Double Olympic champion will plunge straight into the deep end as she faces as fearsome line-up in her 26.2-mile debut in London
Sifan Hassan is used to embracing monumental challenges. At the Tokyo Olympics, for example, she won 5000m and 10,000m titles plus 1500m bronze, whereas at the 2019 World Championships she claimed an impressive 1500m and 10,000m golden double. Yet the 30-year-old Dutch athlete could not have picked a tougher race to make her marathon debut.
Hassan has decided to race over 26.2 miles for the first time in London on April 23 and she will face an incredible line-up. Organisers describe it as the greatest-ever field assembled for the elite womens race in London and they are not exaggerating. Entries include:
Peres Jepchirchir (RunCzech)
In addition there is also Canadian record-holder Natasha Wodak, former US record-holder Keira DAmato and further Brits such as Charlie Purdue, Jess Piasecki and Steph Davis.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday (Feb 1), Hassan insisted she is not moving to the marathon permanently and her appearance in London is more of a fact-finding mission to sate her curiosity as to whether the distance will suit her.
I just want to see how well I can do it, she said. Im a curious person. Ive totally not considered moving to the marathon (permanently) as I still plan to race on the track.
She added: Marathon is so challenging. You cant just guess how you will do. It is very different from the track. I dont know how I will feel.
Hassan says her longest run in training has been 37km and she is determined to maintain her speed in coming weeks. For me the challenge is the combination of training for the track and doing one marathon. So after the marathon I will have to jump back on to the track. I need to avoid injury but also keep my speed for the track season.
Sifan Hassan wins the 5000m (Getty)
Why London? She admits she has set an alarm to watch it unfold online, despite the time difference, when she has been in the United States. You never know who will win. Even the greatest might get beaten up. You always feel you are watching a race that is like a championships. Its great.
On the line-up, event director Hugh Brasher said: This is quite simply the greatest womens field ever assembled for a marathon arguably the greatest field ever assembled for a womens distance race. We have two reigning Olympic champions, three world record holders and multiple national record-holders, in addition to an incredibly strong British contingent led by Eilish McColgan.
Its going to be a race the whole world will be anticipating and I cant wait to see what happens on Sunday 23 April. Weve had such a rich pedigree of incredible womens results here in London. We have had world records and unforgettable performances from the likes of Grete Waitz, Ingrid Kristiansen, Paula Radcliffe and Mary Keitany. I am sure this amazing 2023 womens field will provide another extraordinary chapter in the London Marathons rich and proud history of stunning races.
In total, the 2023 TCS London Marathon elite womens field will feature 10 women who have run inside 2:19 and five who have gone under 2:18.
To find out more about the elite mens field, click here. For more information on the elite wheelchair athlete races, click here.
TCS London Marathon elite womens field
- Yalemzerf Yehualaw (ETH, PB 2:17:23)
- Brigid Kosgei (KEN, 2:14:04 WR)
- Tigist Assefa (ETH, 2:15:37)
- Peres Jepchirchir (KEN, 2:17:16)
- Almaz Ayana (ETH, 2:17:20)
- Genzebe Dibaba (ETH, 2:18:05)
- Sutume Asefa Kebede (2:18:12)
- Judith Jeptum Korir (KEN, 2:18:20)
- Emily Sisson (USA, 2:18:29 NR)
- Alemu Megertu (ETH, 2:18:32)
- Keira DAmato (USA, 2:19:12)
- Sinead Diver (AUS, 2:21:34 NR)
- Jess Piasecki (GBR, 2:22:27)
- Natasha Wodak (CAN, 2:23:12 NR)
- Charlotte Purdue (GBR, 2:23:26)
- Susanna Sullivan (USA, 2:25:14)
- Ellie Pashley (AUS, 2:26:21)
- Stephanie Davis (GBR, 2:27:16)
- Maor Tiyouri (ISR, 2:29:04)
- Rosie Edwards (GBR, 2:31:56)
- Samantha Harrison (GBR, 2:32:22)
- Eilish McColgan (GBR, debut)
- Sifan Hassan (NED, debut)
- Girmawit Gebrzihair (ETH, debut)
- Dominique Scott (RSA, debut)