THOUSANDS RUN THE VIRTUAL LONDON MARATHON
45,000 RUNNERS PUT BEST FEET FORWARD FOR CHARITY
IT’S normally a spectacular sight – thousands of runners streaming over Tower Bridge all with same aim... raising millions for charity. Yesterday, there was just one.
But this runner wasn’t alone in doing her bit, as 45,000 amateur athletes, along with the pros, took part in the delayed 40th London Marathon at locations all over the UK.
In many parts of Britain, runners battled gale force winds and torrential rain – except in north-east England where the sun shone on fancy dress runner Colin Burgin-Plews.
Ken Jones, 87, who has taken part in every London Marathon, said in Strabane, Northern Ireland: ‘This is the worst one ever.’ Sophie, Countess of Wessex, joined Mencap charity runner Tomas Cardillo-Zallo for his first 1.5 miles in Windsor Great Park. Also running for Mencap was cerebral palsy sufferer Aaran Plummer in Walthamstow, east London.
The elite events were held in London’s St James’s Park. Shura Kitata won the men’s race, with Brigid Kosgei first in the women’s. Britain’s David Weir finished second behind Brent Lakatos in the men’s wheelchair, while Nikita den Boer won the women’s.
ELIUD KIPCHOGE’S reign as the king of the London Marathon came to a shock end as Shura Kitata emerged from the rain and the gloom to become the new champion.
In a stunning upset Kipchoge, who had won all of his previous four London Marathons and had not lost over the distance in seven years, dropped alarmingly off the pace around the 22-mile mark.
A fast race was predicted due to the nature of the course – 19.7 laps of St James’s Park rather than the traditional street route – but the incessant rain and autumnal temperatures put paid to that.
With Kenenisa Bekele, the second-fastest marathon runner in history, missing through injury the stage looked set for a fifth victory for Kenyan superstar Kipchoge.
But the 35-year-old world-record holder had no answer as a sevenstrong lead group edged away from him and he ended up finishing down in eighth.
Mo Farah, who was part of the race as a pacemaker, admitted he was astounded by Kipchoge’s defeat.
‘It was a shock for all of us. We had expected him to win by miles, considering what times he has run,’ he said.
Instead the title was up for grabs and it was Ethiopian Kitata who snatched it in two hours, five minutes and 41 seconds, pipping Kenya’s Vincent Kipchumba on the line after a thrilling sprint finish. Kipchoge revealed afterwards he had a problem with his right ear which hampered his performance. ‘I’m very disappointed but, all in all, this is sport,’ he said. ‘I got a blocked ear over the last 15km. I tried to keep going and make sure I finished, to show there is always hope in the world. It’s not the end of the world that I can’t win.’ Jonny Mellor was the first British man home in a time of 2:10:38, and compatriot Ben Connor also finished inside the Olympic qualifying time.
In the women’s race, Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei defended her title, the 26-year-old world-record holder comfortably winning. There was disappointment for the two big British hopefuls, Lily Partridge and Steph Twell, who both pulled out well before the finish. The British title instead went to Natasha Cockram, who finished outside the Olympic qualifying mark in 2:33.19, four seconds ahead of compatriot Naomi Mitchell.