Meet Kelvin MacDonald: the 78‑year‑old pacer leading London’s seven‑hour group
The 2026 TCS London Marathon set multiple records, including world-class elite performances and the largest-ever field of finishers, while also highlighting an extraordinary age span among participants. The event’s oldest runner, 88-year-old marathon veteran Harry Newton, and its youngest, 18-year-olds Molly Bull-Diamond and Khadija Khalfaoui, embodied the events’s inclusive spirit as all three crossed the Finish Line on the same day.
The 2026 TCS London Marathon was a record-breaker in many ways – from new world records in the elite races and the biggest ever total of finishers to cross the Finish Line of the distance.
Three of those to finish were Harry Newton, Molly Bull-Diamond and Khadija Khalfaoui. Separated by 70 years, Harry, 88, and Molly and Khadija, both 18 on the day of the event, were the oldest and youngest people to take part on Sunday 26 April.
Harry, from Macclesfield, is something of a marathon expert, having completed the London Marathon 22 times, while Molly and Khadija were running their first and would not have been able to take part until 2027 had they been born 24 hours later.
“I am feeling a bit of pain here and there, today was a bit slower than I have ever done it before but that is age isn’t it,” said Harry, who also completed the 2022 TCS London Marathon MyWay in his back garden during the Covid-19 pandemic. “I enjoyed every minute of it, despite the pain.”
“I was aged 57 when I ran my first London Marathon. My training didn’t go well for my first one, but it got better over the years and later on I joined the Macclesfield Harriers and that was a terrific boost to me because it’s a fantastic club for all ages, including track and field, road, cross country, you name it.”
Molly, from York (pictured above), said that she was motivated to enter knowing it would be the earliest opportunity for her to run. She is now inspired to test herself over even longer distances, but not before she sits her A-Levels.
“Most of that was fun, although some of it was hellish, but I got through it. The first half was really fun, especially Tower Bridge, and then I got to about 23K and I just went, ‘oh my god I have got so much further to go’, and my legs went, ‘yep we are not going to work anymore!’”
“The fact that it was the earliest opportunity motivated me to enter. I thought ‘it’s my eighteenth birthday and I haven’t got any plans so I might as well’.
“Maybe I’ll do an Iron Man next. Actually, no, I have to do my A-levels first and then we will see but hopefully I’ll be coming back next year with a quicker time.”
“This medal is the best present ever.”
Khadija, from London (pictured above), said it was the support that got her through after she crossed the Finish Line with her mum, who inspired her to run from an early age.
“I didn’t think I was going to be able to make it but the support from the crowd was so good and it got me through. I have never felt an atmosphere like it. I have run so many races before, but Lonon Marathon is so special because everyone is cheering for you – it is so special.”
“I have wanted to run the London Marathon since I was 12 years old because my mum runs and I always watch her run so she is a really big inspiration to me. We actually ran together today! She is way faster than me but she kept back her pace to stay with me.”
“Running it in the city I grew up in felt really nostalgic and really special.”
