Reigning London Marathon Champions Return for 2020

By Adam Kopet

The 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon winners, Eliud Kipchoge and Brigid Kosgei, are set to return April 26 to the British capital for the 2020 race.

Kipchoge of Kenya, who set a course record 2:02:37 last year, leads a men's field that includes the three men who finished behind him in 2019. That includes the Ethiopian duo of Mosinet Geremew who finished second last year in 2:02:55 and Mule Wasihun who was third in 2:03:16. At the time, Geremew's performance ranked him second all-time, but he now ranks third on the all-time list.

In all, nine athletes have been announced who have run under 2:06 in their careers, including Sondre Moen of Norway who has run 2:05:48. With the announcement that Mo Farah of Great Britain planned to return to the track to defend his 10,000-meter Olympic title, he will not return in this year's race after finishing fifth in 2019 and third in 2018.

Kosgei returns to London as the world record holder. After winning last year's race in a then personal best 2:18:20, she shattered the world record at the Chicago Marathon by more than a minute, running 2:14:04.

However, this year's women's field is such that there is a no guarantee of a repeat performances by Kosgei. Four other women have run under 2:19, including world champion Ruth Chepngetich, three-time Berlin Marathon winner Gladys Cherono, 2018 London Marathon winner Vivian Cheruiyot, all of Kenya, and 2019 Valencia Marathon champion Roza Dereje of Ethiopia.

Also competing is Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya. She is the half marathon world record holder and she won the 2019 New York City Marathon in her marathon debut. She served as a pacemaker for last year's London Marathon.

If any high-profile Americans compete at the London Marathon, such announcements are likely to come after the U.S. Olympic Trials marathon next month.