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• Kenenisa Bekele says London Marathon field will be ‘remembering’ Kelvin Kiptum

  Kelvin Kiptum will always hold a special place in the hearts of all marathon runners, according to veteran three-time Olympic track champion Kenenisa Bekele.

  Kenyan long-distance runner Kiptum won last year’s London Marathon for the third time, but was killed in a car accident in February at the age of 24.

  The death of Kiptum, who had gone on to become the first man to run the marathon under two hours and one minute in Chicago, sent shockwaves through the sport.

  In winning last year, Kiptum set a new London Marathon record time of two hours, one minute and 25 seconds. He is to be remembered before Sunday’s race with 30 seconds of applause.

  Ethiopian Bekele – who won Olympic gold in both the 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres at the 2008 Games in Beijing – has run the London Marathon five times, and was runner-up in 2017.

  The 41-year-old, who also has five World Championship titles on the track, has seen plenty of talent come through during his long career, but is in no doubt of the lasting impact made by Kiptum.

  “Kelvin of course, all of us miss him,” Bekele said. “Even within his short time, he has been setting an amazing history.

  “The course record is also under his name and we are all remembering him.

  “We put him in a special place in our heart because in a really within a short time he has done a lot for our sport.”

  Bekele feels a lot of factors will come into play if Kiptum’s course record is to be challenged.

  “Most of the time in London, maybe the first half is a very fast start because of pacing, but with me it can depend,” he said.

  “I can read my body, listening to my feelings and of course the circumstances – like with the weather.”

  Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola comes into London as the reigning New York Marathon champion, which followed on from his victory at the 2022 World Championship in Eugene.

  Tola, who claimed 10,000m bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics, feels in good shape heading into Sunday’s showpiece race.

  “I have been working hard to prepare my body for the marathon in London,” he said.

  “My training is OK and my body is okay, so we will see (what happens) on Sunday.”

  Olympics selection could also be secured this weekend, but Tola will not let that distract his focus.

  He said: “If I am selected for the Olympics, I will be happy, but it will depend on our race – and after Sunday we will know.”

• Reggae Boyz to host Dominican Republic at National Stadium on June 6 to open second round of 2026 World Cup Qualifying

  Jamaica will open the second round of 2026 World Cup Qualifying on June 6 when they host the Dominican Republic at the National Stadium in Kingston.

  The team will then travel to Dominica to play their second game on June 9 to complete the first two rounds of matchdays in the second round.

  The other teams involved in Group E are Guatemala and the British Virgin Islands, who won a two-legged playoff against the US Virgin Islands to secure their spot.

  The other two matchdays will be played in June 2025.

  The announcement was made by Jamaica Football Federation President Michael Ricketts at the federation’s official launch of Jamaica’s World Cup Qualifying campaign on Thursday.

  “The size of your rear view mirror is so very small compared to the big mirror in front of you. The JFF has no intention of using our rear view mirror. We’re not going to engage anybody in anything that would have been the past. The big picture now is ahead of us,” said Ricketts.

  Ricketts also spoke on a qualifying process that will see the Reggae Boyz not having to contend with regional powerhouses the USA, Mexico and Canada.

  “A lot of people have said that it is going to be easy but we still have to work as hard as we can,” he said.

  “We don’t want to drop the ball here and this was why we engaged coach Hallgrimsson. We understand the importance of the development program that will take us past 2026. We want to leave a legacy at the JFF,” he added.

  With hosts Mexico, United States and Canada, all earning automatic qualification, the qualifiers will be contested among the other 32 FIFA affiliated Concacaf member associations. The second round of qualifiers will see the two first round winners, joining the confederation's remaining 28 participating member associations.

  Following single round-robin matches (two home and two away) in the second round, the six group winners and runners-up will progress to the final round (12 teams total).

   

   

• World record holder Tigst Assefa out to make history in first London Marathon

  World record holder Tigst Assefa hopes to set a new women’s-only best time in the TCS London Marathon on Sunday and believes it will be tougher to win than this year’s Paris Olympics.

  Ethiopian Assefa smashed the world record in September when she finished the Berlin Marathon in two hours, 11 minutes and 53 seconds.

  Next in Assefa’s sights is success in her maiden London Marathon and the women’s-only record, which is 2:17:01 and was set by Kenyan Mary Keitany at the 2017 event.

  “I am very happy to be in London for the first time,” Assefa said via a translator.

  “I did train very well for Berlin and I have trained well for this one. God will show how good I am on Sunday.

  “I have prepared very well for this race and I am sure I can beat the course record here. As I am sure all my competitors here will feel as well.

  “Regardless of whether it is London or Berlin, it will not change my strategy at all.

  “I am here to win.”

  Assefa took part in pre-race press duties on Thursday and was joined at the media centre in St James’ Park by Brigid Kosgei, Ruth Chepngetich and Peres Jepchirchir.

   

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  Kosgei of Kenya held the world record until Assefa broke it in September but has won the London Marathon twice.

  All four athletes were asked if victory in Sunday’s 26.2-mile race would be harder than winning the marathon at the Paris Games after London Marathon race director Hugh Brasher suggested that would be the case on Wednesday.

  Only Kosgei felt the Paris Games would be harder with Assefa, Chepngetich and Jepchirchir all in agreement this weekend’s strong field made Sunday’s race the most difficult to win.

  After Kosgei failed to finish last year’s race due to injury, she revealed preparation this time had gone well.

  “I am happy to be here again this year,” Kosgei said. “Last year when I reached here I was not feeling well.

  “I have been preparing well in Kenya and I am ready.”

  Olympic champion Jepchirchir finished third in 2023 and backed a women’s-only record to be set this weekend.

  Jepchirchir added: “On Sunday I know the field is strong and I know it is not easy. We are running with strong ladies.

  “For myself, when I see the field is strong, I see the (course) record on Sunday. Yes, may the best win.”