Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum won the London Marathon on Sunday, setting the second-fastest time ever at this distance, with a time of 2:01.27, 18 seconds behind compatriot Eliud Kipchoge’s record.
Kiptum, who already in his debut marathon, last December in Valencia (Spain), had become the third best athlete in the world, with the fifth fastest time ever (2:01.43), in a ranking led by Kipchoge, who won on September 25, 2022 , won the Berlin Marathon in 2:01.09.
The Kenyan runner continued a strong acceleration as 1h30 of the race had passed and crossed the finish line completely clear, ahead of his compatriot Geoffrey Kamworor and World Champion Ethiopian Tamirat Tola, who finished in second and third place respectively.
In the women’s race, the Dutch Sifan Hassan, Olympic champion in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters at the Tokyo 2020 Games, took part in her first marathon.
Although showing signs of cramping after an hour into the race, Hassan gradually made up for her deficit in the leading group and eventually triumphed with a time of 2:18.33, beating Ethiopian Alemu Megertu and Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir, Olympic champion, who placed second and third respectively.
Source: DN
