Eliud Kipchoge produced a mastered, tactful race to clinch his third London marathon crown, shaking off Ethiopia’s Shola Tura to cut the tape in a time of 2:04:16.
Shura stuck on Kipchoge’s shoulder like a tick for almost 10km when the Kenyan road running kingpin decided to shake himself away from the pack, but Kipchoge changed gears in the final 2km leaving the Ethiopian gasping for breath.
The Ethiopian managed to hold on for second spot in a time of 2:05:00 while home boy Mo Farah finished third in a time of 2:06:32. Abel Kirui and Bedan Karoki finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Multiple track champion Vivian Cheruiyot stunned pre-race favorite Mary Keitany to bag her second career marathon victory, winning in London in a Personal best time of 2:18:31 ahead of compatriot Brigid Kosgei.
Cheruiyot whose maiden victory over 42km of road running was in Frankfurt last year pressed the gas on the pace in the final seven kilometers of the race, going past favorite Keitany and maintaining the pace till the finish line.
Keitany seemed to struggle in the final few kilometers of the race and could only manage to hold on for fifth, crossing the finish line in a time of 02:24:27.
Ethiopia’s Tadelech Bekele cut off the possibility of a Kenyan 1-2-3 coming in third in a time of 2:21:30 while Gladys Cherono finished fourth in 2:24:10.
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