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London Marathon: Kipruto, Yehualaw reign supreme

It was a maiden London victory for Yehualaw in what was just the second marathon of her career.

Amos Kipruto

Bengaluru, October 3: The Kenya/Ethiopia domination in long-distance running continued with Kenya's Amos Kipruto marking his London Marathon debut with a decisive victory in the men's race as Ethiopian 23-year-old Yalemzerf Yehualaw became the youngest winner of the women's race.

Several leading runners were ruled out of London Marathon 2022 through injury while four-time winner Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya opted against competing in the British capital.

He had smashed his own world record by half a minute in the Berlin Marathon last week in a time of 2:01:09.

Berlin Marathon: Eliud Kipchoge breaks his own recordBerlin Marathon: Eliud Kipchoge breaks his own record

It was a maiden London victory for Yehualaw in what was just the second marathon of her career.

Yehualaw's winning time of 2:17:26 was just 3sec outside the personal best she set at Hamburg in April when making the fastest debut in any women's marathon.

Her time was also the third fastest in the history of the women's London Marathon.

Defending London champion Joyciline Jepkosgei was second, the Kenyan finishing in 2:18:07, with Ethiopia's Alemu Megertu third in 2:18:32.

The women's race was without Kenya's world record-holder Brigid Koskei -- the 2021 champion -- who had withdrawn because of a hamstring injury.

There was a Swiss double in the wheelchair competition as Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner set new course records in the men's and women's races respectively.

Hug retained his London crown in 1:24:38 after winning a sprint finish against American Daniel Romanchuk.

Britain's David Weir, competing in his 23rd London Marathon, was third.

Yehualaw dazzles

Yehualaw dazzles

Yehualaw's victory was all the more impressive as she appeared to trip on a speed bump with six miles to go. Nevertheless, the women's 10kms world-record holder recovered to rejoin the leading pack.

Yehualaw surged clear with four miles to go and Jepkosgei was unable to reel her in. Yehualaw's breakaway included an astounding 4:43 mile split in the 24th mile.

London debut

London debut

The opening pace in the men's race was more steady and consistent than the women's race, but the race unfolded in a similar fashion with a group of seven men running together through the early checkpoints. They covered 5kms in 14:45, 10kms in 29:26 and 15kms in 44:20, suggesting a finishing time inside 2:05.

"This is my London debut and it's a wonderful day. I decided to make a decisive break because of my training. I was confident and I knew when to go," said Kipruto.

Leading the way

Leading the way

Kipruto accelerated away from the rest of the pack, opening up a significant lead within a relatively short space of time.

A 4:21 split for the 25th mile proved decisive and it soon became clear that victory would be his.

Lemma seventh

Lemma seventh

The 30-year-old, a bronze medallist at the 2019 Doha Athletics World Championships, crossed the line in 2hrs, 4min and 39sec after breaking away late on.

Leul Gebresilase of Ethiopia finished second in 2:05:12, with Bashir Abdi of Belgium third in 2:05:19. Ethiopian distance great Kenenisa Bekele was fifth with compatriot Sisay Lemma, last year's London Marathon winner, seventh.

Story first published: Monday, October 3, 2022, 12:33 [IST]
Other articles published on Oct 3, 2022