Daniel Wanjiru holds off Kenenisa Bekele to win London Marathon

Bekele, the world record-holder at 5,000m and 10,000m, fought back brilliantly from being distanced by the front group just after the halfway mark but could not overhaul Wanjiru, who won by nine seconds in his first appearance at the race.

Kenyan Bedan Karoki finished one minute 53 seconds down in third on his marathon debut.

Bekele, 34, hoped to break the world record and had been on schedule after 13 miles, but the pace slowed significantly in the second half of the race.

“Being second is frustrating. I felt my hamstring and my right calf. I had to change my running style,” Bekele told reporters.

1. Daniel Wanjiru (Kenya) 2:05:48

2. Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) 2:05:57

3. Bedan Karoki Muchiri (Kenya) 2:07:41