Kenyans earn London Marathon double as Hallissey boosts hopes
KENYAN duo Wilson Kipsang and Mary Keitany clinched an east African double at the London Marathon, but there were mixed results for Britain’s London 2012 hopes.
Kipsang finished just four seconds outside of last year’s course record, clocking two hours, four minutes and 44 seconds, having led for the final seven miles.
Keitany successfully defended her title by crossing the line in 2:18:37, a new personal best and more than a minute quicker than world champion Edna Kiplagat, who was second.
Guernsey’s Lee Merrien was the fastest Briton in the men’s race in 17th place, but his time of 2:13:41 was just over a minute outside the mark needed to qualify for this summer’s Olympics.
The only British man selected for London 2012, Scott Overall, dropped out with hamstring problem around a third of the way through the 26-mile course, having set the pace for his countrymen.
Claire Hallissey, meanwhile, looks set to gatecrash the Team GB squad at Jo Pavey’s expense after finishing quickest of the British women, her time of 2:27:44 placing her 11th.
Britain’s David Weir secured a sixth victory in the wheelchair race with a time of 1:32:26, equalling the record number of wins set by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson.