The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Keitany breaks Paula Radcliffe’s 12-year record in winning London Marathon
Kenyans victorious in men’s and women’s races as Weir clinches wheelchair title
Kenya’s Mary Keitany set a new world record to win the women’s London Marathon yesterday as Daniel Wanjiru took victory in the men’s race.
Earlier, Britain’s David Weir won a record seventh wheelchair title to clinch his first victory in London since 2012.
Keitany broke Paula Radcliffe’s 12-year women’s only marathon record after posting two hours, 17 minutes and one second.
In the men’s race Kenyan Wanjiru held off the challenge of Kenenisa Bekele, who holds the 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres world records as well as eight Olympic and world titles, to win in 2:05.48.
It was the biggest victory of his career, having previously won the 2016 Amsterdam Marathon, while Bedan Karoki was third.
More than 40,000 runners were set on their way by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Price Harry, beating last year’s record field of 39,523.
Wanjiru forged ahead over the final 6km but was rapidly closed down by the multi-titled Bekele who had slipped down the field after the halfway point.
A lead of six seconds promised an exciting finale as the two entered Birdcage Walk but it was Wanjiru that found an extra gear entering the Mall to take the title and hold off the great Ethiopian.
Swansea’s Josh Griffiths, who was running among the masses and not in the elite race, was the first GB athlete home in a marathon debut 2:14.49.
Banchory athlete Robbie Simpson excelled to finish 15th in the elite race as he chased home Griffiths in 2:15.04.
Fife AC’s Andrew Lemoncello finished 29th, sharing a finishing time of 2:24.11 with former European 10,000m silver medallist Chris Thompson in 31st.
2012 women’s winner Mary Keitany opened up a 50m lead over the chasing pack in the opening two miles and by the one-hour mark was on world record pace.
The Kenyan’s time at 30km was a world record (1:36.05) by a staggering two minutes, having a 70-seconds lead over three-time Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba.
The Ethiopian struggled along the Embankment as Keitany picked up her pace towards 40km and enjoyed a solo run down the Mall to finish in 2:17.01, a world best for a women’s only race and the second fastest time in history.
Dibaba recovered following stomach cramps to place second in 2:17.56.
Sunderland Stroller Alyson Dixon was the leading Brit in 14th in a personal best 2:29.06 chased to the finish by Charlotte Purdue 15th in 2:29.23.
There was no joy for 43-year old supermum Jo Pavey who dropped out at 16 miles
Fife AC Paralympian Derek Rae reached the halfway point in 76 minutes 08 seconds in seventh place and, improving over the final half of the course, overhauled three athletes to place fourth in a new personal best of 2:33.24.
His previous best was set in London last year at 2:37.28. Alex Pires da Silva (Brazil) won the race in 2:28.20.
David Weir won his seventh wheelchair title outsprinting Marcel Hug (Switzerland) in a time of 1:31.06.
Manuela Schar (Switzerland) claimed the women’s title in a course record 1:39.57.