The Ethiopian broke the previous record of 2:14.04 established by Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei by more than two minutes with a spectacular two hours, eleven minutes, and 53 seconds at the 2023 Berlin Marathon.
London will see the participation of three of the four fastest women in history, with Kosgei and fellow Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich also competing.
The race is scheduled for April 21.
Set in the 2017 London Marathon by Mary Keitany, another Kenyan, the women’s-only world record is at 2:17:01.
Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya and Assefa’s fellow Ethiopian Yalemzerf Yehualaw, the 2022 London winner, are two persons who could break that record.
