Early breakaway allows Keitany to take London crown

Keitany broke away after 15 miles and never looked like being caught as she clocked two hours 19 minutes and 19 seconds, almost 10 minutes quicker than her debut in New York last year.

The 29-year-old began the year by setting a new world record of 1:05.50 for the half-marathon, becoming the first woman to run under 66 minutes.

And she proved equally adept at double the distance to relegate defending champion Liliya Shobukhova of Russia into second (2:20.15), with Kenya’s Edna Kiplagat in third (2:20.46).

Radcliffe is one of only three women to have bettered that time and will make her return to action in the BUPA Great Manchester Run over 10 kilometres on May 15, her first race since the 2009 New York Marathon.

In the men’s race, Emmanuel Mutai made it a Kenyan double with victory in a new course record of 2:04.40, beating the previous best by 30 seconds with the fifth fastest time in history.

The 26-year-old, second here last year, broke away around 21 miles with three-time winner Martin Lel and Patrick Makau making it a clean sweep for Kenya, Lel just edging out his compatriot in a sprint finish with both men given the same time (2:05.45).

Keitany, who was a pacemaker for the 2007 race, said: “I think I surprised myself because I was running with the champion from last year and I was a bit scared.

“But then I started to believe in myself that I could do it and I feel very happy.”

Mutai, who won silver in the world championships in Berlin in 2009, said: “My dreams have come true because I had it in my mind that one day I would win one of the five major marathons.

“I was second here and in New York last year but today has finally come for me.

“My aim was just to win, I was not focusing on the time, but I tried my best to push it when I saw we were inside world-record pace at one stage.

“It was fantastic to win the race and improve my personal best.”

Guernsey’s Lee Merrien was the first British finisher in 14th place with a personal best of 2:14.27, slightly outside the qualifying time for the World Championships in Daegu.

Arizona-based Scot Andrew Lemoncello, eighth last year, struggled badly in the closing stages and finished almost a minute behind Merrien in 15th, with Dave Webb 19th.

Jo Pavey was also 19th in the women’s race on her marathon debut, her time of 2:28.24 comfortably inside the standard for both Daegu and next year’s London Olympics.

The British marathon team for Daegu is selected today and Pavey now has a decision to make on whether she wants to compete in Korea.