Press Release - London Marathon - 1/18/19

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


       Vivian Cheruiyot and Mary Keitany head up elite women's field

The defending champion Vivian Cheruiyot and the current TCS New York City 
Marathon champion Mary Keitany return to the Virgin Money London Marathon 
in 2019.

They join their compatriots Gladys Cherono (2018 BMW Berlin Marathon 
champion) and Brigid Kosgei (2018 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 
champion) meaning the winners of the last four Abbott World Marathon Majors 
will be on the Start Line in London on Sunday 28 April.

Cheruiyot, who is also the reigning Olympic 5000m champion and the 
runner-up behind Keitany at last November's TCS New York City Marathon, 
said: "It was a great moment for me winning last year's Virgin Money London 
Marathon and I am very much looking forward to returning in April.

"The line-up for this year's race is, once again, incredibly strong so I 
know I will need to be at my very best to repeat last year's victory but it 
is a challenge that I'm really looking forward to. I will be ready."

Also confirmed to run are the Ethiopian trio of Tirunesh Dibaba, the 
three-time Olympic champion on the track and third fastest woman of all 
time, who finished second in London and won Chicago in 2017, Tadelech 
Bekele, who finished third in London last year and 21 year old Roza Dereje, 
second in Chicago and winner of the Dubai Marathon in 2018.

- Full 2019 Elite Women's Field

- Full 2019 Elite Men's Field

Cherono, Kosgei and Keitany top the current Abbott World Marathon Majors 
Series XII rankings with 25 points apiece from their wins in Berlin, 
Chicago and New York. Dereje and Cheruiyot are on 16 points apiece 
following their second places in Chicago and New York respectively. The 
Series XII title could be decided in London.

The Abbott World Marathon Majors series adds up points for the best 
finishes in the world's six best marathons. Series XII started at the 2018 
BMW Berlin Marathon and will finish at the same race in 2019, taking in the 
2018 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, 2018 TCS New York City Marathon, 
2019 Tokyo Marathon, 2019 Boston Marathon and the 2019 Virgin Money London 
Marathon.

Hugh Brasher, Event Director, said: "This is a truly amazing women's field 
which features the five best women marathon runners in the world last year. 
The stage is set for a fascinating race on Sunday 28 April. I can't 
wait."

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