Mo Farah finishes eighth on London Marathon debut as Wilson Kipsang sets new record
MO FARAH could only finish in eighth on his debut London Marathon as Wilson Kipsang stormed to his second title win.
The British double Olympic champion started well but gradually fell behind as the pace and length of the marathon took its toll.
Farah, 31, finished the course in a respectable 2:08:21, failing to beat Steven Jones's 29-year-old British record of 2:07:13, but vowed to return next year and create more history.
"I will be back," he said after completing the race.
"I'm not going to finish it like this. I would have been disappointed to do my first marathon anywhere else. I gave it my all but I just wish I gave a little bit more to the crowd and all the supporters.
"It was pretty tough. I'm quite disappointed but you try things and if they don't work, at least you gave it a go. I missed one drink station but it was really just the pace - I should have gone with the front group. The pacemakers I had were slightly ahead of me but you learn - life goes on."
Kipsang set a new course record of 2:04:27, while Edna Kiplagat took top spot in the women's race ahead of Florence Kiplagat and Olympic 10,000m champion Tirunesh Dibaba.