She was also awarded the World Marathon Majors prize as a result of these victories. 

But, rather like the men's line-up unveiled last week, a field consisting of the reigning world and Olympic champions as well as some of the fastest athletes in history stand in the way of a successful defence. 

Leading the charge could be Ethiopia's reigning Olympic champion Tiki Gelana, seeking revenge after her London Marathon chances were ended in the harshest fashion last year when she clashed with Canadian wheelchair racer Josh Cassidy before finishing 16th.

Following her Olympic victory, Tiki Gelana will aim to get the better of Priscah Jeptoo once again at the London Marathon ©Sports Illustrated/Getty Images


Gelana also dropped out of the World Championships but, as the Ethiopian record holder and the fastest woman in the field, she will feel that she has a point to prove. 

Jeptoo will also face stiff competition from fellow Kenyan Edna Kiplagat, who retained her world title in Moscow last August and has been runner-up in London for the last two years, while 2013 Berlin championFlorence Kiplagat is another contender. 

Along with Gelana the Ethiopian challenge will be provided by Aberu Kebede, who won the Tokyo and Shanghai Marathons in 2013, and reigning Paris Marathon champion Feysa Tadesse. 

The dark horse however will be another Ethiopian in Tirunesh Dibaba, who will make a long awaited marathon debut after three Olympic and five world titles over 5,000 and 10,000 metres.
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Dibaba was due to make her debut last year but withdrew from the field with a shin injury just a month before the race, before making a successful return to the roads last September by breaking the Ethiopian 10 kilometre record in Tilburg and finishing third behind Jeptoo and Meseret Defar at the Great North Run.

Tirunesh Dibaba will be aiming to transfer her form from the track to the longer distance when she makes her long awaited debut in London ©AFP/Getty Images



The European challenge will be led by Ukrainian record holder Tetyana Hamera-Shmyrko, who finished fifth at London 2012, as well as Portuguese pair Jéssica Augusto and Ana Dulce Félix.

"We are delighted to welcome back Priscah Jeptoo," said race director Hugh Brasher after the line-up was unveiled.

"Our champion was a deserved winner of the World Marathon Majors title and has shown with her performances over the last two years that she will be extremely difficult to beat.

"We are also pleased to see the world and Olympic champions on our start line again.

"Both Edna and Tiki had reason to feel frustrated last year - Edna because she just missed out for a second year in succession, and Tiki because of her unfortunate accident - I am sure they will both be determined to make their returns to London successful.

"All three will have to be at their very best to win the title in 2014 as our elite athlete co-ordinator David Bedford has again put together a field to match any in the world.

"With so many proven performers, and Tirunesh Dibaba making her debut, we have quite a race in prospect."  

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November 2013: Mutai and Jeptoo ensure Kenyan sweep at New York City Marathon 
April 2013: Jeptoo wins London Marathon as Olympic champion is wiped out by wheelchair racer Cassidy