Kenya rule the roost in London: Kipsang and Kiplagat triumph in marathon

LONDON

Wilson Kipsang of Kenya celebrates his win as he crosses the finish line during the London Marathon on Sunday. [PHOTO: AP]

Kenya’s world record holder Wilson Kipsang yesterday won the London Marathon in a new course record of two hours, four minutes and 27 seconds.

Fellow Kenyan Stanley Biwott came second. Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia, last year’s winner was third, and Ayele Abshero of Ethiopia was fourth.

Britain’s Mo Farah, reigning Olympic and world 5,000 and 10,000 metres champion, finished in eighth place having failed in his mission to break Steve Jones’s British record of 2:07:13, which has stood since 1985.

“I will be back,” Farah told the BBC. “I’m not going to finish it like this. I gave it my all but I’m disappointed I didn’t go out there and give what the crowd deserve.”

British distance great Brendan Foster, commentating on the race, urged Farah to stick to defending his track gold medals at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

However, Farah refused to be rushed into a decision on his future, saying: “It was pretty tough. I’m disappointed but you try things and sometimes it doesn’t work, but you have to give it a go. You learn -- life goes on.”

Kipsang’s time of 2 hours, 4 minutes, 29 seconds was 11 seconds inside the previous fastest run in London by Emmanuel Mutai in 2011.

“I was really feeling good and I controlled the guys” said Kipsang, who also won the 2012 race.

Compatriot Stanley Biwott was 26 seconds adrift in second, and deposed London champion Tsegaye Kebede was just over two minutes behind Kipsang in third, but it was a disappointing full marathon debut for Mo Farah.

In a city bathed in sunshine, Londoners came out to cheer the home favourite only to see him finish eighth, almost four minutes behind Kipsang. But despite failing to match his track feats in the city in 2012, when he won the 5,000 and 10,000 metre titles at the Olympics, Farah will return for another shot at the marathon.

“I’m not going to finish it like this,” Farah said. “I’ll be back. It’s a matter of experience and learning.”

In the women’s wheelchair race, Tatyana McFadden swapped the slopes for the streets as she successfully defended her London title with a dominant performance, winning in a course record time of 1:45:11.

Her win came a month after the 24-year-old American collected her first Winter Paralympics medal — a silver in skiing in Sochi.

“I was not in my chair for three weeks,” McFadden said. “It was a tough race, but I stayed calm and relaxed, and I tried to use the downhills as much as I could.”

With the London marathon gone, focus shifts to the Boston marathon on Monday where champions Lelisa Desisa and Rita Jeptoo will return to defend their titles, but will be challenged by the fastest field ever assembled.     

KENYAN WINNERS AT LONDON MARATHON By Game Yetu
1989: Douglas Wakiihuri (2:09.03) and Joyce Jepchumba won men’s and women’s races.
2000: Tegla Loroupe won it.
2004: Evans Ruto and Margaret Okayo won the men’s and women’s races
2005: Martin Lel won his first race
2006: Felix Limo won his first race
2007: Martin Lel won the second race
2008: Martin Lel won the third race
2009: Late Samuel Wanjiru won it in a course record time
2011: Emmanuel Mutai and Mary Keitany won the races in course record times as Martin Lel finished second. The win consolidated points for Mutai to bag Sh48 million World Major Marathons jackpot.
2012: Wilson Kipsang and Mary Keitany won 2:04.44 and 2:18.36 respectively.
2013: Prisca Jeptoo won and consolidated points to win WMM series share of $500,00
2014: Wilson Kipsang won in course record time of 2:04.26 and Edna Kiplagat

 — Agencies