Press Release - London Marathon - 10/4/20

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

      Kitata stuns with shock win at 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon

Shura Kitata has won the elite men's race at the 2020 Virgin Money London 
Marathon in a time of 2:05:41.

The wet conditions and unfamiliar looped course in St James's Park revealed 
that world-record holder Eliud Kipchoge was human after all, as Kitata 
denied him the chance to make history by becoming the first male runner to 
win five London Marathons.

Kipchoge started with a typically solid, sensible pace that meant the rest 
of the world-class field were never far behind for the majority of the 
race. It wasn't until around two miles to go that a close pack that 
contained Ethiopia's Shura Kitata, Sisay Lemma and Mosinet Geremew, plus 
Kenya's Vincent Kipchumba, began to move away from Kipchoge – who ended up 
in a surprising eighth place.

But it was Amsterdam Marathon champion Kipchumba and last year's 
fourth-placed athlete Kitata who broke away for a nail-biting sprint finish 
that saw the confident Ethiopian storm past the long-strided Kenyan to 
finish just one second ahead, with compatriot Lemma third in 2:05:45.

Kitata said afterwards: "All the time I kept myself in the back to attack 
when I needed to. When I went, I tried to push the pace more than before. I 
went into the last lap to beat the others.

"First of all, I am very happy to win this race against a very strong field 
for my country and for my group of teammates. It is very good and will be 
really good to boost morale.

"My coach, because of Covid-19, is back in Ethiopia. I will bring back the 
medals for him and I am very happy with that for him."

Jonny Mellor is British champion, coming in 13th with a sub-PB time of 
2:10:38, with Ben Connor (2:11:20) and Josh Griffiths (2:13:11) the next 
Brits home, after running a pace set by Olympic legend Sir Mo Farah.

The elite men's race was the second elite race of the day at the 2020 
Virgin Money London Marathon.

Brigid Kosgei defended her title in the elite women's race earlier in the 
day, ahead of Sara Hall and Ruth Chepngetich.

                                    ###