Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa shattered the women's-only world record in winning the 45th London Marathon on Sunday, pulling away from Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya over the final couple of kilometres after the two had set a blistering early pace.

Assefa finished in an unofficial time of 2 hours, 15 minutes and 50 seconds, the fastest ever in a women's-only marathon — but 25 seconds slower than the course record set by Paula Radcliffe in 2003 when it was a mixed race.

Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia secured her first London Marathon title, finishing in 2:15:50 for the fastest-ever time in a women's-only marathon. Kenya's Sabastian Sawe won the men's race in his London debut.