Mutai breaks London marathon record

Emmanuel Mutai, Martin Lel, Patrick Makau and the pace setters run over London Bridge [GALLO/GETTY]

Kenya’s Emmanuel Mutai clocked up the fastest-ever London marathon time on Sunday to complete a Kenyan double in England’s premier road race.

Mutai completed the race in 2:04:40 beating the previous course record of 2:05:10 set by fellow Kenyan Sammy Wanjiru two years ago.

Kenya completed a top-three finish as three-time champion Martin Lel outsprinted Patrick Makau to take second place, although both men were given the same time of 2:05:45.

Kenya also continued their dominance in the women’s race, with Mary Keitany breaking away from the field to win the race in 2:19:19.

Kenyan dominance

“My dream has come true,” Mutai, who finished second last year, said.

“Between 36 and 38 kms it was a little difficult but I just tried to push it and in the end I managed it.”

The only previous Kenyan double in London was in 2004 when Evans Rutto won the men’s race and Margaret Okayo finished first in the women’s.

The 26-year-old Mutai’s time was also the fifth-fastest ever in a marathon and was just reward for a triumphant display.

He broke away from Lel at around the 21-mile mark and sprinted to the finish to ensure his record time.

Twenty nine-year-old Keitany ran the fourth fastest marathon by a woman in her London debut.

After breaking away after the 15-mile mark, she was almost a minute ahead of defending champion Liliya Shobukhova, who ran a personal best of 2:20:15.

Keitany’s fellow Kenyan Edna Kiplagat, who was also competing in the English capital for the first time, finished third with a personal best 2:20:46.

Keitany was almost 10 minutes faster than her third-place performance in New York last November.

“I surprised myself because before I knew I was with the winner of London last year and the one from New York (Kiplagat),” Keitany said.

“I was a bit scared at first, but then we continued moving I believed in myself that I would make this. I feel very happy.”

In the wheelchair race Britain’s David Weir claimed an unprecedented fifth title with a perfectly timed sprint finish.

Weir waited until he was within sight of the finish on The Mall before powering past Switzerland’s Heinz Frei to become the most successful wheelchair athlete in the event’s history.

In the women’s wheelchair race, Shelly Woods was pipped on the line by American Amanda McGrory.