Ethiopia’s Shura Kitata won the 2020 London Marathon, finishing the race in a time of 2:05:41, while another Ethiopian, Sisay Lemma, came in third.
Ethiopia’s Shura Kitata out-sprinted Kenya’s Vincent Kipchumba to win a thrilling London Marathon on Sunday, 4 October 2020. This as world record holder, Eliud Kipchoge, faded late in the race to suffer his first defeat since 2013. In cold, wet conditions, Kitata edged clear to win in a relatively slow two hours, five minutes and 41 seconds.
Kitata said afterwards, “Kenenisa Bekele was helping me for this race, and he advised me how to run. I trained for the same course [and] I am very happy to win the race.”
Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele, the world record holder for 5 000 and 10 000 meters and winner of the 2014 Paris Marathon, withdrew due to injury from the London Marathon. Bekele, who was due to race for the first time since he clocked 2:01.41 to win the 2019 Berlin Marathon, has had a calf injury.
Kenya’s four-time winner and world-record holder, Eliud Kipchoge, was expected to win the London Marathon.
Kipchoge commented on the race and outcome afterwards, stating, “I am really disappointed, for I did not win the race. I had a problem with my right ear after it blocked, and then I really cramped and had problems with my hip.”
-APA
