FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Four of the fastest men in history to go head-to-head
Historic elite men's race scheduled for the 2023 TCS London Marathon
on Sunday 23 April
The 2023 TCS London Marathon elite men's field will be a landmark occasion
when, for the first time in history, two men who have run inside two hours
and two minutes will be together on the same Start Line.
Kenenisa Bekele (ETH), the second-fastest man ever with a PB of 2:01:41,
and Kelvin Kiptum (KEN), the winner of the 2022 Valencia Marathon and the
fastest marathon debutant in history (2:01:53) have both been confirmed to
race in London on Sunday 23 April.
With Birhanu Legese (ETH, PB 2:02:48) and Mosinet Geremew (ETH, PB 2:02:55)
also in the field, it means the 2023 TCS London Marathon will also have
four of the five fastest men in marathon history on the Start Line.
A Start Line of champions
In addition, the defending champion Amos Kipruto (KEN) and world champion
Tamirat Tola (ETH) will also return to London.
Kipruto's win at last year's TCS London Marathon was the biggest victory of
his career and his first Abbott World Marathon Major triumph. The
30-year-old, who was second at last year's Tokyo Marathon behind world
record holder Eliud Kipchoge and third in the 2019 World Championships,
said: "Winning last year's TCS London Marathon was an incredible experience
for me. I am now preparing hard for this year's race and I can't wait to
return to London as the champion.
"London always has a really strong field and this year is the same so I
know I will face a battle to defend my title, but I'm confident and looking
forward to it."
Tola, who won the 2022 World Championships marathon in Oregon, will be one
of several men aiming to prevent Kipruto from winning back-to-back titles.
Tola, 31, is in a fine run of form over the 26.2-mile distance, winning the
2021 Amsterdam Marathon and finishing third at the 2022 Tokyo Marathon
(behind Kipchoge and Kipruto) before winning his world title last summer.
Also in the field is last year's runner-up Leul Gebresilase (ETH, PB
2:04:02), the second-placed finisher in both 2020 and 2021 Vincent
Kipchumba (KEN, PB 2:04:28) and two-time New York City Marathon champion
Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN).
Toughened for the challenge
The new holder of the Oceanian marathon record Brett Robinson (AUS), who
ran 2:07:31 in Fukuoka, Japan, last year, returns to London after finishing
eighth last year, while Sean Tobin (IRL) – who mastered snow and
temperatures of minus 15°C to run the fastest Antarctic marathon in history
last December (2:53:33) – makes his traditional road marathon debut in
London.
Another man who thrives in the toughest of conditions is 2018 Boston
Marathon champion Yuki Kawauchi (JPN), who is also making his TCS London
Marathon debut in what will be his 114th marathon. Incredibly, Kawauchi has
won 41 of those marathons – with his biggest and most notable by far coming
in Boston in 2018, when he proved the strongest in heavy rain and battering
winds to cross the line first. By finishing in London, Kawauchi will be
eligible for his Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Medal for finishing
all six major marathons: London, Tokyo, Boston, Berlin, Chicago and New
York.
Among the many British athletes competing in the 2023 TCS London Marathon
elite men's race are returnee Sir Mo Farah and debutant Emile Cairess – and
both are poised to make waves on the streets of the capital. For the names
of all those taking part in the showdown this year, check out the list
below.
Elite men at the 2023 TCS London Marathon
- Amos Kipruto (KEN, PB 2:03:13)
- Kenenisa Bekele (ETH, 2:01:41)
- Kelvin Kiptum (KEN, 2:01:53)
- Birhanu Legese (ETH, 2:02:48)
- Mosinet Geremew (ETH, 2:02:55)
- Tamirat Tola (ETH, 2:03:39)
- Kinde Atanaw (ETH, 2:03:51)
- Leul Gebresilase (ETH, 2:04:02)
- Vincent Kipchumba (KEN, 2:04:28)
- Seifu Tura (ETH, 2:04:29)
- Sir Mo Farah (GBR, 2:05:11)
- Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN, 2:05:23)
- Yuki Kawauchi (JPN, 2:07:27)
- Brett Robinson (AUS, 2:07:31)
- Dewi Griffiths (GBR, 2:09:49)
- Rory Linkletter (CAN, 2:10:24)
- Chris Thompson (GBR, 2:10:52)
- Tom Gröschel (GER, 2:11:03)
- Ben Connor (GBR, 2:11:20)
- Joshua Griffiths (GBR, 2:11:28)
- Frank Lara (USA, 2:11:32)
- Luke Caldwell (GBR, 2:11:33)
- Weynay Ghebresilasie (GBR, 2:11:57)
- Phil Sesemann (GBR, 2:12:10)
- Charlie Hulson (GBR, 2:13:34)
- Andrew Heyes (GBR, 2:13:52)
- Adam Craig (GBR, 2:13:58)
- Alex Monroe (USA, 2:14:15)
- Ross Braden (GBR, 2:14:32)
- Nick Earl (GBR, 2:14:38)
- Nigel Martin (GBR, 2:15:19)
- Ronnie Richmond (GBR, 2:16:59)
- Nick Bowker (GBR, 2:17:35)
- Alex Milne (GBR, 2:17:40)
- Josh Lunn (GBR, 2:17:59)
- Fraser Stewart (GBR, 2:18:40)
- Matthew Dickinson (GBR, 2:19:23)
- Emile Cairess (GBR, debut)
- Sean Tobin (IRL, debut)
- Ryan Forsyth (IRL, debut)
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