NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 23 – Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya finished third at the London Marathon on Sunday, as debutant Sifan Hassan clinched victory on her first ever marathon, making use of her track experience with a sprint finish.
Peres had been shoulder to shoulder with Sifan and Ethiopian Alemu Mergetu towards the final 300m, but Hassan, whose race seemed over after just 20km as she struggled with injury, put up a superb sprint that has seen her win Olympic and world titles over the 5,000m and 10,000m, to clinch a suprising victory.
She timed 2:18:33 to win the race with Mergetu second and Peres third.
Two-time champion and World Record holder Brigid Kosgei limped out of the race after just three minutes after struggling with injury.
-More to follow
