The AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group Championships return to London for the second year in a row in 2022 after the inaugural edition in 2021.

The best athletes in their age categories from around the world will come to London in a bid to become world champions, having qualified for the AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Championships in events held across the globe between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2021.

The rankings cover age groups from 40 to 80+ for men and women, as follows: 

• 40-44
• 45-49
• 50-54
• 55-59
• 60-64
• 65-69
• 70-74
• 75-79
• 80+

This is the third edition of the rankings, with qualifying for the fourth edition taking place between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2022. The 2023 AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group Championships will take place within the 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

Notable runners

Leslie Cohen (USA, F65-69)

• The world champion in her age group from last year’s AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Championships, Leslie is also an age group winner in the 2021 TCS New York City Marathon and 2022 B.A.A. Boston Marathon. Leslie has run more than 36 marathons and is a Six Star Abbott World Marathon Majors finisher. She formed her own running team in 2009 in her hometown and now has more than 600 members.

Gerry Miller (CAN, M 80+)

• From Calgary, retired doctor Gerry has been running marathons since the age of 58 and won his age group at last year’s AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Championships in London. Completing last year’s London Marathon also meant he earned his Six Star medal for completing all the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Gerry, now 84, has run more than 35 marathons, including 12 editions of the B.A.A. Boston Marathon.

Gene Dykes (USA, M70-74)

• Gene is aiming to complete the 2022 TCS London Marathon in 3 hours and 2 minutes.

Thomas Eller (GER, M40-44)

• Thomas is registered deaf and can only lip read and communicate via sign language. He is one star (Tokyo Marathon) away from his Six Star medal. He finished at the Deaflympics earlier this year, finishing ninth.

Sue Meltzer (NZL, F65-69)

• Sue is leaving New Zealand for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic. She only started running eight years ago when she bought running shoes in a sale and her son told her she had better start running in them. She has since run 108 marathons.

Koichi Kitabatake (JPN, M85-89)

• Aged 89, Koichi is the oldest competitor in this year’s TCS London Marathon.