Athletics: Kenyans on top in London Marathon

LONDON: Kenya’s Wilson Kipsang and Mary Keitany triumphed in the London Marathon yesterday as the African nation served notice of its distance running strength ahead of the Olympic Games. Kipsang, the second fastest man of all time, went clear of a class field in the closing stages and won in a time of two hours, four minutes and 44 seconds just four seconds outside the course record set by compatriot Emmanuel Mutai in winning last year’s race. He finished more than two minutes in front of compatriot Martin Lel, who overtook fellow former London champion Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia with a strong sprint finish. Meanwhile, in the women’s event, Keitany defended her title and enhanced her credentials for an Olympic gold in London in a few months’ time as Kenyan runners monopolised the top-five spots.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2012.