KABEDE

LONDON, Apr 25 - Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia, last year's runner-up, won the London Marathon for the first time on Sunday to end Kenya's six-year grip on the race.

Kebede won in a time of two hours, five minutes and 19 seconds after passing Kenya's Emmanuel Mutai, the runner-up.

In wet conditions, Morocco's Jaouad Gharib was third.

Olympic bronze-medallist Kebede was always in contention and split the field with six miles left of the 26 miles 385 yards (42.2 kilometres) course.

His break saw Kebede finish comfortably ahead of world silver medallist Mutai (2:06:23), with Gharib further back in 2:06:55.

The women's race saw a Russian one-two with Liliya Shobukhova winning from compatriot Inga Abitova in a time of 2:22:00.

Abitova was some 19 seconds behind with Ethiopia's Asselefech Mergia third in 2:22:30.

Shobukhova has now won two of her three marathons after triumphing in Chicago in October and finishing third in her debut in the distance in London last year.

The 32-year-old, the European 5,000 metres track record holder, led for much of the second half of the race and then used her finishing speed to break away in the closing stages to outpace Abitova and Mergia.