By Duncan Mackay at the Tower Hotel in London

World record holder Wilson Kipsang on his way to victory at the Virgin London Marathon ©Getty ImagesApril 13 - World record holder Wilson Kipsang won the Virgin Money London Marathon as Edna Kiplagat claimed the women's race to make it a Kenyan double on a day debutants Mo Farah and Tirunesh Dibaba both found out about the harsh realities of running 26.2 miles.


Kipsang crossed the line ahead of 36,000 runners in a course record of 2 hours 04min 27sec while Kiplagat won the women's event in 2:20:21. 

Farah, Britain's double Olympic and world gold medallist, was never a factor at the front of the race and had to settle for eighth place in 2:08:21, nearly four minutes behind Kipsgang, who finished 11 seconds inside the previous fastest run in London by Emmanuel Mutai in 2011.

It was Kipsang's second victory in the world's biggest marathon, having previously won here in 2012. 

"I was really feeling good and I controlled the guys," he said. 

Compatriot Stanley Biwott was 26 seconds adrift in second, and deposed London champion Tsegaye Kebede was just over two minutes behind Kipsang in third.

Even the presence of hundreds of supporters along the route failed to lift Farah, winner of the Olympic 5,000 and 10,000 metres double at London 2012 and at last year's World Championships in Moscow.

"I'm not going to finish it like this," said Farah after crossing the finishing line.

"I'll be back.

"It's a matter of experience and learning.

"I'm very disappointed.

"I didn't really know what to expect."

Kenya's Edna Kiplagat celebrates winning the Virgin London Marathon ahead triple Olympic gold medallist Tirunesh Dibaba ©Getty ImagesKenya's Edna Kiplagat celebrates winning the Virgin London Marathon ahead of Ethiopia's triple Olympic gold medallist Tirunesh Dibaba ©Getty Images

Before Kipsang's dominating performance, there was a sprint finish in the women's race in front of Buckingham Palace, and two-time world champion Edna Kiplagat won at her fourth attempt.

After twice finishing second in London, the 34-year-old Kenyan completed in 2:20:21, three seconds ahead of compatriot and namesake, Florence Kiplagat, who is no relation. 

Dibaba, the Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m gold medallist at Beijing 2008 and winner of the longer distance at London 2012, was in contention in the women's race right until the end but did not have the strength to match her Kenyan rivals, settling for third in 2)20:35.

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