Mutai breaks course record to win London Marathon

18 Apr, 2011

Emmanuel Mutai shattered the course record at the London Marathon as the Kenyan won the men's race in a time of 2:04.40 on Sunday. Mutai had finished second here last year and he went one better this time thanks to a spectacular run that beat the previous best time of 2:05.10 set by Samuel Wanjiru in 2009.
The 26-year-old's time was also the fifth-fastest ever in a marathon and was just reward for a dominant display. He broke away from three-time winner Martin Lel at around the 21-mile mark and sprinted to the finish to ensure his record time.
Kenya's Lel held off compatriot Patrick Makau to take second place in a sprint finish. Mutai admitted his victory had been a long time coming after several years striving for a marathon success.
"I'm happy with the result, since I came to run in London I was fourth twice and second once, and now my dream has come true," he told BBC TV. "I always had it in my mind that one day I would win one of the five major marathons.
"My aim was just to win the race. I wasn't focusing on the time but I tried my best to push it when I saw we were inside world-record pace at one stage.

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