ADVERTISEMENT
Kipchoge, Cheruiyot make it a Kenyan double
AFP
Last Updated IST
Eluid Kipchoge (left) and Vivian Cheruiyot
Eluid Kipchoge (left) and Vivian Cheruiyot

Eliud Kipchoge stormed to his third London Marathon title on Sunday to complete an impressive Kenyan double after Vivian Cheruiyot dominated the women's race in warm conditions.

Kipchoge, 33, saw off the challenge of Ethiopia's Tola Shura Kitata and home favourite Mo Farah to win his third London marathon in four years in a time of 2 hours 4 minutes and 27 seconds, finishing more than half a minute in front of Kitata (2:05:00), with Farah third in a British record of 2:06:32.

Cheruiyot, 34, timed her run perfectly to win the women's event in a time of 2 hours 18 minutes and 31 seconds, ahead of compatriot Brigid Kosgei (2:20:13), and Ethiopia's Tadelech Bekele (2:21:40).

ADVERTISEMENT

She took advantage of failed attempts to break Paula Radcliffe's 15-year-old world record by last year's winner Mary Keitany and runner-up Tirunesh Dibaba.

In unusually warm conditions in the British capital, first Dibaba and then Keitany dropped off the pace, allowing the 2016 Olympic 5,000m gold medallist to claim victory.

After nine miles Keitany and main rival Dibaba were 25 seconds ahead of Radcliffe's time. But Dibaba was soon reduced to a walking pace to leave Keitany with only her two male pacemakers for company.

Keitany, looking for a fourth win in London, also started to slow down as it became apparent Radcliffe's record of two hours 15 minutes 25 seconds would not be threatened.

Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels | Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks

ADVERTISEMENT
(Published 22 April 2018, 18:26 IST)