Athletics-Stellar London Marathon field targets women-only world record

FILE PHOTO: Athletics - Berlin Marathon - Berlin, Germany - September 24, 2023 Gold medallist Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa celebrates on the podium with the trophy after winning the women's Berlin Marathon REUTERS/Lisi Niesner/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) - The world's fastest female marathon runner Tigst Assefa will headline the elite women's race at the London Marathon on April 21 when three of the top four fastest women in history will try to set a women-only world record.

Ethiopia's Assefa ran 2:11.53 at the Berlin Marathon in September, setting the world record for women in a race alongside male runners, and has her sights on Mary Keitany's time of 2:17:01 set in a women-only race at the 2017 London Marathon.