Judith Jeptum produced the first women's sub-2:20 marathon on French roads to win the Paris Marathon on Sunday.
The 27-year-old Kenyan won the World Athletics Elite Label road race in a lifetime best of 2:19:48, while Ethiopia's Deso Gelmisa took the men's race in 2:05:07.
Jeptum headed into the race after setting a personal best time of 2:22.30 in Abu Dhabi last November.
The favourites started the women's race at a blistering pace. Judith Jeptum (KEN), Gladys Chepkurui (KEN), Beyenu Degefa (ETH) and Besu Sado (ETH) led from the front with two pacemakers.
The lead group went through the 10-kilometre mark in 32:22, setting them on course for a finish under 2:17. Besu Sado was the first to crack some time before the field wrapped up the first half marathon in 1:08:30.
Approaching km 28, Judith Jeptum left her rivals in the dust with a devastating attack and never looked back. This solo move ended in another prestigious win for the Kenyan winner of last year's Abu Dhabi Marathon, who crossed the finish line in 2:19:49, beating her own personal best by close to 3 minutes and setting a new record in the women's Paris Marathon.
The men's contest went down to the wire. 15 runners passed through the 10km checkpoint in 29:45, 15 seconds ahead of the second group of nine runners.
Following a fierce sprint, Gelmisa prevailed in 2:05:07, nine seconds faster than the PB he had set in Valencia in December where he had finished runner-up. Tura, winner in Chicago in 2021, finished three seconds in arrears in 2:05:10 as Amdouni rounded the podium in a national record of 2:05:22.
( With inputs from ANI )
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