with 3:50:07 as well as the world champion over 1500m in 2015, the 32-year-old placed second to Ayana on her marathon debut in Amsterdam last September.

Sutume Kebede (ETH) 2:18:12 – an experienced marathoner, her best time came when finishing runner-up in Seoul last year and she was eighth in London in October.

Judith Korir (KEN) 2:18:20 – after largely bypassing the track for the roads, in 2022 she won the Paris Marathon, was silver medallist at the World Championships behind Gotytom Gebreslase and placed fourth in London.

Alemu Megertu (ETH) 2:18:32 – ran her PB when winning the Seville Marathon last year and was later third in London.

Natasha Wodak (CAN) 2:23:12 – broke the Canadian marathon record in Berlin last year and was 13^th in the Tokyo Olympics marathon.

Susanna Sullivan (USA) 2:25:14 – sixth in Chicago last October and leads the US challenge in London after the withdrawals of Keira D’Amato and Emily Sisson.

Sofiia Yaremchuck (ITA) 2:25:36 – born in Ukraine, she has raced for Italy since 2021 and won the Venice Marathon that same year.

Ellie Pashley (AUS) 2:26:21 – the 34-year-old was 23^rd in the Olympic marathon and fifth in the Commonwealth Games last year.

Alice Wright (GBR) 2:29:08 – the US-based Brit broke 2:30 on her marathon debut last year in Houston and did it again when 11^th in Osaka earlier this year.

Sam Harrison (GBR) 2:32:22 – after taking up running in 2018 she has made a big impact on the British road rankings with, among other things, a 67:17 half-marathon in Berlin last month. If things go well she looks capable of demolishing her marathon best, which was set in London in 2021.

Eilish McColgan (GBR) Debut – after breaking British records in 5000m and 10,000m on the track (and roads) plus the half-marathon with a recent 65:43 in Berlin, she is making an exciting marathon debut in London. Her brilliant recent spell also includes winning Commonwealth 10,000m gold in Birmingham, whereas her mother Liz, of course, was London Marathon winner in 1996.

Sifan Hassan (NED) Debut – reigning Olympic 5000m and 10,000m champion is tackling 26.2 miles for the first time but has broken European records at 1500m, 3000m, 5000m, 10,000m and half marathon.

Dominique Scott (RSA) Debut – South African record-holder on the track is based in the United States.

Men’s contenders with PBs

Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 2:01:41 – former 5000m and 10,000m world record holder, multiple world cross-country champion, three-time Olympic and five-time world track gold medallist, the Ethiopian came within a whisker of breaking the world marathon record with 2:01:41 in Berlin 2019 too. Fifth last year in London in a world M40 record of 2:05:53.

Kelvin Kiptum (KEN) 2:01:53 – ran the fastest debut marathon in history in December when he won in Valencia in 2:01:53. It was also put him No.3 all-time behind Kipchoge and Bekele.

Birhanu Legese (ETH) 2:02:48 – two-time Tokyo Marathon winner and has placed fifth and sixth in the last two London Marathons.

Amos Kipruto (KEN) 2:03:13 – won in London in 2:04:39 in October and his PB was set in Tokyo at the start of last year. Took bronze at the 2019 World Champs marathon and has won marathons in Rome and Seoul.

Tamirat Tola (ETH) 2:03:39 – won the world marathon title in Eugene in 2:05:36. This followed world marathon silver in London in 2017 and Olympic 10,000m bronze in 2016. Marathon best was set in Amsterdam in 2021.

Kinde Atanaw (ETH) 2:03:51 – fourth in his London debut last year in 2:05:27 whereas his PB was set when winning Valencia in 2019.

Leul Gebresilase (ETH) 2:04:02 – a former winner of the Valencia Marathon, he was runner-up in London last October and his best time was set in Dubai in 2018.

Seifu Tura (ETH) 2:04:29 – Chicago Marathon winner in 2021 and runner-up in 2022. Has also won in Milan and Shanghai and was sixth in the World Champs last year.

Mo Farah (GBR) 2:05:11 – 10-time global track champion and British record-holder in the marathon, although the latter was set in Chicago in 2018 and the 40-year-old has struggled for form lately and a 30:41 for 10km in Gabon recently doesn’t breed confidence.

Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN) 2:05:23 – three-time world half-marathon champion, two-time world cross-country champion and a former world half-marathon record-holder. At the marathon he won in New York in 2017 and 2019 but his best time is from Valencia in 2021.

Brett Robinson AUS 2:07:31 – ran an Oceania record of 2:07:31 in Fukuoka in December, just nine weeks after finishing eighth in London in 2:09:52.

Dewi Griffiths (GBR) 2:09:49 – PB dates back to his debut marathon in Frankfurt in 2017. Has struggled with injuries since but was 11^th in the Commonwealth marathon last year.

Chris Thompson (GBR) 2:10:52 – famously won the British Olympic marathon trials in a PB and went on to become the only British man to finish in Sappora in 39^th. Believes he can break 2:10 in London despite now being 42.

Tom Groschel GER 2:11:03 –part-time policeman was German champ in 2018 and 2019 but PB was set in Valencia two years ago.

Ben Connor (GBR) 2:11:20 – 15^th on his debut in London in 2020 after stepping up from a successful spell on the track and country.

Frank Lara (USA) 2:11:32 – 30^th in Chicago last year but ran his best in Houston.

Luke Caldwell (GBR) 2:11:33 – made his debut in Houston last year and earned selection for the European Champs but DNF’d in Munich. Based in Colorado, he ran for Scotland at the 2014 Commonwealth Games on the track.

Weynay Ghebresilasie (GBR) 2:11:57 – ran his PB to finish top Brit in London last October. Born in Eritrea, he ran the steeplechase for his former country at the 2012 Olympics but sought asylum in the UK and has been eligible to run for Britain since 2021.

Phil Sesemann (GBR) 2:12:10 – the Leeds-based junior doctor was first Brit home in London in 2020 and improved his PB again in London last October. Was also first Brit home at the European Champs last year in 17^th overall and earlier this year out-kicked Jake Wightman over 3000m indoors in Sheffield.

Charlie Hulson (GBR) 2:13:34 – ran for Britain in all age groups at the European and world cross-country champs and won the English National title in 2015 before stepping up to run 2:13:34 on his marathon debut in London in 2020.

Adam Craig (GBR) 2:13:58 – PB was set in Valencia last year but this is the Inverclyde runner’s London debut.

Ross Braden (GBR) 2:14:32 – the Kent runner ran his PB when 12^th in London last October.

Emile Cairess (GBR) Debut – helped pace the leaders at the 2022 London Marathon and has since impressed with 60:32 for half-marathon, silver at the European cross-country champs behind Jakob Ingebrigtsen and a European 10-mile record of 45:57 in March, all of which makes his marathon debut much anticipated.

Paulos Surafel (GBR) Debut – Thames Valley runner has a half-marathon best of 61:51 and ran 63:44 at the Prague Half this month.

Debrunner and Hug defend wheelchair crowns

The richest prizes in elite wheelchair racing have been made even more lucrative this weekend as course record holders and defending champions Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner of Switzerland try to win in the British capital again.

Eight-time winner David Weir carries British hopes while another Swiss star, Manuela Schär, are also among those competing for a share of the prize pot of $253,500.

In the men’s race, Hug will be looking to match Weir’s record of three consecutive wins on the street of London. The Swiss athlete is the No.1 racer in the world and won every single Abbott World Marathon Major Marathon he raced last year (Tokyo, Berlin, London, Chicago and New York), which led him to win the Abbott World Marathon Series XIV title – the award for the most points won across the six major marathons.

Look out too for Daniel Romanchuk of the United States, who finished second to Hug after a sprint finish on The Mall in 2022.

In the women’s race, Debrunner will face competition from two women who had to withdraw from the 2022 London Marathon on the eve of the event: Schär and Madison de Rozario of Australia.

Schär is the world record holder and a three-time London Marathon champion, while De Rozario is the Paralympic and Commonwealth Games champion who won the 2018 London Marathon.

READ MORE: Marathon special issue

Susannah Scaroni, who won last year’s Chicago Marathon and the overall Abbott World Marathon Majors Series XIV title, returns to London after second place last year, as does past London Marathon champion Tatyana McFadden of the United States and British talent Eden Rainbow-Cooper, who finished third last year in her first full London Marathon.

Both Hug and Scaroni were victorious at the Boston Marathon already this week too.

TCS Mini London Marathon

After successfully moving the young athletes’ races forward to Saturday instead of its usual early Sunday slot, the Mini London Marathon will once again be held 24 hours before the masses tackle 26.2 miles.

Innes Fitzgerald and Henry Dover were among the winners last October as around 7000 youngsters charged down The Mall cheered on by friends, family and world marathon record-holder Eliud Kipchoge.

If past results are anything to go by then there is a strong chance that many of these athletes will go on to become Olympians and major championship medallists as seniors as the history of the Mini Marathon reads like a who’s who of British distance running.

Former Mini Marathon winners and participants range from Mo Farah and David Weir to Jake Wightman, Laura Muir, Eilish McColgan, Hannah Cockroft and Keely Hodgkinson, to name just a few.

READ MORE: Mini London Marathon 2022 coverage

This year there is a new assembly space on Horse Guards Parade and the start line has been widened as organisers attempt to boost the numbers up to an eventual 50,000-strong line-up by 2030.

Saturday April 22 – Mini London Marathon championship races
9.00am – U17 men and U14 boys wheelchair
9.02am – U17 women and U14 girls wheelchair
9.04am – U17 and U14 ambulant
9.10am – U17 men
9.15am – U15 boys
9.20am – U13 boys
9.25am – U17 women
9.30am – U15 girls
9.35am – U13 girls

All championship races are 2.6km. This will be followed by a number of waves of non-championship races with 2.6km for Years 5 to 12 and one mile for pupils in reception to Year 7.

Sunday April 23
9:20am – elite wheelchair start
9:30am – elite women start
10:00am – elite men start and mass start

Television coverage

BBC1 begins its broadcast at 8am with Gabby Logan presenting and commentary by Steve Cram, Andrew Cotter, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Paula Radcliffe. This continues until 2.15pm when coverage switches to BBC2 from 2.15-3pm. There are then highlights on BBC2 from 6-7pm, plus of course coverage on the BBC website, red button and iPlayer.

Look out for AW’s race week coverage with social media updates and online news articles from the pre-event press conferences plus in-depth coverage from the TCS London Mini Marathon on Saturday and of course London Marathon on Sunday.

Check out the April issue of AW magazine, too, which is a marathon special this month featuring an exclusive interview with Paula Radcliffe and more.