Ethiopia’s Sisay Lemma crosses the finish line to win the Men’s race in the London Marathon in central London, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
By Associated Press
LONDON (AP) — Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia won the men’s London Marathon for the first time on Sunday and Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya was victorious on her debut in the women’s race.
The 30-year-old Lemma, who was third in London last year, completed the 26.2-mile (42.2-kilometer) route in two hours, four minutes and one second. He was 27 seconds ahead of Vincent Kipchuma of Kenya, while Mosinet Geremew of Ethiopia was third.
Jepkosgei opted to race in London over the defense of her New York title next month. It paid off after winning in two hours, 17 minutes, 43 seconds. Degitu Azimeraw of Ethiopia was second with compatriot Ashete Bekere third.
There were Swiss winners of the wheelchair races with Marcel Hug claiming his third men’s title in London, while Manuela Schär triumphed for the second time in the women’s race.
It was the first full-scale staging of the London Marathon in more than two years due to the pandemic, with around 40,000 runners joining some of the world’s best on the route from Blackheath in southeast London to The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace in the center of the city.