Press Release - London Marathon - 1/13/20

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

         World record holder Kosgei returns to defend her title

Brigid Kosgei, the defending champion and fastest female marathon runner in 
history, will return to the Virgin Money London Marathon in 2020.

Kosgei (KEN) broke Paula Radcliffe's 16-year-old marathon world record at 
the Bank of America Chicago Marathon last October by winning in an 
incredible time of 2:14:04. The record-breaking run came six months after 
the 25-year-old won the Virgin Money London Marathon for the first time and 
she is looking forward to returning to London this year.

Kosgei said: "I am very much looking forward to returning to the Virgin 
Money London Marathon. Last year was an incredible year for me and it 
started by winning in London. Coming back will be very special and I hope 
it can be the start of another memorable year."

Brigid Kosgei returns! (Twitter)

Kosgei is joined in the elite women's field at the 2020 Virgin Money London 
Marathon by a stellar list of rivals, four of whom have also run sub-2:19 
marathons.

The list includes 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon champion Vivian 
Cheruiyot (KEN), three-time BMW Berlin Marathon champion Gladys Cherono 
(KEN), 2019 Valencia Marathon champion Roza Dereje (ETH) and the current 
world champion Ruth Chepngetich (KEN).

Also on the Start Line will be the world half marathon record holder and 
2019 TCS New York City Marathon champion Joyciline Jepkosgei who is joint 
top of the Abbott World Marathon Majors (AWMM) Series XIII leaderboard 
alongside Kosgei and Chepngetich.

The AWMM series is based on the results of the six biggest marathons in the 
world: the Virgin Money London Marathon, BMW Berlin Marathon, Bank of 
America Chicago Marathon, TCS New York City Marathon, Tokyo Marathon and 
Boston Marathon. Series XIII, which started at the 2019 Bank of America 
Chicago Marathon and will finish at the same race in 2020, will also 
include the 2020 Olympic Games marathon.

Spencer Barden, Head of Elite Athletes at the Virgin Money London Marathon, 
said: "We are proud to have assembled another world-class elite women's 
field for the 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon, led by our defending 
champion Brigid Kosgei.

"Brigid's run at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon was one of the most 
remarkable athletic performances of recent years. Paula Radcliffe's world 
record had stood for so long and was one of the great markers in modern 
athletics so for Brigid to beat it and beat it so comprehensively was 
incredible.

"It is a mouth-watering prospect to see what she can do on her return to 
the Virgin Money London Marathon. But there are plenty of other fantastic 
athletes in the field including the 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon 
champion Vivian Cheruiyot and the world champion Ruth Chepngetich.

"To have five women who have run sub-2:19 and the TCS New York City 
Marathon champion on top of that illustrates the amazing depth we will 
have. This is a field that is truly fitting for our 40th race."

The elite men's field will be announced tomorrow (Tuesday 14 January) and 
the complete fields announced on Friday 17 January.

NAME                  COUNTRY     PB
Brigid Kosgei         Kenya       2:14:04
Ruth Chepngetich      Kenya       2:17:08
Gladys Cherono        Kenya       2:18:11
Roza Dereje           Ethiopia    2:18:30
Vivian Cheruiyot      Kenya       2:18:31
Degitu Azimeraw       Ethiopia    2:19:26
Ashete Bekere         Ethiopia    2:20:14
Alemu Megertu         Ethiopia    2:21:10
Joyciline Jepkosgei   Kenya       2:22:38
Sinead Diver          Australia   2:24:11
Carla Salome Rocha    Portugal    2:24:47

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