The Kenyan Alexander Mutiso beat a reborn Kenenisa Bekele this Sunday in the men’s category of the London Marathon, while his compatriot Peres Jepchirchir won in the women, establishing a new world record for a race without male hares.
Mutiso and Bekele led the group of notables for most of the race, but with about three kilometers to go the Kenyan left the Ethiopian legend behind to impose his strength until the finish line next to Buckingham Palace and set a record of 2: 04:00.
The Kenyan won his first London Marathon, succeeding his compatriot Kelvin Kiptum, last year’s winner who died in February in a traffic accident, on the throne. This year’s race has had a special dedication to the runner who tragically lost his life a couple of months ago. Before the start, the runners observed a moment of silence in his honor and a video of last year’s race, in which Kiptum achieved a world record, was shown.
For her part, Jepchirchir, current Olympic champion, defeated the current holder of the distance record, the Ethiopian Tigist Assefa, in a tight final sprint, with a time of 2:16:16.
