London Marathon LIVE: Latest updates from 26-mile race after Amos Kipruto wins men’s event

Joyciline Jepkosgei is among the leaders in the elite women’s race having won the race with a personal best last year. Yalemzerf Yehualaw has dropped to the back of the leading group as they reach Tower Bridge.

One other athlete in the field that has previously ran under 2:18:00 is Ethiopian Ashete Bekere, who crossed the line third last year before posting her best time, 2:17:58, at the Tokyo marathon in March.

Veteran runners and newbies alike across the country are getting ready to tackle the 2022 London Marathon.

The 42nd edition of the race will also be its last one scheduled to be held in the autumn, with the marathon returning to its regular spring spot after years of Covid-19 disruption.

As 50,000 runners make their way along the route, stretching across 26.2 miles, they will take in some of the city’s iconic sights such as Cutty Sark and Tower Bridge.

The leading group in the elite women’s race pass the 15km mark in 48 minutes 51 seconds which is slightly slower than expected after their quick start.

Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw is well positioned right behind the sole remaining pace maker at the front, with seven other athletes around her.

Ethiopian Sisay Lemma was something of a shock winner last year but the reigning champion returns with an improved reputation to defend his title today.

Compatriot Kenenisa Bekele, considered one of the greatest distance runners of all time, is one of his biggest threats with Kenya’s Amos Kipruto also well backed.

Leah Williamson, Ellen White, and Jill Scott all press the buzzer once more to get the mass event underway!

The elite men’s runners head off at the front of the pack with the members of the public slowly filtering over the start line behind them.

In the elite wheelchair races, defending champion Marcel Hug still leads the men’s event but is still being doggedly tracked by Daniel Romanchuk. If it stays like this the duo could be in for a barmstorming finish.

In the women’s race Catherine Debrunner has a decent lead out in front.

The mass cluster of competitors are huddled close to the starting line as the elite men’s and mass event are about to get going. They national anthem is played beforehand.

Just a couple of minutes to go before they set off.

Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw set a world record over 10km in February this year and at just 23-years-old she could be setting records for year’s to come.

Earlier in the year she also recorded the fastest ever time by a female debutant over the marathon distance, clocking 2:17:23 in Hamburg in April.

With Brigid Kosgei’s absence, Yehualaw is the fastest in the women’s field today and is currently sat immediately behind the pacers after 25 minutes of running.

Can she go on to win the race?

The elite wheelchair and elite women’s races are well underway with the elite men’s race due to start at half past nine.

In the women’s competition the leaders have completed the first 5km in a touch over 16 minutes which means they’re on target for a total time of close to 2 hours 15 minutes.

The route bends its way around the Cutty Sark which is a tricky part of the course for the wheelchair racers. Hug and Romanchuk hit the 10km mark in just 18.50 which is a pretty quick time but the pack - including David Weir - continues to chase them down.

In the women’s race Swiss athlete Catherine Debrunner leads the way through the early stages and looks a strong contender for the title.