April 23, (THEWILL) – Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum set a new course record and came close to breaking the world record to win the men’s London Marathon on Sunday.
Kiptum finished the race in two hours, one minute, and 25 seconds, just 16 seconds away from Eliud Kipchoge’s world record. Kiptum’s time was over a minute faster than Kipchoge’s previous London Marathon record. Geoffrey Kamworor finished in second place, almost three minutes behind Kiptum, while Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia came in third.
However, Mo Farah, a four-time Olympic champion, finished in ninth place and announced his retirement from the distance after the race.
Meanwhile, in the women’s race, Sifan Hassan, a Dutch Olympic track champion, won the marathon despite being 28 seconds behind the leaders at the 25km mark. She suffered a hip injury around the 15-mile point but rallied in the last three miles to cross the finish line in two hours, 18 minutes, and 33 seconds. Ethiopia’s Alemu Megertu came in second, while Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir finished in third place.
Switzerland’s Marcel Hug won his fifth men’s wheelchair race in London, only six days after winning the Boston Marathon. In the women’s wheelchair race, Australia’s Madison de Rozario narrowly defeated four-time champion Manuela Schar at the finish line to take the title.
The London Marathon witnessed some exhilarating performances and moments of grit and determination from the athletes in the timeless manner that sports lends itself to inspire the world towards set objectives.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
