London, April 22 (IANS) Kenyan runner Vivian Cheruiyot on Sunday surprised the favourites and won her first London Marathon women’s race, while fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge claimed his third win in London in the men’s elite race.
Mo Farah of the United Kingdom came third, breaking the men’s British marathon record with a time of two hours, six minutes and 32 seconds, reports Efe.
Cheruiyot, 34, who finished fourth in the London Marathon last year, had a winning time of 2 hours, 18 minutes and 31 seconds, just three minutes off the absolute world record held by Britain’s Paula Radcliffe in 2003, also set in London.
The Olympic 5,000-meter champion was joined on the podium by her compatriot Brigid Kosgei in second and Ethiopia’s Tadelech Bekele in third.
Three-time winner and defending champion Mary Keitany of Kenya led the race up until the last eight kilometres, but came fifth.
In the men’s race, Olympic marathon champion Kipchoge dominated from start to finish, taking his third victory in the last four years in London.
Tola Shura Kitata of Ethiopia came second, followed by Farah.
–IANS
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