World marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge elected to travel to Netherlands where his management team, the Global Sports Communications, has its headquarters as other Kenyan athletes returned home on Tuesday from London.
Kipchoge, who was in line for a fifth London Marathon title, finished eighth in the 40th edition last Sunday after an ear problem saw him fade badly to leave Ethiopian Shura Kitata and Kenya's Vincent Kipchumba to battle for honours in the men's race.
It's Kitata who produced a magnificent sprint finish to win his first ever London Marathon title in a time of two hours, five minutes and 41 seconds.
Ethiopia's Shura Kitata (left) beats Kenya's Vincent Kipchumba (right) and compatriot Sisay Lemma at the finish of the elite men's race of the 2020 London Marathon in central London on October 4, 2020.
Photo credit: Richard Heathcote | AFP
Kipchumba, who finished second in the London Marathon, has said he made a mistake of kicking early and this cost him victory.
Kipchumba clocked 2:05: 42 for second place behind Kitata. The lanky athlete spoke to Nation Sport Tuesday at the Eldoret International Airport after jetting back from London together with other athletes.
Vincent Kipchumba (left), who finished second in London Marathon, with his wife Olive Chepsiror, on arrival at Eldoret international Airport on October 6, 2020.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
“I’m happy with the results, but I could have won the race if I had done good calculations. I reacted too early, prompting Kitata to increase his pace and eventually win the race,” the Amsterdam Marathon winner said.
“We started the race well, but when I saw my compatriots dropping out, I had to stick with the leading pack. Even though our Ethiopian rivals tried to shake me off, I did not budge.”
Vincent Kipchumba (left), who finished second in London Marathon, is given Kalenjin traditional milk ‘Mursik’, by his mother Leah Kogo, on arrival at Eldoret international Airport on October 6, 2020.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
“It was hot in Kenya, but when we went to London, it rained early in the morning and it was extremely cold. My body could not react well,” Kipchumba, who hails from Chepkatet in Eldoret, said.
Kipchumba, who is under 2Running Club in Kapsabet, Nandi County, wished Olympic marathon champion Kipchoge a quick recovery.
Vivian Cheruiyot, who dropped out of the race, also returned on Tuesday but declined to speak to the media. Cheruiyot won the race in 2018 and was second in last year’s race.
Runner-up, Kenya's Vincent Kipchumba poses with his trophy in front of Buckingham Palace after the elite men's race of the 2020 London Marathon in central London on October 4, 2020.
Photo credit: John Sibley | AFP
Other athletes who returned are Edith Chelimo, Marius Kipserem and Benson Kipruto. Women’s world marathon champion Ruth Chepng’etich, who finished third in London, remained in Nairobi.
Vincent Kipchumba (second left), who finished second in London Marathon, Benson Kipruto (left), who finished seventh, Kipchumba’s wife Olive Chepsiror third (right), Kipchumba’s mother Leah Kogo second (right), Pastor Bernadette Sawe (centre), friends and relatives say a word of prayer when the athletes arrived at Eldoret international Airport on October 6, 2020.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
The athletes were treated to song and dance by friends, relatives and county officials at the airport. They were also given traditional sour milk known as mursik in Kalenjin dialect.
The athletes and pacemakers arrived in the country on Monday night aboard a British Airways flight before connecting to Eldoret via Jambojet.
Brigid Kosgei, who successfully defended her title in the women’s race, remained behind in London. She praised her pacemaker Vivian Kiplagat, who is also her training mate, for a job well done.
“It was a tough race, and I knew Ruth Chepng’etich was strong. I increased my pace and that worked because she fell back and I surged forward. Vivian (Kiplagat) dropped off after 25km and I went for the prize,” Kosgei said on the phone from London.
Pacesetter Vivian Kiplagat (front) in full control of the leading pack during the London Marathon women's race on October 4, 2020.
Photo credit: Pool | London Marathon
Kosgei’s coach Eric Kimaiyo, who has been nicknamed “commando”, said he was under pressure in the last two months while preparing his athletes.
"I’m happy Brigid retained her title. The pacemaker, Vivian Kiplagat, also did her part well , and as a coach I'm really happy. We have athletes going to other races and there is no break for me," Kimaiyo said.
