2020 London Marathon

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The 2020 London Marathon was the 40th running of the annual marathon race in London, United Kingdom, which took place on Sunday, 4 October.[1] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the race was postponed from 26 April and only allowed elite participants; mass participation was cancelled. The event used a different course from usual, consisting of multiple laps around St James's Park.

40th London Marathon
VenueLondon, England
Date4 October 2020
Champions
MenShura Kitata (02:05:41)
WomenBrigid Kosgei (02:18:58)
Wheelchair menBrent Lakatos (01:36:04)
Wheelchair womenNikita den Boer (01:40:07)
← 2019
2021 →

The elite men's race was won by Ethiopian Shura Kitata, and the elite women's race was won by Kenyan Brigid Kosgei. The wheelchair men's race was won by Canadian Brent Lakatos, and the wheelchair women's race was won by Dutchwoman Nikita den Boer.

Background

 
Horse Guards Parade was one of the roads used in the modified course.

The 2020 London Marathon was originally scheduled to be held on 26 April but was postponed until 4 October due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] It was the first London Marathon to be run in the autumn.[3] On 6 August, it was confirmed that the marathon would go ahead as an elite-only race, with the mass participation event cancelled. Fields of around 30-40 athletes competed for each title.[4] It was the first time that the London Marathon has been an elite-only event.[5] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the race was run without spectators, in a biosecure environment. All athletes were tested for COVID-19 multiple times before the race,[6] and wore face coverings and observed social distancing when not competing.[7] All competitors and event co-ordinators wore a "bump" device which alerted them if they got too close to other people.[8]

As a result of the need for a biosecure environment, the race did not follow its traditional route. Instead, the 2020 London Marathon consisted of 19.6 laps of length 2.15 kilometres (1.34 mi) around St James's Park, taking in The Mall, Horse Guards Parade, Birdcage Walk and Buckingham Palace. The final circuit was 1,345 metres (0.84 mi) along the Mall, following the finish line of the traditional London Marathon course.[6] The area around St James's Park was closed to prohibit spectators from attending.[6]

The prize money for winners of the 2020 London Marathon was 50% lower than in 2019. For the first time, there was separate prize money awarded to the highest finishing British athletes in the race.[8] The winner's prize money was US$30,000.[9] Results for British athletes at the 2020 London Marathon were used by Team GB to determine qualification for the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo in 2021.[4] Before both events were postponed, the London Marathon had been scheduled to be used as the British trial event to determine qualification for the 2020 Olympics.[2]

The 2021 London Marathon has been postponed from April until October 2021, to maximise the chance of being able to hold a mass participation event.[4]

Competitors

 
Shura Kitata won the men's race, and Brigid Kosgei won the women's race.

There were three separate races: the women's race started at 7:15 BST (UTC+1), the men's race started at 10:15 BST, and the wheelchair race started at 13:10 BST.[10] The women's race included 2019 winner and current marathon world record holder Brigid Kosgei, 2018 winner Vivian Cheruiyot, as well as Ruth Chepng'etich, Roza Dereje, and Valary Jemeli Aiyabei, all of whom had personal best times under 2:20.[10] Ethiopian Degitu Azimeraw was scheduled to race, but withdrew after testing positive for COVID-19.[11]

The favourites for the men's race were 2019 winner Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele, who won the 2019 Berlin Marathon in 2:01:41, two seconds away from Kipchoge's world record.[12] The men's race also featured Mosinet Geremew, Mule Wasihun,[10] Sisay Lemma, and Tamirat Tola, all of whom had personal best times under 2:05.[5] Sondre Nordstad Moen, who broke the European one hour run record earlier in 2020,[a] also competed.[5] Briton Sir Mo Farah, who in September 2020 set the men's world record for the one hour run,[14] acted as a pacemaker for the men's race.[10] Two days before the race, Kenenisa Bekele withdrew from the London Marathon with a calf injury.[15] American Galen Rupp, who won his country's Olympic qualifying event in February 2020, did not compete, after undergoing surgery for an existing injury.[16]

2019 men's wheelchair race champion Daniel Romanchuk was scheduled to race,[6] but later decided not to attend the event.[17] The race featured Marcel Hug, who won the London Marathon in 2014 and 2016,[18] and was the only man to have beaten Romanchuk in a marathon since March 2019.[19] Other competitors included British eight-time winner David Weir,[17] 2010 winner Josh Cassidy, and Sho Watanabe,[20] who came second at the 2020 Tokyo Marathon.[21]

2019 women's wheelchair race winner Manuela Schär competed at the 2020 race.[6] Former women's winner Shelly Woods raced in what was her first event for four years.[19][18]

Race summary

 
Brent Lakatos won the men's wheelchair race.

All of the races were run in heavy rain due to Storm Alex,[22] which made them the wettest London Marathon in history. The temperature was around 10 °C (50 °F), which was warmer than the 2004 race.[23] The conditions inhibited any chance of world records being broken at the event; world record attempts had been thought possible due to the flatness of the 2020 marathon course.[24]

In the women's race, 2019 winner Brigid Kosgei retained her title, winning by over three minutes. Kosgei broke away from the pack 18 miles (29 km) into the race, and stayed ahead for the rest of the race. She finished in a time of 2:18.58.[9] Ruth Chepng'etich was running second until she was overtaken by Sara Hall around 150 metres (490 ft) from the finish line. Hall finished second, in a personal best time, and Chepng'etich third.[25] Hall's second place was the first time that an American had finished in the top three of the London Marathon since 2006, when Deena Kastor won the race.[24] It was also the first time that a non-African had finished in the top three of the event since 2013, when Japan's Yukiko Akaba finished third.[23] Natasha Cockram won the prize for best British finisher, although she was outside the Olympic qualifying time.[9] After the race, Kosgei called the 2020 London Marathon course "mundane",[22] whilst Chepng'etich said that she had struggled with the cold, wet conditions.[23]

In the men's race, Shura Kitata won a sprint finish with Vincent Kipchumba and Sisay Lemma, who finished second and third respectively. Kitata finished in a time of 2:05:41.[9] The front group completed the first half of the marathon in 1:02:54, and with 4 miles (6.4 km) left in the race, there was a group of nine contendors for the victory.[23] At that point, Kitata moved to the front of the field and accelerated the pace. 2019 winner Eliud Kipchoge was dropped from the leading group,[23] and eventually finished in eighth place.[9] It was the first time since 2013 that Kipchoge had lost a marathon race, and after the race, Kipchoge said that he ran the last 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) with a blocked ear.[26] It was Kipchoge's second slowest marathon time.[23] Jonathan Mellor won the prize for best British finisher. He and Ben Connor finished within the Olympic qualifying time.[9]

The men's wheelchair race was won by Canadian Brent Lakatos in a sprint finish involving six athletes.[27] With two laps to go, Lakatos decided to move to the front of the group, and he remained there until the finish.[27] David Weir and Marcel Hug finished second and third respectively,[28] and Sho Watanabe, Jordi Madera, and Kota Hokinoue were also involved in the final sprint.[27] Lakatos was the first Canadian to finish on the podium in the London Marathon men's wheelchair event for 10 years.[27]

The women's wheelchair was won by Nikita den Boer, who finished 82 seconds clear of pre-race favourite Manuela Schär.[28] The pair had traded the lead throughout the race until around 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the finish, when den Boer took a lead that Schär could not pull back.[27] American Jenna Fesemyer finished third, over 12 minutes behind den Boer. It was den Boer's first World Marathon Majors victory, and she was the first Dutch person to win a London Marathon wheelchair race.[27] Den Boer beat her previous personal best by over 10 minutes, and due to her victory, she qualified for the delayed 2020 Summer Paralympics.[b][29] Schär had won the previous nine World Marathon Majors races that she competed in.[c][27][28]

Results

Only the top 20 finishers in each race are listed.

Men

Position Athlete Nationality Time
  Shura Kitata   Ethiopia 02:05:41
  Vincent Kipchumba   Kenya 02:05:42
  Sisay Lemma   Ethiopia 02:05:45
4 Mosinet Geremew   Ethiopia 02:06:04
5 Mule Wasihun   Ethiopia 02:06:08
6 Tamirat Tola   Ethiopia 02:06:41
7 Benson Kipruto   Kenya 02:06:42
8 Eliud Kipchoge   Kenya 02:06:49
9 Sondre Nordstad Moen   Norway 02:09:01
10 Marius Kipserem   Kenya 02:09:25
11 Stephen Scullion   Ireland 02:09:25
12 Peter Herzog   Austria 02:10:06
13 Jonathan Mellor   United Kingdom 02:10:38
14 Tristan Woodfine   Canada 02:10:51
15 Ben Connor   United Kingdom 02:11:20
16 Juan Luis Barrios   Mexico 02:11:37
17 Jared Ward   United States 02:12:38
18 Joshua Griffiths   United Kingdom 02:13:11
19 Chris Thompson   United Kingdom 02:13:32
20 Charlie Hulson   United Kingdom 02:13:34

Source: [30]

Women

Position Athlete Nationality Time
  Brigid Kosgei   Kenya 02:18:58
  Sara Hall   United States 02:22:01
  Ruth Chepngetich   Kenya 02:22:05
4 Ashete Bekere   Ethiopia 02:22:51
5 Alemu Megertu   Ethiopia 02:24:23
6 Molly Seidel   United States 02:25:13
7 Gerda Steyn   South Africa 02:26:51
8 Sinead Diver   Australia 02:27:07
9 Darya Mykhaylova   Ukraine 02:27:29
10 Valary Jemeli   Kenya 02:28:18
11 Edith Chelimo   Kenya 02:29:03
12 Ellie Pashley   Australia 02:31:31
13 Natasha Cockram   United Kingdom 02:33:19
14 Naomi Mitchell   United Kingdom 02:33:23
15 Tracy Barlow   United Kingdom 02:34:42
16 Tish Jones   United Kingdom 02:36:25
17 Lindsay Flanagan   United States 02:37:16
18 Bo Ummels   Netherlands 02:39:54

Source: [30]

Wheelchair men

Position Athlete Nationality Time
  Brent Lakatos   Canada 01:36:04
  David Weir   United Kingdom 01:36:06
  Marcel Hug   Switzerland 01:36:08
4 Sho Watanabe   Japan 01:36:08
5 Jordi Madera   Spain 01:36:09
6 Kota Hokinoue   Japan 01:36:11
7 Rafael Botello   Spain 01:44:48
8 Heinz Frei   Switzerland 01:52:42
9 James Senbeta   United States 01:59:45

Source: [30]

Wheelchair women

Position Athlete Nationality Time
  Nikita den Boer   Netherlands 01:40:07
  Manuela Schär   Switzerland 01:41:29
  Jenna Fesemyer   United States 01:52:16
4 Patricia Eachus   Switzerland 02:02:38
5 Margriet van den Broek   Netherlands 02:10:05

Source: [30]

Virtual marathon

A virtual marathon event was also held to allow people to run a marathon distance and record their own times. The virtual race had an entry fee, with all proceeds going to charity.[4][10] Competitors who completed a virtual marathon on 4 October and recorded it on the official app received a medal, as they would do for finishing a traditional London Marathon.[31] The times from the virtual race can be used for people wanting to enter the 2021 mass participation event.[10] Over 43,000 people ran a virtual London Marathon.[32]

Notes

  1. ^ On 4 September 2020, Farah set the men's all-time record for the one hour run at the 2020 Diamond League meeting in Brussels, Belgium, covering 21,330 metres (13.25 miles).[13]
  2. ^ The Dutch qualifying standard for the 2020 London Marathon was to finish in the top four.
  3. ^ Schär did not compete at the 2020 Tokyo Marathon.

See also

References

  1. ^ "2020 Virgin Money London Marathon postponed to Sunday 4 October". Virgin Money London Marathon. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Coronavirus: London Marathon postponed until October". BBC. Archived from the original on 14 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Everything you need to know about the London Marathon 2020". Runner's World. 16 March 2020. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d "London Marathon: 2020 edition to be elite-only race, with mass event cancelled". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  5. ^ a b c "2020 London Marathon Elite Fields Released: Eliud Kipchoge, Kenenisa Bekele, Brigid Kosgei Lead Field That Includes Americans Jared Ward, Molly Seidel And Sara Hall". Let's Run. 20 August 2020. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d e "First look at the 2020 London Marathon course". Athletics Weekly. 3 September 2020. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  7. ^ "2020 London Marathon to take place on a circuit around St James's Park with no spectators". News Chain. 3 September 2020. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  8. ^ a b "London Marathon 2020: when is the elite-only race, what time does it start and who is running this year?". The Daily Telegraph. 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "London Marathon 2020: Eliud Kipchoge beaten as Shura Kitata takes title". BBC Sport. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "London Marathon announce race schedule for elite-only race". Runner's World. 28 August 2020. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  11. ^ "London Marathon: Degitu Azimeraw out of race after positive Covid-19 test". BBC Sport. 29 September 2020. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  12. ^ "Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele duel in London Marathon's battle of stars and shoes". The Independent. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  13. ^ "Mo Farah breaks one-hour world record at Brussels Diamond League". BBC. 4 September 2020. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  14. ^ "Mo Farah breaks one-hour world record at Brussels Diamond League". BBC. 4 September 2020. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  15. ^ "Kenenisa Bekele withdraws from London Marathon with calf injury". The Guardian. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  16. ^ "London Marathon releases its best elite field in years". Running Magazine. 21 August 2020. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  17. ^ a b "London Marathon 2020: The rivals, the virtual runners, coverage details and more". BBC Sport. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  18. ^ a b "Wheelchair racers return to the road in London". World Para Athletics. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  19. ^ a b "Daniel Romanchuk and Manuela Schär to defend London Marathon titles". Athletics Weekly. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  20. ^ "Romanchuk and Schӓr headline wheelchair fields at 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon". Run 24 7. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  21. ^ "Tokyo Marathon 2020 Race result". Tokyo Marathon. 1 March 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  22. ^ a b "Sara Hall Chases Down a Personal Best at 2020 London Marathon". The Daily Telegraph. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  23. ^ a b c d e f "London Marathon: Kitata and Kosgei win as blocked ear foils Kipchoge". The Guardian. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  24. ^ a b "Brigid Kosgei Asserts Her Dominance in the Distance With a 2020 London Marathon Win". Runner's World. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  25. ^ "Sara Hall Chases Down a Personal Best at 2020 London Marathon". Runner's World. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  26. ^ "World record holder Eliud Kipchoge dethroned as Shura Kitata sprints to men's London Marathon title". The Daily Telegraph. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g "Brent Lakatos and Nikita Den Boer Capture the London Marathon Wheelchair Titles". Runner's World. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  28. ^ a b c "London Marathon 2020: David Weir misses out on ninth title". BBC Sport. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  29. ^ "Nikita den Boer and Brent Lakatos win for the first time in London". World Para Athletics. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  30. ^ a b c d "Leaderboard KM". London Marathon. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  31. ^ "London Marathon reveal their 40th race medal". Runner's World. 24 September 2020. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  32. ^ "'Strangest ever' London Marathon is a virtual hit with 43,000 runners". The Guardian. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.