Fast Women: Tigst Assefa breaks her women’s-only world record in London
Addy Wiley wins U.S. road mile title, Gracie Hyde makes her first U.S. team.
Issue 407, sponsored by SOAR
Tigst Assefa winds up on the winning side of a sprint finish in London
The London Marathon came down to a three-woman sprint, and at 26 miles, defending champion Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia proved to be least affected by the previous two-plus hours of running. When she made her move, she quickly pulled away and won her second-straight title in London, running 2:15:41 and shaving nine seconds off of the women’s-only world record that she set last year.
Racing on a flat marathon course with pacers for the first time, Kenya’s Hellen Obiri finished second in 2:15:53, taking 1:48 off of her personal best. And Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei, who was second at this race last year, finished third in 2:15:55, her best time on the London course. It was the first time in history that three women broke 2:16 in the same race.
London’s first-place prize money, $55,000, is low compared to that of other World Marathon Majors, but the race offers many bonuses for running fast. So Assefa also earned $125,000 for breaking the world record, $25,000 for breaking the course record, and $75,000 for breaking 2:16, for a total of $280,000. Obiri and Jepkosgei earned $30,000 and $22,500, respectively, for finishing second and third, but they also earned $75,000 bonuses for breaking 2:16.
Asefa has been on the losing end of some sprint finishes in marathons in recent years—including the 2024 Olympic Games and the 2025 World Championships—so she was thrilled to come out on top this time. She screamed with elation at the finish and said afterward that she really worked on her speed during her marathon build.
Race organizers said in advance that the three pacers would take the lead group through halfway in 1:07:30, and just like last year, that plan went out the window early. They hit halfway in 1:06:12, and Assefa ran the second half in a comparably pedestrian (but still super fast) 1:09:29.
Ethiopia’s Degitu Azimeraw let the leaders go early on and finished fourth in 2:19:13. Kenya’s Catherine Reline Amanang’ole went with the leaders initially, dropped off before 15K, and hung on to take fifth in 2:21:20. And Bahrain’s Eunice Chumba finished sixth in 2:23:44.
The race also served as the UK Athletics Marathon Championships, which Eilish McColgan won in 2:24:51 despite suffering from a painful blister in the second half. Behind her, running her first marathon since she earned a surprise bronze medal at the world championships, Uruguay’s Julia Paternain finished eighth in a national record of 2:25:47. Spain’s Marta Galimany (10th, 2:27:38) was the top masters competitor and the only woman in the pro field who negative split the race.
The women’s pro field had only 15 starters and 13 finishers, plus a slew of pacers, so I imagine it got pretty lonely out there at times. London isn’t the only major marathon that has a separate start for the women, but it’s rough with a field that small. I’d like to see the race increase its depth, which I think would lead to some stronger performances. There were no U.S. runners in the pro field; the top U.S. finisher was Lauren Kelly, who ran 2:40:14.
Actress Cynthia Erivo, who was coached by pro runner Erika Kemp leading up to London, impressed, running a big personal best of 3:21:40.
Six days after finishing second in Boston, Switzerland’s Catherine Debrunner outsprinted Tatyana McFadden to win the wheelchair race, 1:38:29 to 1:38:34.
The following athletes won their age groups: Andrea Clement (40-44, category does not include the pros, 2:32:11), Sarah Holt (45-49, 2:37:46), Alice Braham (50-54, 2:36:25), Alice Riddell-Webster (55-59, 2:56:44), Ruth Hutton (60-64, 3:13:38), Linda Tyler (65-69, 3:24:20), Lisa Compton (70-74, 4:16:07), Susan Garner (75-79, 5:20:28), Helena Mackay (80+, 5:39:45). (Results)
Thanks to SOAR for supporting Fast Women in April
SOAR produces the world’s best running apparel. For women, that means race kits built to go all-in: refined in fit, reduced in weight and designed to perform when every second matters.
The SOAR Crop Vest and Speed Shorts are built for women who want a race kit that feels light, cool and secure. The Crop Vest is ultra-light and close-fitting, designed to keep you cool and comfortable without distraction. The Speed Shorts are made for fast running, with a featherlight feel and subtle silicone grippers at the hem and waistband to keep the fit in place through every stride.
Whether you’re chasing a faster 10K, racing a half or lining up for 26.2, these are pieces designed to help you stay cool, comfortable and focused when intensity rises.
To celebrate spring race season, SOAR is offering Fast Women readers the chance to win a Women’s ADV Race Set. Enter via the link here and, once you’ve signed up, you’ll also receive a unique 15% off code for your next order.
Addy Wiley wins U.S. road mile title, and Gracie Hyde pulls off an upset to make her first U.S. team
Tuesday night’s USATF 1 Mile Road Championships in Des Moines, Iowa, served as the selection race for the World Athletics Road Running Championships, with the top two earning the opportunity to compete in December in Copenhagen.
Addy Wiley and Gracie Morris, who both represented the U.S. at the World Indoor Championships last month, went in as the favorites. With a quarter mile to go, there were five athletes left in the lead pack. Wiley and Morris led, with Gracie Hyde, Eleanor Fulton, and Annika Reiss right behind them.
It came down to an all-out 100m, and it looked like Wiley and Morris would go 1-2, but Hyde closed hard in the final strides and nipped Morris at the line. Wiley won in 4:25.42, with Hyde (4:25.64) and Morris (4:25.75) close behind. Reiss produced another strong race to take fourth (4:26.92), and Fulton was fifth (4:29.34). The prize money went 10 deep, with Wiley earning $10,000, Hyde earning $5,500, and Morris winning $3,000.
Wiley, 22, said on the broadcast that she took some time off after worlds, but she clearly hasn’t lost much momentum. “It feels really good, like where I should’ve been for a long time,” she said. “I’m very relieved to be performing the way I know I can and should.”
This was a huge moment for Hyde, 26. “I’m trying not to be shocked, because me and my coach knew that that was the ultimate goal,” she said on the broadcast. “I definitely did feel like a little bit of the underdog on paper, but seeing my training, I knew that I had a chance.” (I covered some of Hyde’s backstory two years ago.)
And after spending the past eight months pulling off a number of upsets of her own and making two U.S. teams, Morris, 24, narrowly missed out this time. “My turn to get clipped at the line,” she wrote on Instagram. Still, she ran a solid race, and this should be a big year for her on the track, because it will be easier for her to get into more competitive races thanks to her recent success.
And Reiss was also impressive here. She didn’t quite have the final gear that the lead trio did, but this is the second time in the past five months that she’s come pretty close to making a U.S. team. (In December, she missed making the world cross 4 x 2K relay squad by one second.) On Saturday morning, I wrote, “One of these days, she’s going to have her moment.” But now I’m updating this to add that on Saturday afternoon, she outkicked Wiley to win the Drake Relays mile, 4:25.52 to 4:25.96.
The event also hosted the USATF Masters 1 Mile Championships and Susie Duke, 45, was the overall winner, in 5:24.
Three days after making the U.S. team, Hyde won the Drake Relays steeplechase in 9:22.19, a 2.43-second PR. She’s ready to go this season. Rachel Anderson of Minnesota Distance Elite took second in a 5+ second personal best of 9:28.22. (USATF 1 Mile Road Championships results | Drake Relays mile results | Drake Relays steeplechase results)
Penn Relays wins for Penn State, UNC, and NC State
The relays at Penn Relays don’t have a lot of bearing on how the rest of the collegiate season goes—there’s nothing to qualify for. But some of the best teams show up because wins at this meet mean something, and it’s a fun event.
Stanford and UNC had a great battle in Friday’s distance medley relay (which goes 1200-400-800-1600m). Juliette Whittaker built a nice lead on the opening leg for Stanford, but UNC’s Makayla Paige closed the gap on the third leg, splitting 2:00.43 for 800m. The two teams handed off for the anchor leg together. UNC’s anchor, Vera Sjöberg, sat on Stanford’s Mena Scatchard before kicking to a narrow win and meet record, 10:36.82 to 10:36.90. Sjöberg split 4:26.15 for 1600m and Scatchard split 4:26.65.
Also on Friday, Hayley Kitching anchored Penn State to a win in the sprint medley relay (200-200-400-800m). She got the baton in third place, behind Michigan and Clemson, but split 2:01.77 and brought her team home in 3:42.35.
Only four teams lined up for the 4x1500m, but the field was still strong. NC State’s Hannah Gapes opened up a lead on the second leg, and her teammates never relinquished it. Anchored by Sadie Engelhardt, NC State won in 16:59.86.
In the 4x800m, Penn State’s Boh Ritchie split 2:02.41 and opened up a three-second lead on the third leg, and no one could close the gap after that. Kitching split 2:01.96 on the anchor leg and carried Penn State to an 8:18.43 win. Stanford’s anchor, Juliette Whittaker, put in a valiant effort and split 2:00.78, the fastest of the race, but it wasn’t enough to fully close the gap. Stanford took second in 8:20.60.
After racing the road mile championships in Des Moines on Tuesday, instead of remaining in Iowa for Drake Relays, Eleanor Fulton made her way to Philadelphia and won Saturday’s Olympic development 1500m in 4:12.11. Former Villanova runner McKenna Keegan returned to her old stomping grounds and won the 800m in 2:01.41. Victoria Bossong won the 600m in 1:26.25, and Rosey Effiong won the 400m in 51.74.
Sage Hurta-Klecker dropped down in distance and raced the 400m in 55.31. “Not what I came for but not bad coming off of 7 x 60 mile week,” she wrote in an Instagram story. “Catch me running that mid-workout soon, but good learnings from this process.”
On Thursday, Wisconsin’s Kylie Finger won the college 1500m out of the second heat, running 4:11.69. Liberty’s Allie Zealand broke PattiSue Plumer’s 42-year-old meet record, winning the 5,000m in 15:26.38. And NC State’s Angelina Napoleon won the steeplechase in a meet record of 9:37.72. (Penn Relays results)
Other News
I wasn’t aware of the disturbing act of antisemitism from a Boston Marathon spectator early in the race until the B.A.A. posted a statement on Friday that read, in part, “There is no place for hatred of any kind at the Boston Marathon or in running.” The statement didn’t provide any details, so everything I know about it comes from the comments on the B.A.A.’s post and from hearing from runners who witnessed it. There was reportedly a person dressed like Hitler standing on an Israeli flag, telling the runners, “Happy 4/20” (the date of the race, but also Hitler’s birthday) and doing the Nazi salute, among other things. There’s been very little news coverage, so I don’t know how the situation was resolved. But I’m sorry to everyone who had to witness it.
Molly Seidel announced last week that she has signed with Satisfy. She discussed the move on The Freetrail Podcast and said that while the company’s offer was competitive, it wasn’t the most lucrative. She chose the company because it felt like the best fit. She also made an appearance at the beginning of another episode of The Freetrail Podcast the next day.
For anyone in the Boston area, the Women’s Health, Sports and Performance Institute is hosting an evening with Mary Cain to discuss her new book, This Is Not About Running, on Friday, May 1, at 6:30 p.m. at WHSP’s offices in Brighton, Mass. The event is invitation-only, but I have four tickets to share with Fast Women readers. If you’re interested, email connect@whspinstitute.org and mention Fast Women.
The USATF 5K Championships will take place on Saturday in Indianapolis and the entries are available here.
For All Mothers+ announced that Kaylee Michell received a grant that offers financial support for fertility preservation for athletes. I appreciate that such a thing exists. (Another reason to be grateful for Alysia Montaño, who founded the organization.)
Additional Results
Makena Morley won the Canyons 50K, which includes more than 5,500 feet of climbing, in 3:47:14. (I’d fear that this is the beginning of us losing her to the trails for good, but she confirmed in a post-race podcast that she still has plans to race on the roads at the end of the year.) Lauren Gregory took second (3:51:28), and Molly Seidel was third (4:07:03). It was fun to follow the live results as these three women, who could also rip a fast half marathon, duked it out on the trails of Auburn, California. Riley Brady won the 100K in 9:41:09 and earned a golden ticket for the Western States 100. (Results)
Kenya’s Brillian Kipkoech won the Hamburg Marathon in 2:17:05, shaving nearly seven minutes off of her PR. (Results)
Amanda Martin won the Eugene Marathon in 2:34:20 and qualified for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Former UVA standout Jenny Schilling won the half marathon in 1:13:04. (Results)
Talk about a dramatic win: Andie Cozzarelli topped the field at Toledo’s Glass City Marathon, running a chip time of 2:36:57 and qualifying for the Olympic Trials with three seconds to spare. Cozzarelli also qualified for the 2016 Trials. (Results)
Jaylah Hancock-Cameron won the Australian Road Mile Championships in a national record of 4:26.4. (Results)
Clare Peters won the Maybelline Women’s Half in NYC’s Central Park, running 1:14:33. (Results)
Jess Minty won the USATF Masters 10K Championships, hosted by the James Joyce Ramble in Dedham, Massachusetts, in 37:17. (Results)
Podcast Highlights
Emma Grace Hurley was great on C Tolle Run. I appreciated her perspective on why she often takes charge of her races: “I think about the resources that go into bringing us to these races, and I have a huge appreciation that [people care] what we do. And so when I’m at these races, I want to do my very best, not just for me and for my coach and for my family, but for the race and the people watching. I want it to be interesting and I think the best way to [do that] is to do my very best every time.” It was interesting to hear her discuss how she and her coach, Andrew Begley, have approached her career with a long-term focus. It’s fun to hear that she wants to get into broadcasting—I think she’ll be great at it—and I was amused to hear that she was taking notes while watching the Boston Marathon. (But also same.)
I really enjoyed hearing about Carrie Ellwood’s Boston Marathon breakthrough on I’ll Have Another. Though Boston was her sixth marathon, it was her first under coach Andrew Kastor, and her training and fueling have changed significantly. I was also interested to hear that she paid for her own flight and hotel. Fortunately her 10th place finish earned her $5,500.
Amanda Vestri provided a raw recap of her Boston Marathon on the The Citius Mag Podcast.
Sara Hall discussed both her book and her painful Boston Marathon experience on Citius Mag and The Runna Podcast.
Additional Episodes: Former college roommates Annie Frisbie and Amanda Vestri recorded a live episode of the Ali on the Run Show at the Boston Marathon expo | Uruguay’s Julia Paternain, always a good podcast guest, was on Podium Athletics before the London Marathon | Great Britain’s Georgia Hunter Bell on Citius Mag | Molly Huddle discussed pregnancy and pro running on The Lane 9 Podcast | Bailey Kowalczyk on Women of Distance | Jess Donohue and Annabel Stafford discussed qualifying for the Olympic Marathon Trials on Road to the Trials | Age-group record holder Jenny Hitchings on Run Long After 60
Whew. Five newsletters in a 15 day span was tough, but now things will quiet down every so slightly over here. (Though I still have about 11,000 Boston Marathon photos to sort through.) Thursday’s newsletter wound up being a little sloppier than I like—including Irine Cheptai’s last name getting autocorrected to Chapati in one of my photo captions. I did some light edits to clean up the online version.
One last thanks to SOAR for sponsoring most of my April content. Their giveaway is open a little while longer, but this will be my last opportunity to promote it.
Thank you, also to everyone who helps keep this newsletter going with your support via Venmo and Patreon. I hope you all have a good week.
Alison
The USATF Road Mile in Des Moines was a great race for the women right to the finish. Addy Wiley was smooth and strong while Gracie Hyde was thrilled to make the team.
It would be nice to include more Drake Relays results from the university teams like you did for Penn. Oklahoma State women were dominant in the distance relays taking the 4x800 in Drake Relays record time of 8:16.65 along with a win in the DMR. Oklahoma State and Oregon State battled down to the wire in the 4x1600 with Oregon State claiming the title.