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Keitany Sets Women’s-Only World Record in London

The Kenyan breaks mark set by Paula Radcliffe in 2005.

Mary Keitany of Kenya set a world record for a women’s-only marathon, running 2:17:01 to win the 2017 London Marathon early Sunday.

Keitany, 35, won her third London, to go along with her three victories in the New York City Marathon.

She broke Paula Radcliffe’s women’s-only record of 2:17:42, set in London in 2005. Radcliffe’s overall women’s world record, 2:15:25, was set in a race paced by men.

Keitany averaged about 3:16 per kilometre on Sunday, and went sub-3:07 in a kilometre as she approached the finish line. She went out quickly and ran nearly the entire race alone.

Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia was second in 2:17:56.

Australians Lisa Weightman and Jessica Trengove both ran PBs to finish fifth and 10th respectively in the women’s race. Wightman ran an impressive 2:25:15, and Trengove ran 2:27:01, beating her previous PB set at the 2015 Melbourne Marathon.

On the men’s side, Daniel Wanjiru of Kenya won in 2:05:48, holding off a charge by Kenenisa Bekele (2:05:57) of Ethiopia. Wanjiru, 24, won the Amsterdam Marathon last October in 2:05:21.

Australians Kurt Fearnley finished one second behind winner David Weir to place third in the wheelchair race, and Michael Shelley ran 2:11:38, finishing 10th.

 

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