• Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home IAAF

Second Victory, Course record for Wilson Kipsang at Virgin Money London Marathon, by David Monti, RRW, used with permission

Larry Ederby Larry Eder
April 13, 2014
0
0 0
0
SHARES
1
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
biwottandkipsang.jpeg

Biwott and Kipsang, about to do battle, 
photo courtesy of Virgin Money London Marathon

SECOND VICTORY, COURSE RECORD FOR KIPSANG AT LONDON MARATHON

RelatedPosts

Coffee with Larry, May 19, 2025, All About Health, and Why You Need an Annual Check Up!

WHAT DID IT TAKE TO EARN $1000 AT A ROAD RACE IN 2024?

This Day in Track & Field, May 12, Joan Benoit Samuelson takes Olympic Trials Marathon weeks after arthroscopic surgery (1984), compiled and written by Walt Murphy

By David Monti, @d9monti

(c) 2014 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved, used with permission.

LONDON (13-Apr) — While Britain’s Mo Farah got the loudest cheers at the 34th Virgin Money London Marathon here today, it was Kenya’s Wilson Kipsang who ultimately had the last word.  The world record holder ran a cagey race, using two explosive surges in the second half to win his second marathon here in a course record 2:04:29. His compatriot, Edna Kiplagat, notched her first London win in four tries in an exciting sprint finish over Florence Kiplagat (no relation) in 2:20:21.  Over 36,000 runners started the race held in near-perfect conditions.

MEN’S RACE GOES OFF SCRIPT

Organizers had carefully planned four pacing groups in the men’s race.  The first group was scheduled to go to half-way in 61:45 led by the great Haile Gebrselassie, the event’s first-ever celebrity pacemaker.  Gebrselassie, who turns 41 later this week, took the field through 5 kilometers in an exuberant 14:21, including a 4:31 (downhill) third mile.  That put the field on an improbable 2:01:06 finish pace. All the event’s favorites were in the lead group –Kipsang, Geoffrey Mutai, Emmanuel Mutai, Tsegaye Kebede, Ayele Abshero, Tsegaye Mekonnen, Stanley Biwott, and Feyisa Lilesa– except Farah, who chose before the race to run in the second group.

The pace remained high through 10-K (29:11), while Farah ran a more conservative 29:56 with pacemaker Milton Rotich and 2011 World 10,000m champion Ibrahim Jeilan who, like Farah, was making his marathon debut.  Gebrselassie was able to continue on the front through 15-K (44:06), but then minutes later he abruptly pulled off the course to leave Kenyan Richard Sigei to continue to pace the lead group (Gebrselassie was supposed to run 30-K).  With Gebrselassie gone, the pace slowed, and the half-way mark was only reached in 62:30, 45 seconds slower than planned and 15 seconds slower than the second group was supposed to go.

None of this bothered Kipsang, however, who continued to run comfortably with his distinct, upright style.  He was simply biding his time and surveying the field for weakness.  When he won here in 2012, he spurted away from the field only 20 kilometers into the race, but today he would want an additional 10 kilometers after gently testing the field about half-way through the race.

“You see I tried to push from 20 (kilometers) even this time,” Kipsang told Race Results Weekly in an interview.  “The kind of move that I made from after 21 was trying to see how the guys are.  I see the guys were really not strong enough.”

Seven men remained in contention: Kipsang, Kebede, Mekonnen, Geoffrey Mutai, Biwott, Abshero and Lilesa (course record holder Emmanuel Mutai had drifted back; he later said he had fainted in his bathroom the night before the race, fell and hit his head, hip and shoulder).  Kipsang decided he had waited long enough.  After passing 30-K in 1:29:02, he held steady for several minutes, then shocked the field with a 4:38 20th mile. Only Biwott and two-time TCS New York City Marathon champion Geoffrey Mutai were able to respond.

“I knew, let me just wait until the right time,” Kipsang said of his move.  “Thirty-K, because 30-K I know I only have 12 kilometers myself.”

Kipsang, with Biwott by his side, then ran 4:41 for mile 21, 4:42 for 22, and 4:47 for 23.  Mutai couldn’t handle that pace, and faded back (he would finish sixth in 2:08:18).  Kipsang didn’t want to leave it for a sprint on The Mall, so at 40 kilometers he made his second big push, dropping Biwott in an instant.  He sailed home from there having the entire homestretch to himself.  He said it may have looked easier than it was; he was hurting.

“What I can say, is when you’re running you find that despite the fact that you are feeling pain, you find that if you try to show the physical appearance of happiness you find this generation of energy inside your body.  So, even if you are feeling a lot of pain, try to feel happy.”

Biwott, who finished eighth here last year and was fifth in New York last November, finished a solid second in 2:04:55, a personal best.  Kebede, last year’s London champion, won the sprint for third in 2:06:30 over Abshero (2:06:31).  Reigning Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon champion Mekonnen, reportedly 18 years-old, landed fifth in 2:08:06.

For Farah, the second half became a private struggle on public streets.  He lost contact with his pacemaker, Cybrian Kotut, several times and ran much of the race alone.  Off of a 63:08 first half, he finished eighth in 2:08:21, setting a new English (but not British) record.  He told the BBC in his post-race interview that he had had “a bad day at the office.”

“The crowd, the support; I just dreamed of one day being here and do well,” Farah told the BBC.  “And that was always my goal.  He continued: “I was alone a lot of the way.  Sometimes it’s harder to be able to do something. You know, the point is that I’m not thinking too much about it.  I had a bad day in the office; it is what it is. I’ve got to move on and get ready for my next race.”

DOUBLE WORLD CHAMPION KIPLAGAT SHOWS SURPRISING SPRINT SPEED

The women’s race was a torrid affair right from the starter’s gun.  After a slightly impetuous first kilometer, the lead group pacemakers, Kenyans Joyce Chepkirui and Josephine Jepkoech, settled down and did a fine job of moving the race along at a fast, but realistic, pace.  They clipped through 10 kilometers in 32:48 (2:18:24 pace), and Kiplagat ran comfortably at the back of the pack.

In the 7th mile (12th kilometer), Florence Kiplagat upped the pace, and two strong Ethiopians, Aberu Kebede and Feysa Tadese, fell off the back. Reigning Olympic champion Tiki Gelana, who had been running stiffly at the back of the pack, also fell out of contention and eventually finished 9th in 2:26:58.  The high pace was visibly evident because the group was running single file by the time they came to 15-K (49:04).  Soon, the race was down to four behind pacemaker Chepkirui: the two Kiplagats, debutante Tirunesh Dibaba and defending champion (and TCS New York City Marathon champion) Priscah Jeptoo.

“When we were the five of us I saw the group was still strong,” Kiplagat told reporters.

After a very fast 16th mile (5:13), Jeptoo suddenly stopped in the 17th mile and was out of the race.  Her coach, Claudio Berardelli, later told Race Results Weekly that Jeptoo felt a pop in calf and had to stop immediately (she was seen limping badly back at the athletes hotel later).  With Chepkirui also out, it was down to just three.

Then, disaster struck Dibaba.  At the 30-K fluid station, she dropped her bottle and stopped cold to pick it up.  The two Kiplagat’s bolted, and within moments Dibaba was out of contention.

“The only thing that I’m very much disappointed about was the water,” Dibaba told the media after the race through a translator.  “When I took the water, it first fell down.  I tried to get it, so, I couldn’t manage it proper.”

From 30-K (1:39:11) to the final finish straight on The Mall, Kiplagat and Kiplagat would run side by side.  The race wasn’t decided until the last 200 meters when Edna sprinted away from Florence with one powerful move for her first London Marathon win in 2:20:21.

“In the last 200 meters I tried to have good speed, and that’s when I found that I’m going to win the race,” Kiplagat said.  “I was really happy because that last three years I tried, but I knew I have experience and I knew the training which I did, I practiced mostly speed.”

Florence Kiplagat finished three seconds back in 2:20:24.  Facing the press, she at first looked glum, but then perked up.  “I’m very happy to be number two,” she said, jokingly calling Dibaba “a machine.”

Dibaba made an impressive debut, in 2:20:35 to round out the podium.  She told reporters that she planned to continue to run on the track, but that there would definitely be more marathons for her in the future.

“Yes, of course I plan to go back to the track,” she said, responding to a reporter’s question.  “But, I’m thinking to try a marathon once again because I don’t like to be second or third.  I have to be first all the time.”  She added: “I want to be first in marathon, too.”

Author

  • Larry Eder

    Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

    View all posts
Previous Post

Top-10 London Finish leaves Vail Hungry for more! by David Monti, RRW, used with permission

Next Post

My excellent adventure, Day 18: Day before The Day, by Larry Eder

Larry Eder

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

Similar Post

DAY 1 report: Ethiopians take 1-2-3 in the women’s 10,000m at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest
Coffee With Larry

Coffee with Larry, May 23, 2025, adidas Atlanta City Games, Doha, Rabat, European Cup and Sound Running’s TRACKFEST!

May 24, 2025
Coffee with Larry, August 7, 2024, A Superb Women’s Pole Vault, A Surprise in Men’s Discus, and a stunner in the Men’s Steeplechase, this is the Paris Olympics!
Diamond League

Rabat DL is 4th stop on Diamond League series: Chebet, Tebogo, Wanyonyi and national hero El Bakkali!

May 24, 2025
This Day in Track & Field, May 23, Dutch Warmerdam breaks own WR in PV (1942), Daley Thompson breaks own WR in Decathlon (1982), compiled and edited by Walt Murphy
Athletic History

This Day in Track & Field, May 23, Dutch Warmerdam breaks own WR in PV (1942), Daley Thompson breaks own WR in Decathlon (1982), compiled and edited by Walt Murphy

May 24, 2025
European 10,000m Cup coming soon! May 24 in Pace, France! Free to watch on European-Athletics.com
European Athletics

European 10,000m Cup coming soon! May 24 in Pace, France! Free to watch on European-Athletics.com

May 23, 2025
2024 NIKE Pre Classic Presser, Section 3: Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Josh Kerr and Yared Nuguse, the MILE of the Century!
Spring Training

2025 Spring Racing/Training Program, May 23, 2025, week 10, day 5, Tenth Week of the season, easy Friday!

May 24, 2025
Weber 91.06 WL, Cherotich 9:05.08 WL, Masalela 1:43.11 WL, Tia Clayton 10.92 WL in Doha Diamond League
Coffee With Larry

Coffee with Larry, All About the 2025 Doha Diamond League Meeting

May 24, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to RunBlogRun's Global News Feed

Wake up to RunBlogRun’s news in your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll keep you informed about the Sport you love.

*we hate spam as much as you do

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Clyde Hart’s Guide to 400 meter training (from 1996 Super Clinic Notes/World Coaches Notes)

Clyde Hart’s Guide to 400 meter training (from 1996 Super Clinic Notes/World Coaches Notes)

April 5, 2023
2023 Nike Pre Classic: Two Amazing Days of Track & Field!

Noah Lyles, The Clock Doesn’t Lie

March 7, 2024
USATF / Day Four:  USA’s Assembled Team Is Ready!

Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

February 6, 2025
Grand Slam Track’s Kingston Slam Comes to a Close with 12 Slam Champions

2025 Spring Racing/Training Program, April 11, 2025, week 4, day 5, fourth week of year, Friday is an easy day!

April 12, 2025
Mondo Duplantis and the Jump that made him the greatest of all time

Mondo Duplantis and the Jump that made him the greatest of all time

8
What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

7
My Five Biggest Takeaways from the Men’s Olympic Trials Marathon, by Oliver Hinson

My Five Biggest Takeaways from the Men’s Olympic Trials Marathon, by Oliver Hinson

7
Asafa Powell, Considering Longevity in Sprinting

The RunBlogrun Interview: Asafa Powell

5
DAY 1 report: Ethiopians take 1-2-3 in the women’s 10,000m at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest

Coffee with Larry, May 23, 2025, adidas Atlanta City Games, Doha, Rabat, European Cup and Sound Running’s TRACKFEST!

May 24, 2025
Coffee with Larry, August 7, 2024, A Superb Women’s Pole Vault, A Surprise in Men’s Discus, and a stunner in the Men’s Steeplechase, this is the Paris Olympics!

Rabat DL is 4th stop on Diamond League series: Chebet, Tebogo, Wanyonyi and national hero El Bakkali!

May 24, 2025
This Day in Track & Field, May 23, Dutch Warmerdam breaks own WR in PV (1942), Daley Thompson breaks own WR in Decathlon (1982), compiled and edited by Walt Murphy

This Day in Track & Field, May 23, Dutch Warmerdam breaks own WR in PV (1942), Daley Thompson breaks own WR in Decathlon (1982), compiled and edited by Walt Murphy

May 24, 2025
European 10,000m Cup coming soon! May 24 in Pace, France! Free to watch on European-Athletics.com

European 10,000m Cup coming soon! May 24 in Pace, France! Free to watch on European-Athletics.com

May 23, 2025

Popular Stories

  • Clyde Hart’s Guide to 400 meter training (from 1996 Super Clinic Notes/World Coaches Notes)

    Clyde Hart’s Guide to 400 meter training (from 1996 Super Clinic Notes/World Coaches Notes)

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Noah Lyles, The Clock Doesn’t Lie

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 2025 Spring Racing/Training Program, April 11, 2025, week 4, day 5, fourth week of year, Friday is an easy day!

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • An epic pole vault competition

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
DAY 1 report: Ethiopians take 1-2-3 in the women’s 10,000m at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest
Coffee With Larry

Coffee with Larry, May 23, 2025, adidas Atlanta City Games, Doha, Rabat, European Cup and Sound Running’s TRACKFEST!

May 24, 2025
Coffee with Larry, August 7, 2024, A Superb Women’s Pole Vault, A Surprise in Men’s Discus, and a stunner in the Men’s Steeplechase, this is the Paris Olympics!
Diamond League

Rabat DL is 4th stop on Diamond League series: Chebet, Tebogo, Wanyonyi and national hero El Bakkali!

May 24, 2025
This Day in Track & Field, May 23, Dutch Warmerdam breaks own WR in PV (1942), Daley Thompson breaks own WR in Decathlon (1982), compiled and edited by Walt Murphy
Athletic History

This Day in Track & Field, May 23, Dutch Warmerdam breaks own WR in PV (1942), Daley Thompson breaks own WR in Decathlon (1982), compiled and edited by Walt Murphy

May 24, 2025
European 10,000m Cup coming soon! May 24 in Pace, France! Free to watch on European-Athletics.com
European Athletics

European 10,000m Cup coming soon! May 24 in Pace, France! Free to watch on European-Athletics.com

May 23, 2025

Recent Tweets

Next Post

My excellent adventure, Day 18: Day before The Day, by Larry Eder

runblogrun

RunBlogRun comments on the global world of athletics, sports & ethics, and the Olympic movement. @runblogrun

Browse by Category

Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Home page
  • My Account
  • Sample Page

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

Select a password for yourself. (minimum length of 8)

Paste here the user biography.

Provide here the twitter screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the instagram screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the facebook profile URL. i.e. http://www.facebook.com/RunBlogRun

Provide here the linkedin profile URL. i.e. https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-eder-5497253

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Home page
  • My Account
  • Sample Page

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved