London Marathon: Kiprotich finishes 6th
By Tom Williams
Posted Sunday, April 21 2013 at 16:38
In Summary
After a frenetic start in the men's race, Mutai led Stanley Biwott, Feyisha
Lilesa and Ayele Abshero past the 30-kilometre mark just 10 seconds outside
world-record pace.
Ethiopia's Tsegaye Kebede and Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya triumphed at a sombre
London Marathon on Sunday, as runners paid tribute to the victims of the
deadly bomb attacks at the Boston Marathon.
Kebede hunted down 2011 champion Emmanuel Mutai to win the men's race, while
Jeptoo surged to victory in the women's event, eight months on from her
second-place finish at the London Olympics.
The men's and mass races were preceded by a 30-second silence in memory of
the three people killed and around 180 injured in Monday's bombings in
Boston, while competitors donned black ribbons in tribute.
Olympic marathon champion Stephen Kiprotich struggled to keep up with the
pace of the London Marathon and settled for sixth position. Kiprotich who
won gold in the same city last summer, couldnt repeat his heroics and
clocked 02:08:05.
After a frenetic start in the men's race, Mutai led Stanley Biwott, Feyisha
Lilesa and Ayele Abshero past the 30-kilometre mark just 10 seconds outside
world-record pace.
Biwott tried to force the issue but Mutai resisted his Kenyan countryman's
efforts to break clear and found himself in the lead.
However, he began to flag badly as he
approached the Houses of Parliament and Kebede tore past him to cross the
line in a time of 2hr 06min 04sec. Mutai trailed in second, with Abshero
third.
British Olympic star Mo Farah had helped set the early pace before dropping
out, as planned, after an hour.
The 5,000 and 10,000 metres champion at last year's London Games is
preparing to compete over the full distance next year and he said he had
struggled with some of the specific demands of marathon running.
"The pace is not a problem. The biggest challenge is picking up the right
drink and I think I made a mess of it," Farah said.
"I've learnt the biggest lesson of my life, really. If I come here next year
and make a mess of it, it'd be hard to deal with, so it's opened my eyes."
Jeptoo, who finished third in last year's race, streaked away from the
women's field to claim victory ahead of compatriot Edna Kiplagat and Yukiko
Akaba of Japan.
London Olympic champion Tiki Gelana collided with men's wheelchair athlete
Josh Cassidy at a drinks station after 52 minutes and the Ethiopian's
challenge never recovered.
As Gelana toiled, Jeptoo led a three-woman breakaway that also featured
world champion Edna Kiplagat and 2011 Berlin Marathon champion Florence
Kiplagat.
Florence Kiplagat slowly fell back and her namesake Edna could not keep pace
with Jeptoo either after the 28-year-old ran the 21st mile in a time of five
minutes and 11 seconds.
Jeptoo completed the race's final stages alone and raised her arms in
triumph as she crossed the finish line in front of Buckingham Palace in a
time of 2hr 20min 15sec.
"Today I'm very, very happy. I couldn't believe I could be the winner,"
Jeptoo said.
"It is a very tough race because everybody who comes here is really
prepared."
Australia's Kurt Fearnley took the honours in the men's wheelchair race
after pipping Marcel Hug of Switzerland in a sprint for the line.
Britain's David Weir, who was bidding for a seventh London Marathon title,
was level with Hug as the leading racers entered the final straight but
ultimately finished fifth.
American Tatyana McFadden claimed victory in the women's wheelchair event in
a course record time to follow up her success in the equivalent race in
Boston.
Earlier, 35,000 runners bowed their heads and observed a moment of
reflection in memory of the victims of Monday's devastating twin bomb blasts
in Boston.
Organisers have pledged to donate £2 ($3, 2.30 euros) for every finisher to
a fund for the Boston victims.
Meanwhile, the police presence along the 26.2-mile (42.2-kilometre) course
was increased by 40 percent.
Despite security fears, organisers said 700,000 people had taken to the
streets of London to watch the race on a day of blue skies and bright
sunshine in the British capital.
US police arrested one suspect in the Boston bombing on Friday after his
brother and fellow suspect was killed in a shootout.
AFP
Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni and Dr. Kiiza Besigye Uganda is in anarchy"
Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni na Dk. Kiiza Besigye Uganda ni katika machafuko"
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