Kipruto was the only Kenyan in the elite men’s race, but showed superb form to kick away from the rest of the pack with five kilometres of the gruelling 42km course left.
Lone-ranger Amos Kipruto won the London Marathon for the first time ever, clocking 2:04:39 whike Joyciline Jepkosgei relinquished her title to Ethiopia’s Yehualaw Yalemzerf.
Kipruto was the only Kenyan in the elite men’s race, but showed superb form to kick away from the rest of the pack with five kilometres of the gruelling 42km course left.
“It was a really tough race for me but I am glad I achieved. Being the only Kenyan was tough. There was a lot of pressure because I know my fans in Kenya were watching and I fought for them,” said Kipruto after the race.
He added; “I was motivated by my coach, family and training mates. I had prepared well, I had trained for almost six months since Tokyo and I was ready for this.”
Kipruto ran a patient race, and quietly sat within the leading pack as he looked for the opportune time to strike. The leading pack also included track legend Kenenisa Bekele who was leading the race till the halfway mark.
However, the Ethiopian legend was dropped out of the leading pack after 30km when the group whittled to four athletes. With five kilometres left, the Kenyan made his move, striding up the field and leaving the Ethiopian chasing pack, unable to close him down.
Meanwhile, Joyciline lost the women’s title in reverse fashion, Yalemzerf dropping her after the 35km mark. They had broken away from the leading pack, but the Ethiopian, who recovered from a fall to join back the top group, conquered in a time of 2:17:26.
The Kenyan who won the title last season finished second in 2:18:07, with compatriot Judith Korir finishing fourth in 2:18:43. Mary Ngugi, the other Kenyan in the race finished eighth.