Kenya’s Keitany breaks world record at women-only London Marathon

Wanjiru, 24, saw off world record holder Kenenisa Bekele to cross the finishing line with a time of two hours, five minutes and 48 seconds. With two miles remaining, he had narrowed the gap to eight seconds. The 35-year-old clocked 2:17:01 hours at the IAAF Gold Label Road Race, taking 41 seconds off the previous mark of 2:17:42 set by Britain’s Paula Radcliffe in 2005.

Should the 34-year-old – who still holds the 5,000 and 10,000 metres world records – manage that it would be a fitting end to a week that has seen the great race receive even more advance publicity than usual. “She has proved that Kenyan women are resilient and world beaters”.

In the women’s race, Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia finished 56 seconds adrift of Keitany in second place, while Aselefech Mergia of Ethiopia was third.

“It was very fast pace and I tried to follow it”, Keitany said. That was the best that I’ve felt in a London Marathon.

“Seeing the effect the cancer had on her and how she deteriorated during those two years was really hard”. Im very happy with the finish time. “Every race, every course is different and I’m learning with every one”.

Keitany took advantage of the fact that last year’s victor Jemima Sumgong is now suspended for testing positive for the blood booster EPO.

The mens race had a royal start, with Prince William, wife Kate and brother Harry pressing a button to sound the klaxon.

Having finished third past year, Bekele ended nine seconds down to end as the runner-up.

“We did a lap each and it was the most hard thing we’ve ever done in our lives I have to say!”

Steve has completed a number of 10km and half marathons in preparation for the race.

“It was becoming tougher and tougher. The sun was coming and the day was lovely – but we don’t need too much sun!”

“It hasn’t sunk in yet”, said Weir, who has now gone one better than Tanni Grey-Thompson who won six wheelchair titles in her long career.

The opening and closing dates for the ballot have yet to be announced but last year it opened on 2 May and closed four days later – so expect a similar time this year.

Little did he know that one day he would be running the marathon in memory of his dad who passed away in October following a lung cancer-related illness.

He said: “You have got to have a goal in life and this seems to be mine”.

Meanwhile Josh Griffiths, a 21-year-old club runner from Swansea, sprung a surprise as he was the first British runner home in 2:14 in his first ever marathon – a time that earns him a place in the British squad for the world championships in London.