FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kosgei makes it a Kenyan double
Kenya's Brigid Kosgei elevated herself to the real elite of endurance
running on Sunday, recording the fastest second half of a marathon ever
seen as she destroyed the finest field in history to be crowned the 2019
Virgin Money London Marathon champion.
The 25-year-old produced a veritable tour de force, clocking 2 hours 18
minutes 20 seconds – the ninth fastest run in history - to leave last
year's victor Vivian Cheruiyot trailing in second by nearly two minutes and
preventing fifth-placed Mary Keitany from fulfilling her dream of a
record-equalling fourth title.
Kosgei's triumph stemmed from a fantastic second half of the race, which
she covered in 66 minutes 42 seconds, quicker even than Keitany's
incredible 66:58 in New York last year.
And by running away from her two world-beating 30-something compatriots,
Kosgei, the sixth different Kenyan winner of the women's race in the last
seven editions, confirmed herself as a major new force in marathon running
following her triumph in Chicago last year.
In the 2018 edition of the race, Kosgei finished runner-up to the
35-year-old Cheruiyot, who stormed through the second half after the first
had been run phenomenally quickly. This time, though, after a contrastingly
pedestrian first 13.1 miles, it was Kosgei who emphatically turned the
tables on the champion with a breathtaking performance.
She reckoned it wasn't easy in the windy conditions over the first few
miles but her second-half surges over the last nine miles, all run into the
wind at just over five-minute mile pace, made it look that way as she
repelled a courageous fightback from Cheruiyot after one break by then
surging away again to victory over the last four-and-a-half miles.
"The wind was a problem for me to start with today, but not in the closing
stages. It was hard for me to get my breath but I'm very happy to have done
so well," said Kosgei, who could celebrate a sixth win in her 10th
marathon. "I'm extremely happy in my performance and everything went to
plan."
She crossed the line 1 minute 54 seconds clear of Cheruiyot (2:20:14),
making it the biggest winning margin in the women's race since Paula
Radcliffe demolished the field in 2005.
Effectively, Kosgei had dominated the highest-quality women's marathon in
history, with three other Kenyan sub 2hr 19min runners in the field having
to bow to the younger woman.
The hugely promising 21-year-old Ethiopian Roza Dereje (2:20:51) won the
sprint on The Mall for third place to prevent a Kenyan podium sweep,
outpacing the duo of three-time Berlin champion Gladys Cherono and Keitany,
the greatest marathoner of her generation who, at 37, just never really
looked in the form to achieve her quest of equalling Ingrid Kristiansen's
four titles.
Nobody wanted to push the pace over the first half, which left Kosgei
frustrated. "I'm not happy because nobody wanted to push so I had to go
alone towards the finish," she explained.
And she was so focused on breaking the challenge and spirit of Cheruiyot
that she didn't even stop to take on water at the drink stations. "I don't
want water to drink, I felt happy," she explained, as her rivals definitely
didn't look happy.
Not that Cheruiyot had any complaints about losing her crown. "In
athletics, it's mine today, tomorrow it's for another person. Brigid was
stronger than me."
In contrast to last year's blistering early pace, the main contenders set
off far more conservatively, running nearly two minutes slower than in 2018
over the opening 10 kilometres.
The first to shine on a cool, windy morning was 42-year-old Australian
Sinead Diver who looked impatient to push on the pace and, helped by
pacemaker Eunice Chumba, forged on to open up a 16-second lead over all the
main contenders at halfway in 71 minutes 21 seconds.
In 2018, the leaders had covered the same distance over four minutes
quicker but it was still uncharted territory for the Australian veteran,
who was soon roped in at the 14-mile mark as the pace was upped and the
real race, featuring all four Kenyan favourites, began to unfold.
The leading group of six was quickly broken up as Cheruiyot, Kosgei and
Roza Dereje inserted a blistering burst, covering the 15th, 16th and 17th
miles in 15:22, effectively ending Keitany's hopes.
Kosgei made what looked like an early but decisive push for home over the
next two miles, opening up a significant 30m gap, trying to run the speed
out of the Olympic 5000m champion's legs.
Yet Cheruiyot, unfazed by her rival's scintillating sub-five minute 18th
mile, was back on terms within two miles, leaving the pair in an absorbing
side-by-side duel until the in-form Kosgei surged once again, while
throwing in a 22nd mile in 5:05 to again surge clear.
This time, the move was decisive as she poured on the pressure over the
closing miles.
Yet Kosgei was convinced we have not seen the best of her yet. "I will run
better than I have today," she smiled.
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