Manyao beats Bekele, while Cairess storms to London podium finish

Kenyan thwarts his rival’s bid for glory, while Brits complete the top four and book Olympics places

An eventful men’s elite race at the London Marathon resulted in a surprise winner, a legendary figure coming close to the win he so craved, and two British athletes creating history.

Victory went to Kenya’s Alexander Mutiso Manyao, making his London debut, after he won a compelling duel with the great Kenenisa Bekele to break the tape in 2:04:01. The Ethiopian had the consolation of breaking his world M40 record with 2:04:15 in second.

Alexander Mutiso Munyao (London Marathon Events)

The identity of the third-placed athlete caught the attention of the home crowd, too, as Emile Cairess stamped his ticket for the Paris Olympics thanks to his personal best of 2:06:46, which puts him second on the British all-time lists. Mo Farah’s 2:05:11 remains the national record but it is surely living on borrowed time.

To add further to the cause for celebration, Cairess’s fellow Brit and friend Mahamed Mahamed also produced a superb run to come fourth with 2:07:05, making him the third-fastest Briton ever and also making sure he will be announced on the Olympic team on Monday morning. It is the first time two British men have finished in the London Marathon’s top four since Hugh Jones and Kevin Forster in 1988.

More to follow…

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