Cairess leads British charge at London Marathon

Emile Cairess became the fastest British marathon debutant in London in 2023 before improving his time last year

Emile Cairess will lead the British charge at this year's London Marathon, where Eilish McColgan will make her debut over the distance.

Cairess, who finished third in last year's race before placing fourth in the Olympic marathon, joins Olympic and world triathlon champion Alex Yee and Olympic champion Tamirat Tola on the start line on 27 April.

The 27-year-old Cairess became the second-fastest British athlete in history when he ran two hours, six minutes and 46 seconds in 2024 and could target Sir Mo Farah's record of 2:05.11.

"I had a great year in 2024 with some really positive results. I'm still learning about the event, which makes me even more excited and positive for the future," Cairess said.

In the women's race, McColgan, 34, will hope to make her long-awaited marathon debut after injury ruled her out in 2023.

McColgan, whose mother Liz won the London Marathon in 1996, will be joined by Charlotte Purdue - the third-fastest British woman of all time - in a women's race featuring world record holder Ruth Chepngetich and Olympic champion Sifan Hassan.

Record eight-time winner David Weir returns for his 26th consecutive appearance in the men's wheelchair race, while Boston Marathon champion Eden Rainbow-Cooper, 23, will aim to improve on her best finish of third in 2022.

It was announced on Monday that all four reigning Olympic and Paralympic marathon champions will take to the streets of London in April, with the complete elite fields to be announced on Thursday.

World record possible - Chepngetich

Chepngetich is a three-time winner at the Chicago Marathon

Earier on Wednesday, women's world record holder Chepngetich was confirmed as the headline name in this year's women's race in London.

The Kenyan, 30, ran the fastest time in history by a female athlete at the Chicago Marathon in October, clocking two hours, nine minutes and 57 seconds.

Chepngetich's feat saw her surpass Ethiopian Tigst Assefa's previous record by nearly two minutes and become the first woman to run a marathon in under two hours and 10 minutes.

"The London Marathon always brings together the best athletes in the world," said Chepngetich.

"I didn't know (setting the world record in Chicago) was possible but I came to realise that dreams can come true."

Chepngetich will be joined in London Hassan and compatriot Peres Jepchirchir, who holds the women-only marathon world record.

Jepchirchir set a time of 2:16.16 in London last year where, unlike the Chicago Marathon, women run alongside the men rather than in a separate race.

"Myself, Peres and the other women are strong so it will be a competitive one," added Chepngetich.

"I want to prepare as best I can and we will see if we can lower Peres' world record. With the strength of the field, I think we can support each other and maybe the world record will fall."

The elite British athletes at London Marathon 2025

British men

Emile Cairess, Mahamed Mahamed, Philip Sesemann, Jonathan Mellor, Dewi Griffiths, Weynay Ghebresilasie, Jake Smith, Marc Scott, Luke Caldwell, Dan Nash, Andrew Heyes, Alexander Lepretre, David Bishop, Logan Smith, William Mycroft, James Hoad, Alex Milne, Chris Thomas, Carl Avery, Sean Hogan, Alex Yee, Jonathan Davies, Jacob Allen, Jack Rowe

British women

Charlotte Purdue, Rose Harvey, Phily Bowden, Lucy Reid, Louise Small, Holly Archer, Eilish McColgan

British wheelchair men

David Weir, John Boy Smith, Simon Lawson, Sean Frame, Michael McCabe

British wheelchair women

Eden Rainbow-Cooper, Jade Jones-Hall