Kenya's Lel retains London title

Kenyan Martin Lel retained his London Marathon title in a fantastic men's race yesterday when the first three broke the course record.

Lel, winner in 2005 and last year, looked comfortable throughout despite the first 30 km being run at a scorching sub-world record pace and outran 21-year-old compatriot Sammy Wanjiru over the last 500 metres to come home in 2:05.15.

Morocco's Abderrahim Goumri, second last year, had to settle for bronze this time but still in a terrific time of 2:05.30 - eight seconds inside the 2002 course record of Khalid Khannouchi.

In the women's race, German Irina Mikitenko won her first major marathon title on only her second outing over the distance when she produced a devastating last three miles to win in 2:24:14.