Marathon News - Limo Takes London In Sprint To Finish

Apr-23-2006

Limo Takes London In Sprint To Finish
by David Monti
(c) Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved

LONDON (23-Apr) -- In a thrilling sprint finish, 2005 LaSalle Bank Chicago
Marathon Champion Felix Limo beat defending champion Martil Lel in the Flora
London Marathon. The two had broken away from a lead pack of six in the
24th mile when Lel made an explosive move, shattering the field.

As they passed the 400m to go sign, Lel was the first to go, and Limo's
response wasn't instant. But with 200m to go, Limo had drawn even, then
went ahead. Lel did not stop pressing, but Limo's sprint was just too
strong. He got to the finish line first in 2:06:39 (official) with Lel just
two second behind. Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa finished third in
2:06:55 PB, and American Khalid Khannouchi, running a superb comeback race,
finished fourth, closely behind Ramaala

Haile Gebrselassie, who was dropped by Lel's big move, ran around 2:09. His
finish position was not immediately available.

For Limo it was his fourth marathon victory and the fourth time he has run
sub-2:07.