Ethiopia’s Kitata topples Kipchoge in London Marathon, Kosgei winsKitata and Kosgei win London Marathon
Ethiopia’s Shura Kitata outsprinted Kenya’s Vincent Kipchumba to win a thrilling 40th London Marathon on Sunday as world record holder Eliud Kipchoge faded late in the race.

It was Kipchoges first defeat since 2013. He came in 8th in 2:06.49.

In cold, wet conditions, Kitata edged clear to win in a relatively slow two hours, 05.41 minutes.

Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia was third. with Kipchoge eighth.

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In the women’s race, Kenyan world record holder and defending champion Brigid Kosgei cruised to a dominant victory, overcoming her rivals on an unfamiliar multi-lap course in relentless rain to triumph in two hours, 18.58 minutes.

Running her first marathon since setting the world record of 2:14.04 in Chicago a year ago, Kosgei ran alongside compatriot Ruth Chepngetich until around the 20-mile mark, when she forged clear to open a lead of about 50 metres within a couple of minutes.

She then ran strongly for the rest of the race to finish around three minutes clear.

American Sara Hall produced an incredible finish, wiping out a huge deficit over the last few hundred metres to sweep past world champion Chepngetich almost on the line to finish in 2:22.01 to the Kenyan’s 2:22.05.

Wrapped in a huge coat at the finish area, the tiny Kosgei said it had been a tough day.

“It was wonderful to race but we haven’t been able to prepare well because of COVID, and because of the weather today it was a struggle up to the moment I finished,” she said.

AFP