Kelvin Kiptum claimed victory at the 2023 TCS London Marathon on Sunday while Sir Mo Farah finished the race in ninth position.
Somali-born Farah announced the marathon would be his last competitive outing having featured in three previous editions where his best finish was third place in 2018.
Four-time Olympics gold medal and Britain's most successful track athlete Mo Farah bows out of competitive race in style at the 2023 London Marathon this morning.#Afrosport #LondonMarathon #MoFarah #London #Athletics pic.twitter.com/7hPFAlzplb
— AfroSport (@AfroSportTV) April 23, 2023
The 40-year old had struggled with injuries and fitness problems in recent years and showed signs of fatigue on Sunday as he dropped from sixth place at some stage and was overtaken by Australia’s Brett Robinson and the British duo of Emile Cairess and Phil Sessemann to ultimately finish in ninth place.
The day, however, belonged to Kiptum who finished in a time of 2 hours, 1 minute and 26 seconds, on his London Marathon debut, breaking the course record of his compatriot Eliud Kipchoge (2 hours, 2 minutes and 37 seconds) set in 2019.
2:01:25 ????
The second quickest marathon of all time.
Take a bow Kelvin Kiptum! ????????#LondonMarathon #WeRunTogether pic.twitter.com/P3ScIY5z0L
— TCS London Marathon (@LondonMarathon) April 23, 2023
Kiptum finished ahead of countryman Geoffrey Kamworor in second and Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola in third while two other Ethiopians, Leul Gebresilase and Seifu Tura crossed the finish line in fourth and fifth respectively, completing the list of African nationals in the top 10.
In the women’s elite race, Ethiopian-born Dutch runner Sifan Hassan fought her way back to win in what was her debut in the British capital.
The 30-year old 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres Olympic champion was out of contention after she dropped back early on with suspected cramps.
IT'S UNBELIEVABLE! ????
Sifan Hassan wins the 2023 TCS London Marathon.#LondonMarathon #WeRunTogether pic.twitter.com/lp664ftIRC
— TCS London Marathon (@LondonMarathon) April 23, 2023
Hassan fought her way back to cross the finish line in pole position in a time of 2 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds.
Ethiopia’s Alemu Megertu came home in second while Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir was third.
