LONDON (Reuters) - Kenya’s Amos Kipruto and Yalemzerf Yehualaw from Ethiopia won the men’s and women’s elite races at the London Marathon here.
Despite tripping on a speed bump in the last stage of the race, Yehualaw managed to break clear of the leading group later and finished first in two hours, 17 minutes and 26 seconds.
The 23-year-old Ethiopian was 41 seconds ahead of defending champion Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya. Yehualaw’s compatriot Alemu Megertu was third in 2:18:32.
Kipruto took the men’s title in 2:04:39. Ethiopia’s Leul Gebresilase and Bashir Abdi of Belgium followed in second and third, in 2:05:12 and 2:05:19, respectively.
Ethiopian veteran Kenenisa Bekele finished fifth in 2:05:53. With three Olympic golds and five world champions, the 40-year-old is considered by many as one of the greatest long-distance runners of all time.