Jemimah Sumgong wins London Marathon

Jemimah Sumgong wins London Marathon

SUNDAY APRIL 24 2016, By AYUMBA AYODI

Kenya’s Jemimah Sumgong was the surprise winner of this year’s London Marathon women’s title on Sunday.

The 31-year-old Sumgong, survived a nasty fall to clock 2 hours 22 minutes and 58 seconds and reclaim the title Kenya lost to Ethiopian Tigist Tufa in 2015.

It was Tufa who finished second in 2:23: 03 as another Kenyan Florence Kiplagat settled third in 2:23:39.

The battle fast generated to an East African affair between three Kenyans against four Ethiopians.

The 2011 and 2012 champion Mary Keitany, leading Florence Kiplagat and Jemima Sumgong against defending champion Tigist Tufa, 2010 champion Aselefech Mergia, World champion Mare Dibaba and Feyse Tadese.

Keitany, sporting big beanie hat led elite women through 6km in 21:05 minutes before Dibaba guided them 10km mark at 32:34 minutes with 2013 champion Priscah Jeptoo chasing 58 seconds behind the pack.

They went through 16km in a whisker under 54 minutes with the group heading past halfway mark at 1:10:44 under the Tower Bridge.

Everybody was looking at each other with no one ready to break as pacemakers proving not helpful.

It was Dibaba, who lead at pack in 1:59.25 at 35km mark with Kiplagat, Sungong, Tufa and Mergia on toe.

Kiplagat fell off leaving Sumgong to battle Tufa and Dibaba in the last kilometres.

Dibaba falling off as Sumgong and Tufa battled going past 40km in 2:15:41.