London Marathon: Paula Radcliffe's last race was won by Tigist Tufa
Last Updated: 28/04/15 1:40pm
Tigist Tufa became the first Ethiopian woman in 14 years to win the London Marathon on Sunday, as Paula Radcliffe bid farewell.
The 28-year-old Tufa surprisingly ended Kenya's four-year dominance of the race, winning her first major marathon in 2:23:22 seconds, with two-time winner Mary Keitany reaching Buckingham Palace 18 seconds later.
Tufa's compatriot, Tirfi Tsegaye, was third. The women's London Marathon had not been won by an Ethiopian since Derartu Tulu in 2001.
Tufa was only ninth-fastest in the field, but seized a cagey race by the scruff of the neck in the closing stages to pull clear of the field and was able to wave to the crowds as she came down The Mall to win.
"I've always dreamed about winning the London Marathon and I can't say how happy I am that this has come true," said Tufa.
The race was expected to be dominated by Kenya's 'fantastic four' of Keitany, Edna and Florence Kiplagat and Priscah Jeptoo but they struggled in blustery conditions around the twisting London streets.
Sonia Samuels was the highest-placed British woman in 16th place.
Meanwhile, the 41-year-old Radcliffe returned to the scene of her greatest triumph - her staggering world record of two hours 15 minutes 25 seconds set on the streets of the capital in 2003 - to bid an emotional farewell to competitive marathon running.
The days of running those sorts of times are over, but the cheers from the crowds lining the streets were as loud for her as any of the champions as she came home in a time of 2hrs 36mins 55secs.
"Down the last mile I thought, 'I don't care about the time'. I just wanted to thank as many people as I could," said Radcliffe.
"There was a big sign at Embankment saying 'we will miss you', but it won't be as much as I will miss you."
