Who Will Win The 2025 London Marathon?

The tantalising promise is for the ‘greatest elite field’ in the history of the TCS London Marathon. 

We’ve got world record holders, Olympic champions, multiple Major Marathon winners, the best Brits, exciting debutants, and the greatest marathon runner of all time. Whatever happens, we’re going to see some incredible racing from Greenwich to The Mall on Sunday morning. 

Here are the top runners taking part in the 2025 London Marathon and the stories to look out for. If you’re running then check out our ultimate guide to running the London Marathon.

THE STRONGEST MEN’S FIELD EVER AT LONDON?

The men’s race is a list of headlines and headliners. 

10 men have run 2:04 and faster 

Three of the 10 fastest men of all time (and three of the 10 fastest Brits of all time)

The only man to have won the London Marathon four times (and the second-fastest to have ever run the race)

The fastest man to run a marathon in 2024

The 2024 Olympic champion 

The half marathon world record holder  

Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge is the superstar name in the men’s race. He’s won the race four times (that’s more than anyone else, ecer), has the second-fastest time on the course (2:02:37), and is the second-fastest man in the history of the marathon (2:01:09). He didn’t have the success we’ve come to expect from him in 2024, and he turned 40 at the end of the year, but all eyes will still be on the marathon GOAT. He plans to go out with the lead pacemakers and could break the master’s world record of 2:04:19.

Sebastian Sawe ran the fastest marathon in the world in 2024 with his 2:02:05 at the Valencia Marathon, in what was his debut at the distance (it was the second-fastest debut marathon ever). The Kenyan ran a 58:50 half marathon two months earlier, and beat Jacob Kiplimo in that race (more on him later). This will be Sawe’s second marathon, so will more experience over the distance lead to a quicker time? If he has a good race he’ll be on the podium. The course record is 2:01:25 which could be under threat. 

Tamirat Tola is the reigning Olympic champion after his triumph in Paris last summer. The Ethiopian’s personal best is 2:03:39, and he won the New York City Marathon in 2023, so he knows how to win big races.

Arguably the most exciting prospect in the race is Jacob Kiplimo. The Ugandan is coming into the race having smashed the half marathon world record in February when he ran 56:42 at the Barcelona Half Marathon. This will be the 24-year-old’s first marathon. Will he go out in search of a seriously fast time or will he play it (relatively) safe? He said in pre-race media that he’s targeting the podium, while the record for the fastest debut marathon is Kelvin Kiptum’s 2:01:53.

Kenya’s Timothy Kaplagat ran 2:02:55 to place second at the 2024 Tokyo Marathon, a time good enough for the top 10 fastest ever. There are also three of the six Marathon Major winners from 2024 on the starting line: Kenya’s Alexander Mutiso (London), Ethiopia’s Milkesa Mengesha (Berlin), and the Netherlands’ Abdi Nageeye (New York City), plus Ethiopia’s Mohamed Esa who was second in both the Boston and Chicago Marathons in 2024.

There’s an expectation that the lead pacemakers will go through halfway in 61 minutes, and with a bonus of £112,000 if the winner runs under 2:02 (on top of the £41,000 winner’s prize), that is likely the time target for many men in the race.

Whatever happens, we expect an exciting race where it’s almost impossible to predict what might happen.

BEST OF BRITISH MEN AT THE 2025 LONDON MARATHON

Mahamed Mahamed finished fourth in last year’s London Marathon, one place behind Britain’s Emile Cairess. His time of 2:07:05 makes him the third-fastest Brit to ever run a marathon.

Phil Sesemann ran 2:08:04 in the 2024 Seville Marathon to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games. He’s targeting a top 10 finish, top two Brits, a new personal best and a time that might qualify him for the World Championships in Tokyo later this year. He’ll be hoping for a 2:06-2:07.

Triathlete Alex Yee is making a London Detour from his swim-bike-run training this year. The Paris Olympic triathlon champion is running his first marathon, and will be looking for a competitive time under 2:10 – but could go several minutes quicker. 

Also watch out for Jake Smith. He has a marathon best of 2:11:00, but that was in a race where he started as the pacer and just decided to carry on going – and won the race. This will be seen as his true marathon debut and it comes after returning from injury and a RED-s diagnosis. 

WILL THERE BE A WOMEN’S ONLY WORLD RECORD? 

The women’s only marathon world record was broken at last year’s London Marathon when Peres Jepchirchir ran 2:16:16. 

Kenya’s Jepchirchir had been due to run London this year but withdrew due to injury, as did the marathon world record holder Ruth Chepngetich, so they won’t be the ones to run the record.

The two favourites in this year’s race will be Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa, former world record holder (2:11:53) and second-fastest of all time, and Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan, third-fastest of all time (2:13:44). 

Hassan won London in 2023, then a few months later Assefa broke the then-world record in Berlin, but more recently Hassan out-sprinted Assefa in the Paris Olympic Marathon final to win gold, and we hope to see a similar battle on the London streets, but will it be a tactical race or one going for a fast time? The women’s bonus prize money is paid out for a sub-2:15. There’s also additional prize money for a world record and course record, so a fast time will mean a big pay day.

Also challenging them, and with times close to the women’s only world record, will be Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei (2:16:24) and Ethiopia’s Megertu Alemu (2:16:34). Jepkosgei has finished first, second and third at the London Marathon, and her personal best was at last year’s race where she was third behind Jepchirchir and Assefa. Alemu was fourth in that race and all four women ran inside the previous women’s only world record. 

WHO WILL BE TOP BRITISH WOMAN?

The women’s race is almost a British championship of the best marathoners, arguably only missing Lily Partridge and Calli Hauger-Thackery who both ran Boston Marathon a few days ago. 

Multiple Olympian Eilish McColgan is set to make her marathon debut and will be looking to set a new Scottish record of 2:26:40, which will also make her the fastest marathoner in her family, surpassing her mother’s best time – Liz McColgan won the marathons in New York City, Tokyo and London during her great career. 

The fastest Brit in the race is Charlotte Purdue with a personal best of 2:22:17 from the 2023 Berlin Marathon, making her the third-fastest Brit of all time over the marathon. A late injury forced her to miss the Paris Olympic Marathon and she returns in 2025 with Puma as a new shoe sponsor – will she be wearing the new Fast R Nitro Elite 3? 

Also in Puma shoes will be Rose Harvey, who ran the Paris Olympic Marathon and fought hard to finish despite an injured hip. Her personal best is 2:23:21 from the 2023 Chicago Marathon. 

Phily Bowden, who documents her training on her brilliant YouTube channel, ran 2:25:47 at the 2024 Berlin Marathon and this year she’s looking to run even faster and even claim a qualifying time for the Tokyo World Championships.

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If you’re in London for marathon weekend – whether running or spectating – then come and see us at The Running Channel Clubhouse! We’re at 59 Greek Street and all opening times are here.