Kipchoge, Cheruiyot of Kenya win at hottest London Marathon
LONDON (AP) — The hottest-ever London Marathon featured a Kenyan double as Eliud Kipchoge swept to a third victory in front of Buckingham Palace joining Vivian Cheruiyot who won the women’s race on Sunday.
The 33-year-old Kipchoge ran the 26.2-mile (42.2-kilometer) course in 2 hours, 4 minutes, 27 seconds to add to the Olympic champion’s wins in the British capital in 2015 and 2016.
“I ran a really beautiful race,” he said.
Tola Shura Kitata of Ethiopia was second, followed by Mo Farah, who set a British record 2:06:21 in front of his home fans who lined the streets in temperatures that reached 73.8 degrees near the finish.
While the race began in the southeast London district of Blackheath, the official starter for the men’s race was more than 30 miles to the west of the British capital. Queen Elizabeth II pushed the start button in front of Windsor Castle.
The race ended in front of the monarch’s London residence — Buckingham Palace.
Cheruiyot, the Olympic 5,000-meter champion, crossed the line in 2:18:31 seconds to win at her second attempt. Fellow Kenyan, Brigid Kosgei, was 1 minute, 42 seconds further back and Tadelech Bekele of Ethiopia was third.
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29-year-old chef dies after collapsing
London Marathon organizers say a 29-year-old man died after collapsing near the end of Sunday’s race in the hottest conditions ever seen for the event.
Matt Campbell, a chef from northwest England who was a contestant on a reality TV cooking show last year, collapsed after 22.5 miles.
Organizers say “although he received immediate medical treatment on the scene from race doctors, he died later in hospital.”
Campbell last year appeared on the BBC’s “Masterchef: The Professionals.”
Organizers say a medical examination is still required to discover the cause of death.
The Met Office said temperatures reached 73.8 degrees (23.2 Celsius) near the end of the 26.2-mile (42.2-kilometer) course.
Copyright 2018 The Associated Press.