Kenya's Kipchoge retains London Marathon title with second fastest time

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge retained the men's title of the London Marathon with a second fastest time here on Sunday.

The 31-year-old Kipchoge, men's 5000m gold medalist at the Athens Olympic Games, clocked 2:03:04, seven seconds outside the world record of 2:02:57 set by his compatriot Dennis Kimetto in Berlin in 2014.

Kipchoge was in control throughout the race and needed to run 90 seconds for the last 600 meters to break the world record. The time is enough to beat the course record by one minute and 25 seconds.

"I am frustrated I missed the world record but I am happy to break the course record," said Kipchoge. "I realised I had broken the 30k record but I lost a few seconds before 35k. I tried to get it back at the end but I just couldn't do it.

"It was a good course. The support was perfect - the crowd was fantastic and it was good to get a personal best."

Kipchoge's fellow Kenyan Stanley Biwott broke his personal best to finish second in 2:03:51 while Ethiopian lengend Kenenisa Bekele finished third in 2:06:36.

The women's title was also won by Kenya. Jemima Sumgong overcame a fall with six kilometers to go near a water station, winning in 2:22:58.

Defending champion Tigist Tufa of Ethiopia finished second in 2:23:03 while world half marathon record holder Florence Kiplagat came through for third in 2:23:39, her second podium finish in London in her fifth appearance.

"The Ethiopian runner clipped my leg and I went down," Sumgong said. "I got up again as quickly as possible and got my pace back.

"The fall really affected me and I was unsure if I could continue. I have a cut on my head and on my shoulder, they are bleeding but I don't feel any pain yet. I did feel it in my legs so I am so surprised I won."

Source: XINHUA