Marathon: Herzog smashed the OILV record in London

“An incredible day, I wouldn’t have believed it would end like this for me and for Austrian running. Once again we were able to set a new record in the sport of marathon, ”said Herzog happily, who was twelfth on strong field.

He had prepared at an altitude training ground in St. Moritz for the marathon, which was only run as an elite race without spectators on a circuit in St. James’s Park due to the CoV pandemic. “I knew it was probably a little bit stronger than last year. However, at the same time, with the conditions of the last few days, that made me doubt if I could implement it that way. When we arrived, there were flood conditions, the wind was blowing, and that achievement is amazing. “

Herzog’s group, which had actually been aiming for a time of 2:11, was led by multiple British Olympic champion Mo Farah as a pacemaker, who remained in the race until 30km. “That was perfect,” said Herzog, who later broke ÖLV’s record. Like Ketema, Saalfeldener already has their starting place for the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo firmly in their pockets.

World record set for the first time since 2013

Apart from the Austrian record, the London Marathon came to an unexpected end. Eliud Kipchoge, the world record holder of 42,195 km, suffered the first defeat in London in seven years when the Ethiopian Shura Kitata won.

Kitata won in 2:05:41 hours and relegated the Kenyan Vincent Kipchumba (2:05:42) and his compatriot Sisay Lemma (2:05:45) to second and third place. The favorite Kipchoge, who had to knock down at 38 km, was only eighth, more than a minute behind (2:06:49).

World record holder Kosgei cannot be defeated

In the women who ran ahead of the men, Kenyan Brigid Kosgei won for the second time in a row in London. The 26-year-old, who holds the world record since Chicago 2019 with 2:14:04 hours, crossed the finish line at 2:18:58 hours and sat ahead of the American Sara Hall (2:22:01) and the world champion from Kenya. Ruth Chepngetich (2:22:05).