Brigid Kosgei defends London Marathon title
Kenya's Brigid Kosgei crosses the line to win the London Marathon in London, England, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020. Athletes are competing on a 26.2-mile (42.2-kilometer) closed-loop course consisting of 19.6 clockwise laps around St. James' Park. (Richard Heathcote/Pool via AP)LONDON โ Brigid Kosgei defied the rain and the gloom to defend her London Marathon title around a sodden St Jamesโs Park on Sunday after a race staged six months later than planned and without any spectators due to the pandemic. The 26-year-old world record holder comfortably won her duel with fellow Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich, the world champion, who was eventually pipped for second by Sara Hall of the United States. Kosgei broke for home with seven miles to go leaving Chepngetich, who had looked the stronger in the mid-stages of the race, far behind.
Elite women cite training limits in London Marathon buildup
In this image issued by London Marathon Events, Kenya's Edith Chelimo, right, trains in the grounds of the official hotel and biosecure bubble in London, Monday Sept. 28, 2020, ahead of the elite-only 2020 London Marathon on Sunday Oct. 4. (Bob Martin/London Marathon Events via AP)Kenyan runner Brigid Kosgei isn't expecting to lower her world record in Sunday's London Marathon, not with her training limited by the coronavirus pandemic. Kosgei topped her London victory last year by winning the Chicago Marathon in a world record time of 2 hours, 14 minutes, 4 seconds. The London Marathon has been reduced to elite runners only and will have no spectators because of the pandemic. Tokyo was the only other World Marathon Major to be held in 2020 after Boston, Berlin, Chicago and New York all canceled.