Kipchoge runs second fastest time in history to win London

Only seven months after his world record run, Eliud Kipchoge has run the second fastest time in history over the marathon distance of 2:02:37.

ELIUD KIPCHOGE retains the London Marathon title in 2:02:37 ahead of Ethiopian Mosinet Gemerew.#LondonMarathon #TeamKenya pic.twitter.com/ze7Cuk6gxu

— Nation Breaking News (@NationBreaking) April 28, 2019

Kipchoge took control of the race from the gun, remaining with the lead pacers for their entire run and then pushing the pace the moment those pacers dropped. The runner encouraged his fellow competitors to come with him and three did, remaining by his side until nearly five kilometres to go.

RELATED: What’s going on with Mo Farah?

Those three men were Mosinet Geremew who finished second in 2:02:55 for a new Ethiopian national record, Mule Wasihun who finished third with a new personal best in 2:03:16, and Shura Kitata, who finished fourth in 2:05:01. Kipchoge’s run was a huge negative split, with his second half a 61:01. This race secures his place as the only man in history to win four London Marathon titles.

Eight months ago, the marathon world record was 2:02:57.

Four men are currently on pace to run faster than that in London, with two more very close. pic.twitter.com/5fs4EqAgl5

— Jonathan Gault (@jgault13) April 28, 2019

Britain’s Mo Farah, who had his own pacer in the race, lagged behind the leaders throughout the race, finishing fifth in 2:05:39, just above his personal best of 2:05:11. Former marathon world record holder Wilson Kipsang finished 12th in 2:09:18.

When you try to run with Eliud Kipchoge…say a prayer. #LondonMarathon pic.twitter.com/UBy8ZZUsYX

— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) April 28, 2019

Farah’s race followed a week of press that wasn’t related to running. It started 22 minutes into Wednesday’s press conference, with Farah speaking up that he had been the victim of a robbery at a hotel near Addis Ababa owned by running legend Haile Gebrselassie, who Farah claims did nothing to compensate him. A report in the Guardian says Farah admits to texting Gebrselassie repeatedly and warning him he planned to say something about the incident during the press conference. (Eliud Kipchoge, who was seated next to Farah, looked on impassively.)

Kipchoge has secured himself as arguably the greatest distance runner of all time. He’s run the two fastest times in history and has now won 11 out of his 12 marathons. (His only loss was a second-place finish to Wilson Kipsang at Berlin in 2016.) The runner said post-race, “It feels strange to be considered the most successful elite man in racing, it’s really good and I’m very very happy to have won four times.”

In the men’s wheelchair division, American Daniel Romanchuk edged out the Swiss athlete Marcel Hug at the finish line. Their times were 1:33:38 and 1:33:42. Tomoki Suzuki of Japan was third, in 1:33:51. Romanchuk, who has also won the Chicago and New York Marathons, was coming off his win at the Boston Marathon two weeks ago.