Double delight for Kenyan runners

AFP, LONDON: Eliud Kipchoge and Jemima Sumgong gave a timely boost to the tarnished reputation of Kenyan athletics on Sunday with courageous wins in the men's and women's London Marathons.
Kipchoge set a new course record for the men in winning the full-distance London race for the second straight year.
The 31-year-old former track star clocked an official time of 2hrs 03mins 04secs, the second fastest run in history over the distance, just seven seconds shy of the world record set by fellow Kenyan Dennis Kimetto at the Berlin Marathon in September 2014.
Kipchoge broke clear of another Kenyan, Stanley Biwott, with about three kilometres to go and sprinted home well ahead of Biwott with track legend Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia in third.
He celebrated by raising his finger as he made the final turn but appeared to realise just before the line that he could have broken Kimetto's world best time.
Kipchoge is the first man to win back-to-back London marathons since Martin Lel of Kenya in 2008.
"With six kilometres to go it was a tie between going for the world record time and winning. I am happy I have ran the course very well," he told the BBC.
For Biwott it was the second time he has finished runner-up in London after 2014. He was fourth behind winner Kipchoge last year. His time of 2:03:51 was a personal best
Former Olympic and world track champion over 5,000 and 10,000 kms Bekele showed a return to form after a niggling series of injuries.
Earlier Kenya's Sumgong survived a bad fall late in the race to win the women's London Marathon for the first time.
Sumgong banged the side of her head off the road when three runners went down after clashing at a drinks station, but she rejoined the leaders and eventually outpaced last year's winner, Tigist Tufa of Ethiopia, over the last mile.
It was the Kenyan's first major marathon victory since Rotterdam three years ago and followed runner-up finishes in Boston, Chicago and New York.

Double delight for Kenyan runners

AFP, LONDON: Eliud Kipchoge and Jemima Sumgong gave a timely boost to the tarnished reputation of Kenyan athletics on Sunday with courageous wins in the mens and womens London Marathons. Kipchoge set a new course record for the men in winning the full-distance London race for the second straight year. The 31-year-old former track star clocked an official time of 2hrs 03mins 04secs, the second fastest run in history over the distance, just seven seconds shy of the world record set by fellow Kenyan Dennis Kimetto at the Berlin Marathon in September 2014. Kipchoge broke clear of another Kenyan, Stanley Biwott, with about three kilometres to go and sprinted home well ahead of Biwott with track legend Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia in third. He celebrated by raising his finger as he made the final turn but appeared to realise just before the line that he could have broken Kimettos world best time. Kipchoge is the first man to win back-to-back London marathons since Martin Lel of Kenya in 2008. With six kilometres to go it was a tie between going for the world record time and winning. I am happy I have ran the course very well, he told the BBC. For Biwott it was the second time he has finished runner-up in London after 2014. He was fourth behind winner Kipchoge last year. His time of 2:03:51 was a personal best Former Olympic and world track champion over 5,000 and 10,000 kms Bekele showed a return to form after a niggling series of injuries. Earlier Kenyas Sumgong survived a bad fall late in the race to win the womens London Marathon for the first time. Sumgong banged the side of her head off the road when three runners went down after clashing at a drinks station, but she rejoined the leaders and eventually outpaced last years winner, Tigist Tufa of Ethiopia, over the last mile. It was the Kenyans first major marathon victory since Rotterdam three years ago and followed runner-up finishes in Boston, Chicago and New York.