KENYA’S Mary Keitany set a new world record to win the women’s London Marathon 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. “I want to say it was a great day for me. It was really amazing,” she said after her third win in London.
In the men’s race Kenyan Wanjiru held off the challenge of Kenenisa Bekele, who holds the 5000 metres and 10,000m 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. Bedan Karoki finished in third place.
“Yes, everything is possible,” said Wanjiru when asked if he could break the world record. “At the beginning the race was very fast, inside world record pace. As the race was very fast anything can happen.
“It was becoming tougher and tougher. We pushed and the sun was coming up and the day was beautiful. I have tasted world record pace which was good for me.”
Robbie Simpson and Andrew Davies finished 15th and 16th respectively while Swansea’s Josh Griffiths, running his first marathon, was the first Briton across the line in the mass event in 2:14.49 and could now qualify for the British team for the World Championships.
In the wheelchair race Weir, who won the Paris Marathon earlier in the month, clinched victory on Sunday after a sprint finish to beat defending champion Marcel Hug by just a second.
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