Hellen Obiri Reveals What Cost a Faster Finish in London Marathon: 'Nobody Was Willing to Help'

Hellen Obiri has reacted to her second-place finish at the 2026 London Marathon as she explained why the women could also have run faster, like their male counterparts.

Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa claimed top honours in a new women-only world record, crossing the finish line in 2:15:41.

Two-time Boston Marathon champion Obiri clocked a personal best time of 2:15:53, with Joycilline Jepkosgei close behind in 2:15:55, marking the first time three women have finished inside 2:16 in the same race.

Speaking after the race, Hellen Obiri said she was extremely pleased with her performance, noting that it was the quickest race she had ever competed in and a significant personal milestone.

The two-time New York City Marathon champion admitted that the opening stages of the race were particularly challenging due to the demanding early pace, adding that it ultimately tested her endurance and mental strength.

Hellen Obiri also suggested that the outcome could have been even more remarkable if there had been better collaboration among the leading runners for most of the race, pointing out that she made efforts to encourage others to share the workload but received little support, which made sustaining the pace more difficult.

“For me, I feel so happy, you know. It was the fastest race I've ever run. I've always liked this in my life. So, nothing I can give up, like running 2:15. It's been great for me. And compared with the first half, it was horrible…it was 66,” she told Athletics Weekly.

“The last time I did 66 in Melbourne. That's when your strength comes through. You know, if sometimes we had helped each other after 35 km, we would have run under 2:15. Because I tried to push, I tried to tell them, come and help me. Nobody was willing to help.”

Hellen Obiri explained that in the closing stages of the race, she struggled physically and was unable to accelerate despite making a strong effort to push through to the finish, ultimately reaching a point where her body could not respond any further.

She reflected that the experience offered valuable lessons, highlighting the contrast between different major marathons, noting that races like those in Boston and New York City tend to prioritise victory over pace, while London is known for its faster course, where both winning and achieving quick times are equally emphasised.

“At the last mile, my legs were not moving. I tried to sprint. I gave it my all. My legs were like, ‘No, that's it.’ You cannot go beyond this. I said, like, ok, there is nothing I can do,” she added.

“Sometimes it's to learn about the experience. You know, in Boston and New York, it's all about winning, not all about time. But here in London, it's a faster course, it's all about time because, you know, boys have run fast times and ladies too. So that shows it's all about time here and winning. And in New York, it's about winning.”

Hellen Obiri described Tigst Assefa as a very formidable competitor who continues to elevate her performance each year, noting that her repeated appearances in London have contributed to her growth and confidence on the course.

She added that, as it was her own first time racing at the London Marathon, the experience had motivated her to push harder, expressing optimism that with more experience and preparation, she could deliver an even stronger performance in future editions of the race.

“Oh, she's so strong. I think she keeps improving each year. Because she has been here for, I think, three times. So, it's my debut. So, she encouraged me to do it. There's room to work hard. There's room to run well in London. So, it's my first time. So, probably, if I come here next time, I'll run well,” she said.

Hellen Obiri added that she was genuinely delighted by the historic performances, emphasising that it was not only Sabastian Sawe who impressed her, but also Yomif Kejelcha, who delivered an extraordinary debut by running well below the previous world record mark.

She admitted that she had not anticipated such fast times, particularly the possibility of athletes going under the two-hour barrier in a competitive race, describing the achievement as remarkable for the sport.

Hellen Obiri also pointed out that these performances signal a shift in marathon running, where advancements in technology, combined with the evolution of a new generation of athletes, are redefining what is achievable.

She noted that the benchmark for elite male runners has now been raised significantly, with breaking two hours no longer seen as impossible but rather as a new standard to chase.

“Honestly, I'm so happy about it. Not even Sabastian alone. Yomif was making his debut. To run a debut, honestly, under two, and inside the world record. That was incredible. Incredible for me. Extremely incredible. Honestly, for me, I was not expecting the men to run under two hours here,” she added.

“I think that means it's all about the technology. And they see us both in the technology and about the generations. We want to see now. If you want to run on the world record for men, you have to run on 1:59. Sometimes you can think... It cannot happen.

“In previous years, they were saying it’s impossible to run a marathon in under two hours. Now we have seen it. Everything's possible. Even 1:58 for men now. If we work out the technology we have, we can do it.”