In a race run at world-record pace until the last six miles, Lel claimed a third London title in four years by smashing Khalid Khannouchi's course record.

Fellow Kenyan Sammy Wanjiru was second and last year's runner-up Abderrahim Goumri third as the first three home all broke the previous course record.

Lel, who had to switch his training base to Namibia when fighting erupted in his homeland, stormed to victory in two hours five minutes and 15 seconds.

"I knew I had to use my experience today and if I made a mistake I would lose," said the 29-year-old, who sprinted clear in the last 400 metres to win by nine seconds with Goumri third, a further six seconds back.

It was the first time three athletes had gone under 2hrs 6mins in the same race with the next three, Emmanuel Mutai, Ryan Hall and Deriba Merga, all under 2:07 with lifetime bests.

The women's race saw a shock result when Germany's Irina Mikitenko ran away from her much-fancied rivals over the last two miles to win in a personal best of 2:24.14.

"I knew from 30 kilometres I could win and whatever happened I could deal with it," said Mikitenko after only her second marathon.

The 35-year-old Kazakhstan-born athlete fully deserved her victory after leading for well over half the race, although it might have been different if Gete Wami had not fallen just before 18 miles.

The Ethiopian pre-race favourite collided with Algeria's Souad Ait Salem at a water station but recovered to finish third.

Liz Yelling won her domestic duel with Hayley Haining to almost certainly assure her of a second British Olympic vest in Beijing this summer.

With Paula Radcliffe and Mara Yamauchi assured of their places, the race was an eagerly-awaited contest between the English and Scottish runners for the third spot. Yelling eventually won the battle as both of them bettered 2:30 with personal bests of 2:28.33 and 2:29.18 in ninth and 12th positions.

Dan Robinson was the first British man home in 2:13.10, just four seconds behind Olympic champion Stefano Baldini.