Ethiopia's Sihura Kitata staged a major upset in the 2020 London Marathon after beating world record holder Eliud Kipchoge on Sunday, October 4, under wet conditions in the United Kingdom capital.
Kitata won the race, clocking 2:05:42 as he fended off strong opposition from Kenya's Vincent Kipchumba while Ethiopian Sisay Lemma came third with Kipchoge finishing a lowly eighth by his standards.
The race lost a few its fireworks following the big showdown between Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele being halted after the latter withdrew due to an injury.
Kipchoge blamed his substandard performance on his ear being blocked during the race adding that conditions affect his performance.
"After 25 kilometers my ear blocked and it couldn't open anymore. But this is how sport is, we should accept defeat and focus for the winning next time.
"It was really cold but I do not blame the conditions, I think I'll blame my ear problem," said Kipchoge after the race.
Not even the damp, cold and dark conditions could dampen the spirits of the athletes who had lined up at the starting line for the 19 laps marathon.
The world record holder donned in a white vest and dark cap paced down the streets of London behind is pacemakers for the better part of the race.
Ethiopia’s Sisay Lemma took an early lead on the race as he was closely followed by the lanky Vincent Kipchumba with Kipchoge coming third as the race approached the one hour 20 minutes mark.
Kipchoge and Kipchumba took off their caps as the race progressed aiming to inject some pace and break away from the leading pack.
Kipchoge looked like he was falling out of the back of the leading group with 20 minutes left to go in the marathon as Lemma and Kipchumba broke away.
The final stretch was a battle between Lemma, Shura Kitata, Kipchumba with Kitata taking the title in a hotly contested finally 100 meters.
Bar the Olympic Games, the performance recorded by Kipchoge at the 2020 London Marathon was the personal worst marathon performance from the record holder.
This also became the first marathon that Kipchoge has failed to win since 2013, a run that stretches seven years.
Kitata has gone from strength to strength after finishing second in 2018, fourth the following year, and finally taking the title in 2020.
Kipchumba finished the race with a time of 2hr 5min 42sec while Lemma clocked 2hr 5min 45sec as Kipchoge 2 hr 6min 49 seconds.
Kenya however bagged the women's London Marathon after world record holder Brigid Kosgei retained her title with an exceptional performance considering the cold conditions.
Kosgei clocked two hours 18 minutes and 58 seconds, three minutes and three seconds ahead of American Sara Hall.
