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Lel: three wins in four years

Martin Lel has won the London Marathon for the third time in four years, with Irina Mikitenko winning the women's race in only her second attempt at the distance.

Lel outsprinted Sammy Wanjiru to take victory in a course-record time of 2 hours, 5 minutes and 15 seconds. The two Kenyans, together with Abderrahim Goumri, had pulled out a gap after 23 miles.

Lel, who also won in 2005 and 2007, finished nine seconds ahead of Wanjiru, with Goumri third in a time of 2:05:30.

Mikitenko broke away at the 24-mile mark to win in 2 hours, 24 minutes and 14 seconds.

She beat Svetlana Zakharova by 25 seconds, with Gete Wami limping home third in 2:25:37 after earlier falling at a drinks station.

The race took a slight detour from its scheduled route because of a gas leak on a road just over Tower Bridge - the first time in the 27-year history of the race there has been a diversion.

Gas leak

Organizers said that, apart from having to cover an increased distance of some two metres, the runners were not affected by the gas leak.

The race started under sunny skies, but rain arrived halfway through - affecting the pace.

The men started strongly, and at the halfway mark the leading group of 11 had clocked 61 minutes 12 seconds - well inside world-record pace.

However, the fast pace took its toll, with Hendrick Ramaala, Felix Limo and Ryan Hall dropping away after 18 miles, two pacemakers also withdrawing.

But Hall then clawed back nine seconds to rejoin the leading group by the 21st mile. He finished eventually fifth in 2:06:17.

Mikitenko only ran her first marathon in September, when she finished second to Wami in Berlin.

She made her first move after 15 miles, joining a breakaway group containing Wami, Berhane Adere and Souad Ait Salem. They were later joined by Ludmila Petrova, Salina Kosgei and Zakharova.

Wami and Ait Salem fell badly just before the 18-mile mark at Canary Wharf. Wami recovered to make up time and rejoin the pack as Ait Salem fell back.

Mikitenko then pulled away after 21 miles, taking Wami and Zakharova with her.

Result from the men's London Marathon on Sunday:

1. Martin Lel (Kenya) 2 hrs 05 mins 15 secs
2. Samuel Wanjiru (Kenya) 2:05:24
3. Abderrahim Goumri (Morocco) 2:05:30
4. Emmanuel Mutai (Kenya) 2:06:15
5. Ryan Hall (U.S.) 2:06:17
6. Deriba Mergia (Ethiopia) 2:06:38
7. Yonas Kifle (Eritrea) 2:08:51
8. Felix Limo (Kenya) 2:10:34
9. Aleksey Sokolov (Russia) 2:11:41
10. Hendrick Ramaala (South Africa) 2:11:44

Result from the women's London Marathon on Sunday:

1. Irina Mikitenko (Germany) 2 hrs 24 mins 14 secs
2. Svetlana Zakharova (Russia) 2:24:39
3. Gete Wami (Ethiopia) 2:25:37
4. Salina Kosgei (Kenya) 2:26:30
5. Ludmila Petrova (Russia) 2:26:45
6. Souad Ait Salem (Algeria) 2:27:41
7. Berhane Adere (Ethiopia) 2:27:42
8. Constantina Dita (Romania) 2:27:45
9. Liz Yelling (Britain) 2:28:33
10. Adriana Pirtea (Romania) 2:28:52