Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa surged to victory in the London Marathon in a world record for a women’s only field, while Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe triumphed in the men’s race.

Olympic silver medallist Assefa burst clear of 2021 winner Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya with 10km to go before crossing the line in two hours 15 minutes 50 seconds.

Assefa beat the previous record, set by Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya in London last year, by 26 seconds.

Jepkosgei finished second, nearly three minutes behind, with 2023 winner and Olympic champion Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands third.

In the men’s race, debutant Sawe kicked on with a little over 10km (6.21 miles) remaining and his rivals were unable to respond, with the Kenyan finishing in 2:02:27.

Half marathon world record holder Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda was over a minute down in second on his full marathon debut and 2024 winner Alexander Mutiso Munyao came third.

Great Britain’s Mahamed Mahamed finished ninth, with Olympic triathlon champion Alex Yee in 14th.

Eilish McColgan was the leading Briton in the women’s race on her marathon debut in a Scottish marathon record time of 2:24:25, beating Steph Twell’s mark of 2:26:40 set in Frankfurt in 2019.

The Commonwealth 10,000m champion finished eighth, a place ahead of Rose Harvey.

It was a Swiss double in the wheelchair races for the second year running as Catherine Debrunner broke her own course record in the women’s race and Marcel Hug stormed to his seventh victory in the men’s.