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Mutai leads Kenyan charge in London

Last Updated 17 April 2011, 16:11 IST
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Mutai clocked two hours four minutes 40 seconds to break the previous mark of 2:05:10 set by compatriot Sammy Wanjiru two years ago. He is now the fourth fastest man in history.

Mary Keitany, the world half-marathon record holder, broke from the field at the halfway stage to win the women's race in 2:19:19.

Keitany, 29, is now equal with German Irina Mikitenko as the fourth fastest woman ever after finishing third in her marathon debut in New York last year.  Mutai, 26, was prominent in a tightly bunched leading group tracking the two pacemakers until the 30 kms mark when he made his move.

The race quickly resolved into a battle for the minor placings with three times champion Martin Lel outsprinting fellow-Kenyan Patrick Makau to take second place. Both men were given the same time of 2:05:45.  Defending champion Liliya Shobukhova headed the leading group in the first half of the women's race but could not respond when Keitany, who has won six successive half-marathons, made the decisive break.  Shobukhova was unable to respond, although her time of 1:20:15 broke the Russian record by 10 seconds and is the fastest by a European since Mikitenko's 2:19:19 in Berlin in 2008.

Results: Men: Emmanuel Mutai (Ken, 2:04:39) 1; Martin Lel (Ken, 2:05:44) 2; Patrick Makau (Ken, 2:05:44) 3. Women: Mary Keitany (Ken, 2:19:17) 1; Liliya Shobukhova (Rus, 2:20:15) 2; Edna Kiplagat (Ken, 2:20:45) 3.

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(Published 17 April 2011, 16:11 IST)

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