Kenya's Joyciline Jepkosgei ran a storming race to cross the finish line in first place in the 2021 women's elite London Marathon.
The 28-year-old dethroned compatriot and recent two-time winner Brigid Kosgei - who failed in her bid for a third straight win - with a time of 2:17.42 for her maiden London Marathon triumph.
Jepkosgei's fellow Kenyan Ashete Bekere took third place while Ethiopian athlete Degitu Azimeraw achieved second place, and the winner earned high praise from Paula Radcliffe for her 'perfect' performance.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Radcliffe said: "She judged it perfectly. She had the strength to turn the screw, not only maintain the pace but pick it up, through that drinks station around 35km.
"Since then, she was hurting, but she will have been visualising this finish line. She has crushed the opposition."
Defending champion Kosgei placed fourth on the day, while British athlete Charlotte Purdue sought to bounce back from her Olympic disappointment as she finished 10th with 2:23.26.
Ben Knapton
