Amos Kipruto and Yalemzerf Yehualaw crowned 2022 London Marathon winners

Kenya's Amos Kipruto and Yalemzerf Yehualaw (Ethiopia) are the winners of the 2022 London Marathon.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics silver medallist ran a brilliant solo race in the last 4km of Sunday's (October 2) race for victory in 2:04:39 ahead of Ethiopia's Leul Gebresilase (2:05:12 ) and Abdi Bashir (Belgium) in 2:05:19.

Triple Olympic track champion Kenenisa Bekele, who was returning to London after two years hampered by injuries, finished fifth in 2:05:53 just behind his fourth placed compatriot Kinde Atanaw (2:05:27).

Earlier, Yehualaw backed up her amazing marathon debut from earlier this year in Hamburg by producing the third fastest time ever run by a women in London to win in 2:17:26. At 23, she became the youngest-ever winner as well.

Yehualaw even overcame a fall to win her first race of the Marathon Majors series beating defending champion Joycline Jepkosgei (Kenya) to second (2:28:07) with another Ethiopian Alemu Mergetu rounding off the top three in 2:18:32.

Tokyo 2020 medallists rule London Marathon

The focus in the men’s race was on two Ethiopians: Legendary Bekele, the only man along with Britain’s Mo Farah to win the 5000m and 10,000m double at the Olympic Games and defending champion Sisay Lemma.

After finishing third in 2016 and second in 2017 Bekele had struggled with injuries since he raced to his personal best of 2:01.41 at the Berlin Marathon in 2019.

The 40-year-old, the oldest in the elite field, also dropped out of the 2020 London race and was coming off a sixth-place finish at the 2021 New York Marathon. He was aiming for a podium finish in London this year as several elite runners including Farah withdrew last minute.

He seemed to be on course at least by the halfway mark managing to stay with the crowded lead group.

Just before 35km Bekele dropped off the lead pack of seven which had compatriot Gebresilase at the top with the two Tokyo Olympics medallists behind Eliud Kipchoge who improved the world record last Sunday, remaining at touching distance.

The race took a dramatic twist at the tunnel at Blackfriars when Kipruto emerged leading.

The 30-year-old stepped up the pace running away from Bashir and Gebresilase, who were involved in an exciting race for second for the remainder of the race.

Kipruto was thrilled to win in his London Marathon debut.

"I was thrilled to be invited for the marathon. I did my best and won and I am really happy. I can't explain to win a major race. I was confident that anyone who wants to go, will follow. I had the energy for the kick."

"It has given me moral and now I am looking forward to returning and defending my title," said Kipruto who was delighted to have Kipchoge watching on in London. 

"Eliud is an inspiration to all of us. He is a legend who has done a wonderful job in sports. He is on another level, he's like a mentor to me. I wish to follow his footsteps when he retires, I take over."

Yehualaw recovers from a fall to win her second marathon in style

With world record holder and two-time London winner Brigid Kosgei absent due to a hamstring injury, a leading pack of seven women pulled away at about the halfway mark. Ethiopia's Ashete Bekere was in front at that point.

Then the unthinkable happened and Yehualaw fell just as the field passed the 32km mark. But the fastest woman in the field got up and impressively caught up with the leading runners.

The race took shape as they approached the final 5km. It was down to two Kenyans Jepkosgei and Judith Korir and Yehualaw and Mergetu. But Yehualaw was not to be denied today running emphatically towards the finish.

She became the fastest ever women's marathon debutant at the 2022 Hamburg Marathon where she clocked 2:17:23.

Earlier this year, the rising star already set a world record for 10k in Valencia when she recorded a time of 29:14.

"I am so happy to win the race,” said the women’s winner who came close to lowering the 'women’s only' world record of 2:17:01 set by Mary Keitany at the 2017 London Marathon.

Amos Kipruto is the winner of the 2022 London Marathon - results:

1. Amos Kipruto 2:04:39

2. Leul Gebresilase 2:05:12

3. Bashir Abdi 2:05:19

4. Kinde Atanaw 2:05:27

5. Kenenisa Bekele 2:05:53

6. Birhanu Legese 2:06:11

7. Sisay Lemma 2:07:26

8.Brett Robinson (AUS) 2:09:52

9. Weynay Ghebresilasie (GBR) 2:11:57

10. Philip Seseman (GBR)  2:12:10

Yalemzerf Yehualaw takes 2022 women's London Marathon - Top ten results:

1. Yalemzerf Yehualaw(ETH) 2:17:25

2. Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) 2:18:07

3. Alemu Megertu (ETH)2:18:32

4. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:18:43

5. Joan Chelimo Melly (KEN) 2:19:27

6. Ashete Bekere(ETH) 2:19:30

7. Mary Ngugi(KEN) 2:20:22

8. Sutume Asefa Kebede(ETH) 2:20:44

9. Hosoda Ai (JPN) 2:21:42

10. Rose Harvey (GBR) 2:27:59