Olympic champion comes out on top in brilliant battle and puts herself in pole position for Paris, while Mhairi Maclennan finishes as the best of British on 26.2-mile debut

Peres Jepchirchir came out on top in the game of poker that was the elite womens race at the London Marathon, sprinting away in the closing stages to break the womens-only world record.

The Olympic champions victory, in 2:16:16, also strengthened her hand in the fight to be selected for the Kenyan team bound for Paris this summer. Her patience paid off as she beat Mary Keitanys mark of 2:17:01 from 2017 and also set in London.

Behind Jepchipchir came Ethiopian world record-holder Tigist Assefa, who was unable to follow her rivals race-deciding kick, and finished in 2:16:23, one second ahead of 2021 London winner Joyciline Jepkosgei.

On her marathon debut, Mhairi Maclennan impressed by coming 11^th in 2:29:15 to finish as best of the British womens elite field. Becky Briggs was 12^th in 2:35:25 and Rachel Hodgkinson 13^th in 2:36:49.

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