Elite Men's Preview: Return of the Champions

Published by the Virgin Money London Marathon on April 12, 2016

Eliud Kipchoge will resume his rivalry with fellow Kenyans Dennis Kimetto and Wilson Kipsang when he defends the Virgin Money London Marathon title. Kipchoge beat two-time champion Kipsang by just five seconds in a thrilling sprint finish at the end of last year’s 35th race as world record holder Kimetto was left to fight for third place.

Kipchoge’s winning time of 2:04:42 was a fraction outside Kipsang’s course record, and the former world 5000m champion went on to win the Berlin Marathon last September in a personal best of 2:04:00 to claim the Abbott World Marathon Majors Series IX title. He now sits sixth on the all-time list behind Kimetto’s historic best of 2:02:57 and Kipsang’s former world record of 2:03:23.

With Rio 2016 Olympic places to be won, there will be even more at stake for the Kenyan greats in 2016 when the trio toe the London Start Line again in pursuit of one of world running’s most prestigious prizes.