It is a miracle that Kenya’s Jemima Sumgong overcame a heavy fall to win her first Virgin London Marathon ahead of defending women’s champion Tigist Tufa.
Sumgong took a tumble at around 23 miles, tangling feet with Aselefech Mergia as the lead group approached a water stop in an incident that also saw one of the favourites Mary Keitany also go down.
The fall was not the only interruption to Sumgong’s race, a spectator also threatened to disrupt her progress after invading the course. He was wrestled away by a marshall just metres away from the leader and given a ticking off by the Metropolitan Police but not arrested.
Unbelievably after first she falling flat and her rivals going full speed ahead of her she somehow managed to outpace them.She then swriggled out and sped away to victory.