Kastor breaks US record to claim women's title, Limo top man

Olympic bronze medallist Deena Kastor broke her own American record yesterday with an untroubled victory in the women's London marathon.

In the absence of Britain's world champion and record holder Paula Radcliffe, who pulled out of this year's race with a foot injury, Kastor cruised to victory in two hours 19 minutes 36 seconds.

Kenyan Felix Limo outsprinted team-mate and defending champion Martin Lel to win the men's race in 2:06:39 to add to his victories in Rotterdam, Berlin and Chicago.

Limo, running for the first time in London, edged Lel by two seconds in a second race staged without the world record holder.

Paul Tergat, another elite Kenyan, pulled out after tearing his lower, left calf muscle, and apparently leaving the way clear for his great rival Haile Gebrselassie. However, the Ethiopian four-times world 10,000m champion, who has set world records over the half marathon and 25km this year, finished ninth.

In the women's event, Kastor joined Kenyans Susan Chepkemei and Salina Kosgei in a break within the first three kilometres behind two male pacemakers. The trio went through 15km in 49 minutes 41 seconds before Kosgei dropped off the pace. Chepkemei tracked Kastor until 25km when the American pulled away.

She passed the 30km mark in 1:39:08, 27 seconds ahead of Chepkemei, and held on to win ahead of Russian Lydumila Petrova who who made a late run to relegate Chepkemei to third.

Kastor clocked her previous best of 2:21:16 when she finished third in the 2003 London race and in the following year she became the first American to win an Olympic medal since Jone Benoit finished first at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

"I was very happy with the win," Kastor said. "It was one of my expectations as my training has been going so well. I managed to hold on to go under 2:20 which was my main goal."

The leading men's contenders remained tightly bunched until the 30km mark when Kenyan Evans Rutto accelerated to the front. Rutto was unable to shake off the pack and the next break came at 38km when Kenyan Rogers Rop and Lel moved away.

South African Hendrick Ramaala responded before Limo and Lel made their definitive move. The pair ran stride for stride when Limo surged in the final metres to win by two seconds.