London Marathon 2021: Joyciline Jepkosgei upsets Brigid Kosgei to win women's race

Joyciline Jepkosgei claims her maiden London title after dropping out of last year's race

Joyciline Jepkosgei upset Kenyan compatriot and world record holder Brigid Kosgei to claim her first London Marathon title with a bold run.

The 27-year-old won in two hours 17 minutes and 43 seconds, while Kosgei dropped back and finished fourth.

Ethiopia's Sisay Lemma landed the biggest win of his career in the men's race, coming home in 2:04.01.

Charlotte Purdue, who controversially missed out on Tokyo 2020 selection, was the first Briton home in the women's race.

Purdue was the fastest Briton in the 2019 race as well

Purdue finished 10th in a personal best 2:23.26, just short of Mara Yamauchi's second place on the British all-time list but well inside the qualifying standard for next year's World Championships in Oregon.

Degitu Azimeraw of Ethiopia was second with compatriot Ashete Bekere third.

Kosgei, competing just 57 days after claiming Olympic silver in Tokyo, was aiming to follow in the footsteps of Germany's Katrin Dorre and become only the second woman to win three back-to-back women's titles.

It was also an underwhelming outing for the men's defending champion Shura Kitata with the Ethiopian, hampered by a hamstring niggle, finishing sixth in 2:07.51.

He finished a little over five minutes ahead of Britain's Philip Sesemann as the former middle-distance specialist made an impressive marathon debut at 29.

Lemma celebrates a breakthrough win in London

Lemma, who finished third on last year's Covid-enforced closed course, turned up the pace at a similar point on the route to Jepkosgei with similarly successful result.

Kenya's Vincent Kipchumba and Ethiopia's Mosinet Geremew were second and third in his wake.

Earlier in the day, Marcel Hug and Manuela Schar completed a Swiss double in the wheelchair races.