London Marathon: Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw becomes youngest-ever London Marathon winner




CNN

With six miles to go, Yalemzerf Yehualaw’s race looked ruined after the Ethiopian was sprawled on the road after tripping over a speed bump.

The incident caused her to lose time against her rivals, and she later admitted that the face plantation was “hurt.”

But that didn’t stop the 23-year-old from making history on Sunday when she finally crossed the finish line first and became the youngest-ever winner of the London Marathon.

Her victory in two hours, 17 minutes and 25 seconds was the third fastest time ever in the women’s race, the fastest debut time in history and an Ethiopian record.

Yehualaw, who only ran her first competitive marathon in April, paused four miles from the finish and posted a remarkable 4:43 split at mile 24.

2021 champion Joyciline Jepkosgei finished second, 41 seconds back, while Alemu Megertu of Ethiopia was third.

Kenyan Amos Kipruto won the men’s race for the first time, finishing in two hours, four minutes and 39 seconds.

Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner set new course records when they clinched the men’s and women’s wheelchair titles respectively.