[ 2013-04-21 ]

Kebede, Jeptoo win emotional London Marathon
LONDON (AFP) - Ethiopia's Tsegaye Kebede and
Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya triumphed at a sombre
London Marathon on Sunday, as runners paid tribute
to the victims of the deadly bomb attacks at the
Boston Marathon.

Kebede hunted down 2011 champion Emmanuel Mutai to
win the men's race, while Jeptoo surged to victory
in the women's event, eight months on from her
second-place finish at the London Olympics.

The men's and mass start races were preceded by a
30-second silence in memory of the three people
killed and around 180 injured in Monday's bombings
in Boston, while competitors donned black ribbons
in tribute.

After a frenetic start in the men's race, Mutai
led Stanley Biwott, Feyisha Lilesa and Ayele
Abshero past the 30-kilometre mark just 10 seconds
outside world-record pace.

Biwott tried to force the issue but Mutai resisted
his Kenyan countryman's efforts to break clear and
found himself in the lead.

However, he began to flag as he approached the
Houses of Parliament and Kebede tore past him to
cross the line in a time of 2hr 06min 03sec. Mutai
trailed in second, with Abshero third.

British Olympic star Mo Farah had helped set the
early pace before dropping out, as planned, after
an hour.

The 5,000 and 10,000 metres champion at last
year's London Games is preparing to compete over
the full distance next year, but he said he had
struggled with the demands of marathon running.

"The pace is not a problem. The biggest challenge
is picking up the right drink and I think I made a
mess of it," Farah said.

"I've learnt the biggest lesson of my life,
really. If I come here next year and make a mess
of it, it'd be hard to deal with, so it's opened
my eyes."

Jeptoo, who finished third in last year's race,
streaked away from the women's field to claim
victory ahead of compatriot Edna Kiplagat and
Yukiko Akaba of Japan.

London Olympic champion Tiki Gelana collided with
men's wheelchair athlete Josh Cassidy at a drinks
station after 52 minutes and the Ethiopian's
challenge never recovered.

As Gelana toiled, Jeptoo led a three-woman
breakaway that also featured world champion Edna
Kiplagat and 2011 Berlin Marathon champion
Florence Kiplagat.

Florence Kiplagat slowly fell back and her
namesake Edna could not keep pace with Jeptoo
either after the 28-year-old ran the 21st mile in
a time of five minutes and 11 seconds.

Jeptoo completed the race's final stages alone and
raised her arms in triumph as she crossed the
finish line in front of Buckingham Palace in a
time of 2hr 20min 15sec.

Australia's Kurt Fearnley took the honours in the
men's wheelchair race after pipping Marcel Hug of
Switzerland in a sprint for the line.

Britain's David Weir, who was bidding for a
seventh London Marathon title, was level with Hug
as the leading racers entered the final straight
but ultimately finished fifth.

American Tatyana McFadden claimed victory in the
women's wheelchair event in a course record time
to follow up her success in the equivalent race in
Boston.

Earlier, 35,000 runners bowed their heads and
observed a moment of reflection in memory of the
victims of Monday's devastating twin bomb blasts
in Boston.

Organisers have pledged to donate £2 ($3, 2.30
euros) for every finisher to a fund for the Boston
victims.

Meanwhile, the police presence along the 26.2-mile
(42.2-kilometre) course was increased by 40
percent.

Despite security fears, organisers said 700,000
people took to the streets of London to watch the
race on a day of blue skies and bright sunshine in
the British capital.

US police arrested one suspect in the Boston
bombing on Friday after his brother and fellow
suspect was killed in a shootout.

Source - AFP

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