Virgin London Marathon – London’s champions reflect on Kenya’s special day

When Wilson Kipsang romped home to regain the men’s title with a course record at the 2014 Virgin Money London Marathon yesterday he crowned a perfect day for the east African nation just half an hour after Edna Kiplagat had tasted long-awaited success in the women’s race at the fourth time of asking.

Both winners were followed home by fellow-Kenyans to complete glorious one-twos for the world’s foremost marathon nation, while hundreds of their compatriots cheered them home from the roadside.

Five hours later, the country’s First Lady, Her Excellency Margaret Kenyatta, capped it off by completing her first marathon, crossing the line in a little over seven hours alongside London’s first ever Kenyan champion, Douglas Wakiihuri, who won the men’s race in 1989.

Just 24 hours later, the event’s 2014 champions reflected on a day that brought joy to their compatriots.

“There were so many Kenyans at the finish, they were shouting ‘You look strong, you look strong’,” said Kiplagat, who sprinted across the line in 2:20:21 to beat Florence Kiplagat by just three seconds, the closest finish in the women’s race for 17 years.

“The fans were fantastic yesterday,” she said. “There were so many of them, I just had to do it.

“I didn’t believe I was going to win because in the last 400 metres we both looked so strong. I thought the two of us were going to be together.

“When I looked behind and saw Florence I thought she was kicking. So when I crossed the line I thought, ‘Wow, it was me.’ I couldn’t believe it.”

 

After finishing runner-up twice in the last two years, and third on her London debut in 2011, this was a long-awaited and welcome triumph for the double world champion who put her head in her hands as she broke the tape – a gesture of joy and relief described by London Marathon race director High Brasher today as “a special moment”.

“This was my long-term target,” she said. “I’ve tried for this for four years. I won the World Championships twice but this is the hardest marathon to win.

“I thought my training would be good enough. I worked so hard for it. I did everything I could. I needed it and I planned it.

“So when it came to the last sprint I knew it would make the difference. I knew Florence was strong, but I was stronger this day.”

Kipsang also fought out an-all Kenyan battle in the closing miles, overcoming Stanley Biwott with a late surge along the Embankment after they had broken away from the pack near Canary Wharf. He crossed the line in 2:04:29 to add another course record to growing list of honours. 

Unlike, Kiplagat, however, Kipsang said his victory was never in doubt.

“I knew the shape I’m in would secure the win for me,” said Kipsang, who broke the world record in his previous marathon, in Berlin last September.

“I felt confident all the way from the start. I felt very strong and as soon as we started I had the feeling that I was going to win.”

Kipsang’s victory was the 10th for Kenya in the men’s race, as he and Biwott became the first two men at the London Marathon to run quicker than 2:05 in the same race.

“I was aware there were a lot of Kenyans out on the course. I could hear them all shouting in Swahili, ‘Keep on, keep on. You can do it’,” he said. “Hearing their voices was such a boost for me in the final stages.”

Afterwards, as the champions were led away from the finish, hundreds of celebrating Kenyan fans held up the victory party by 15 minutes. “It was one of the most amazing scenes I have witnessed at the Marathon,” according the event’s elite race coordinator, David Bedford.

The champions were not only followed on the streets of London, of course, but back home in Kenya where Kipsang has been gathering fans and followers on his Twitter feed.

As for Kiplagat, her biggest fan yesterday was her daughter, Wendy, who turns six today.

“She was expecting me to win, so I am dedicating this success to her as it is a special one,” said Kiplagat, who has two children of her own with her husband, Gilbert Koech, plus three who the couple have adopted in recent years.

“I am going to look for a special dress for her before I go home. I was inspired when I saw all those fancy dress runners yesterday.”

A special day, then, for the Kiplagat family, as well as her country.

 

Source: Virgin London Marathon