London Marathon winner Kelvin Kiptum breaks course record with second-fastest run ever, missing Eliud Kipchoge’s record by just 18 SECONDS
Kelvin Kiptum shattered the London Marathon course record on Sunday afternoon with a brilliant run to win in the capital.
The Kenyan triumphed with an incredible time of 2 hours 01 minutes 27 seconds.
That run is the fastest ever in London, and the second fastest of all time – behind only Kenyan veteran Eliud Kipchoge’s all-time effort of 1hr 59mins 40secs in Vienna in 2019.
Kiptum, 23, tired towards the end and missed Kipchoge’s world record by just 18 seconds.
However, there would be no fairytale finish for Mo Farah in his last London Marathon and possibly his last major race ever.
Kelvin Kiptum broke the London Marathon course record with a brilliant run on Sunday
The Kenyan won with an incredible time of 2 hours 01 minutes 27 seconds, the second fastest of all time – behind only veteran Eliud Kipchoge’s all-time effort of 1 hour 59 minutes 40 seconds in Vienna in 2019
British veteran Farah, 40, was outperformed by fellow Brits Emile Cairess and Phil Sesemann after a promising start to finish ninth.
But it was a great day for Cairess, who came sixth on his marathon debut and set an extremely respectable time of 2 hours 08 minutes 07 seconds – making him the third-fastest British man in history.
While Sifan Hassan was a surprise winner of the women’s race on her debut over the distance. The Ethiopian-born Dutch athlete’s victory was all the more remarkable as she fell way off the pace at around 15 miles and locked her hip.
But Hassan, who is an Olympic champion in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, caught up with the leaders with three miles to go.
The 30-year-old survived when she made a mess of getting a drink at a water station, but bounced back and even offered rival Yalemzerf Yehualaw, last year’s winner, a drink from her bottle.
As a track athlete, Hassan gave a clear advantage in a sprint finish and she pulled away from Alemu Megertu and Peres Jepchirchir through The Mall and came home in two hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds.
Former Olympic middle distance runner Steve Cram was stunned by Hassan’s win. “Sifan Hassan has done something that no one could have ever expected,” he said. She struggled, grabbing her hip and stopping to stretch it.
“She would have dreamed of just finishing. She can hardly believe it, this is perhaps the greatest success of her life.’
While British icon Sir Mo Farah finished ninth after being overtaken late by two compatriots
Two-time Olympic champion Sifan Hassan (left) was a surprise winner in the women’s race