London Marathon 2018 RECAP: Mo Farah breaks British record as Eliud Kipchoge wins
LONDON MARATHON 2018 AS IT HAPPENED 12:30pm: Thats all from us - thanks for follow. Well leave you with this. A reminder of Sir Mo Farah’s achievements… Four Olympic gold medals. Six World Championship golds.
Five European Championship golds. And now… a British record in the London Marathon - beating Steve Jones record from 1985.
12:12pm: BBC commentator Steve Cram gives his verdict: “This is the first time Farah has taken on the big boys seriously in a marathon. “This is about as tired as Mo could have ever felt in his whole career.
“It was a battle against his fatigue, the distance and the clock. Thats more than job done.” 12:07pm: Mo Farah fnishes third in a British record time of 2:06:22.
He looks exhausted and who can blame him? A brilliant effort from the former track runner.
12:06pm: Kipchogue makes his way down the final straight on the mall to WIN THE 2018 LONDON MARATHON - a super performance in a time of 2:04:16. Kitata finished just over 30 seconds behind the Kenyan.
11:58am: Into the last two miles in the men’s elite race. Farah is still third but Kipchoge is running away with it in his bright orange shorts.
He’s managed to shake off the challenge of Kitata and looks destined for victory. 11:44am: Farah now back in a distant third and looks to be struggling as Eliud Kipchoge and Tota Shura Kitata open the gap further.
11:32am: Farah is on track to beat the British record but his legs are looking a little weary.
But how often have we seen him sit behind the leader before turning it on in the home stretch? But doing it in the 5,000m is a little different to a marathon… 11.15am: Mo Farah is on the shoulder of the leader Eliud Kipchoge.
After the 15mile mark both runners are well within world record pace.
11:07am: Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya leads the race with Mo Farah around sixth place - although he has work to do to catch up with the Olympic champion following his earlier mishap.
Radcliffe says: Its a much better rhythm in the mens race now and its probably only a comfortable speed for a few of these guys, but theyve made the decision to stick with the leading pack.
Mo Farah looks like he has slotted in nicely in Eliud Kipchoges slip stream. 10:55am: Nine men on 2:01 pace through 15k at London Marathon (after 13:48 first 5k), including Eliud Kipchoge, Mo Farah, and Kenenisa Bekele.
And Mo has his drink now! 10:45am: Farah still searching for a drink it seems and hes getting frustrated - he almost cuts up a steward on the motorbike next to him! Hardly the ideal start for the Brit.
“Its hard, its frustrating, but you cant let it get you, and relax, is Paula Radcliffes advice.
10:32am: Uh oh! Farah goes to pick up a drink bottle but realises its not his and has to go back to put it down. Athletes are not allowed to drink others drinks, obviously.
As a result he drops off the leading pack. 10:30am: Farah makes up a bit of ground and rejoins the leading pack consisting of Eliud Kipchoge, Guye Adola, Abel Kirui, Daniel Wanjiru, Kenenisa Bekele, Bedan Karoki, Tola Kitata and Lawrence Cherono.
10:20am: Mo Farah is at the back of pack, next to Kenenisa Bekele, 4th mile is ran at 4:57 -40 seconds ahead of 2016 course record pace. 10am: The Queen gets us startted and the mens race is underway.
Will Mo Farah deliver the goods in front of his home crowd? 9.30am: Who to look out for today apart from Mo Farah Daniel Wanjiru (Kenya) - The defending champion who claimed his first major marathon title in London last year.
Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) - Bekeles 2:03:03 finish in Berlin in 2016 made him the second quickest marathon runner in history. He finished second in London last time out.
Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) - Having moved up to marathon level in 2013, Kipchoge won the London title in 2015 and 2016 and went on to become Olympic champion.
Bedan Karoki (Kenya) - He clinched third place on his debut in London last year and ran the fourth fastest half marathon in history in the United Arab Emirates in February.
9am: Paula Radlicffe reckons we could see a new world record today. It’s a difficult question for the men’s race and I think Eliud Kipchoge is capable of breaking that world record.
But because the field is so strong here, I just don’t see him risking everything on going out for that world record, he will just concentrate on winning the race.
Steve Jones was an inspiration to me, and was light years before his time when he set the British record in 1985, but Mo Farah is absolutely capable of beating it.
The way the race is planned and the way it is run in the first half is going to determine the final time. 8.30am: Hello and welcome to Express Sports live coverage of the London Marathon.
Well be bringing you live updates as Mo Farah bids for London glory. Having retired from the track last year, Sir Mo turns his attention to long-distance running - all 26.2miles of it - today in London.
Theyll be plenty of people cheering him on but hes up against a tough crowd.