Kipchoge, Tufa win London marathon
Print Edition
Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge got the better of compatriot and defending champion Wilson Kipsang in a fierce battle over the closing miles to win the London Marathon by five seconds yesterday with world record holder Dennis Kimetto third.
Labelled the ‘clash of the champions’ by organizers, yesterday’s race pitted eight sub-2:05 runners and five of the all-time top-10 in one of the fastest fields ever assembled.
Kipchoge, a former 5,000-meter world champion, and Kipsang broke clear in the closing stages after a blistering race but it was the former who finished with a decisive burst of speed to win the 42.2-kilometer race in 2:04.42.
Kipsang clocked 2:04.47 and fellow Kenyan Kimetto 2:05.50.
“It was a tough race. My training paid off and it went to plan,” Kipchoge said. “The crowd were wonderful and lifted me for my sprint finish.”
The narrow, twisting turns of London’s course, compounded by blustery conditions, were not conducive to world record pace and an assault on Kimetto’s 2:02.57 set in September’s Berlin Marathon was unlikely.
Earlier, Ethiopia’s Tigist Tufa was the surprise winner of the women’s marathon after her powerful late break saw her cruise home 18 seconds clear of Kenyan Mary Keitany.
After a tentative race Tufa broke clear in the closing miles and sauntered down the Mall, waving to the crowd, to clock 2:23.22 followed by Keitany (2:23.40) and Ethiopian Tirfi Tsegaye (2:23.41).
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