Battle of the Kiplagats: Edna holds off Florence as Dibaba settles for third spot

LONDON

Kenya’s Edna Kiplagat (left) runs with compatriot Florence Kiplagat as they compete in the women’s elite runners class during the London Marathon on Sunday. [PHOTO: REUTERS]

Edna Kiplagat won her first London title after finishing runner-up in the past two years, getting the better of compatriot Florence Kiplagat in the final 200 metres to win in two hours, 20 minutes and 21 seconds.

The winner outkicked her namesake who finished three seconds behind after the pair had dropped debutant Tirunesh Dibaba, stepping up from the track where she enjoyed a glittering career.

“Towards the end of the race I tried to push a few times but she was always there,” Edna Kiplagat, who retained her World title in Moscow last year, said of her battle with the World half-marathon record holder. “I felt strong so I wasn’t too worried.”

Ethiopian Dibaba, a three-time Olympic track champion, was still in contention when she blundered at a drinks station, stopping to pick up her dropped water bottle and losing valuable time to the front pair.

“When my bottle fell, I tried to pick it up because it’s important to me,” she said after finishing third, 14 seconds behind the winner.

“That made me lose lots of time with the lead runners. I was feeling pretty good but it’s difficult to lose so much time against top athletes.”

Last year’s London winner Priscah Jeptoo dropped out of the race at around the 25-km mark while Olympic champion Tiki Gelana finished ninth.

Meanwhile, former London Marathon double bronze medallist Susan Chepkemei has warned that the teamwork and determination showed by Kenyan women runners will help in their push to break the world record.

Chepkemei, who competed in London four times, said the current record of (2:15.25) on British Paula Radcliffe’s belt is attainable.

“With the current trend of performance, I don’t see a reason why we are not going to have new World record with our talented Kenyan women marathoners. I see this happening sooner than later,” she said. “I’m happy to see our heroines rule the global arena. I want to challenge them to improve from where they are and not relax since their opponents will be polishing their weapons,” said Chepkemei.

The legendry Catherine Ndereba is the only Kenya woman who came close to Radcliffe’s World record, by winning the 2001 Chicago marathon in a time of 2:18. 47.

Coach Sammy Rono said he was confident of a good show in London. “I foresaw them making even better times from last year’s edition. It is encouraging for women to show their supremacy,” he said.