FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Elite Race Winners: press conference quotes
Eliud Kipchoge and Brigid Kosgei met the media this morning (Monday 29
April) to reflect on their historic victories at the 2019 Virgin Money
London Marathon.
Kipchoge won a record-breaking fourth London Marathon title in the second
quickest time in history after a titanic battle with three young Ethiopians
who threatened his supremacy for all but the last two miles.
The Kenyan led from start to finish, gradually shedding challengers as he
raced across the famous London course quicker than anyone else in the
event's history, eventually taking almost 30 seconds from his own course
record as he crossed the line in 2 hours 2 minutes 37 seconds.
Behind him Mosinet Geremew won the battle for second with a huge personal
best of 2:02:55, the third quickest ever, ensuring the 2019 Virgin Money
London Marathon will be remembered as the first ever to see two men dip
under 2:03.
Kosgei's victory was equally impressive as the 25-year-old produced the
fastest ever second half in a women's marathon to defeat reigning champion
Vivian Cheruiyot and become the youngest women's winner of this prestigious
race.
After a slow start, Kosgei outbattled her compatriot over the closing miles
and eventually won by nearly two minutes in 2:18:20, shaving 15 seconds
from the personal best she set when winning the Chicago Marathon last
October.
With their second victories in the current Abbott World Marathon Majors
contest, the two Kenyans now top the Series XII leaderboards with
unbeatable totals of 50 points.
Here's what they said this morning:
Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya)
2019 Virgin Money London Marathon men's champion
Kipchoge defied the chilly and blustery conditions to produce a performance
for the ages finishing in a time only he has bettered. He led virtually
from the first stride to the last and destroyed a world-class field with
half marathon splits of 61:37 and 61:00. The victory was his 10th in
succession at the 26.2-mile distance, his 11th in 12 career races. With 50
points and the two quickest times ever during Series XII, the Olympic
champion is in prime position to be crowned Abbott World Marathon Majors
winner for a fourth time – more than any other athlete, male or female.
What he said:
"The more you are humble, the more you become successful. The more you have
a lot of pride, the more you can fall. It is better to be humble and
succeed for a long time."
"My children watched the race on TV in Kenya and I called them. They said a
big, huge congratulations. The young boys know that I have won a marathon
but they don't know how big the marathon is.
"It's great to race in a competitive race. It's good to have people who can
push you over the last kilometres. Last year from 35km I was running alone,
but yesterday was more tactical. It's good for sport.
"I had three people behind me and you never know what's happening at your
back.
"I am a man who doesn't like celebrations. My celebration was yesterday at
the Finish Line. It's good to go back and stay with my family, and stay
focused.
"I will have some massage and ice baths and rest for two to three weeks.
And I will start training in two or three weeks knowing what the next goal
is.
"I have a great team with my sponsors, management and coaches. I will get
together and have tea and dinner with them. But I am not drinking.
"I would like to win all six Marathon Majors before I stop. I love the
sport. That's what drives me. When I wake up in the morning that's my
ignition key."
Brigid Kosgei (Kenya)
2019 Virgin Money London Marathon women's champion
Kosgei triumphed over a field billed as the deepest in history by running
the fastest second half of a women's marathon ever seen.
The Kenyan scorched through the latter stages in 66 minutes 42 seconds,
taking a minute out of the field between 35km and 40km, and notched up her
sixth marathon victory in her 10th race with the ninth fastest time in
history. In beating Cheruiyot, Kosgei reversed last year's result and left
the champion in her wake, along with the three-time champion Mary Keitany,
who was fifth, and another of her prestigious compatriots, Berlin champion
Gladys Cherono, who was pipped for third place by Ethiopia's Roza Dereje.
Remarkably, Kosgei didn't take a single drink throughout the second half of
the race despite running five-minute mile splits from mile 18.
What she said:
"In the second half my body started to move and I started to push a lot. My
body said push, push, push. I was comfortable for running the second half
fast.
"In the first half we were all looking at each other and everyone was
strong. So I decided to move. I said to myself, 'Let's go' then Vivian
moved with me.
"Yesterday, everyone in the race is a champion. We could have gone a lot
faster but I could see my colleagues Vivian and Mary and we were looking at
each other saying 'Who will go? Who will go?' Everyone was waiting for each
other.
"That's why the first half was 71 minutes. That was our problem. In the end
I decided to just go, so I think with a faster first half I can run a lot
faster.
"My parents, friends, husband and kids will celebrate at home with me. They
were all happy with the race yesterday."
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