CHICAGO: Mo Farah scored a stunning Chicago Marathon victory as he won in two hours five minutes and 11 seconds in only his third race over the distance on Sunday.

After biding his time for much of the race, the British four-time Olympic track champion surged to the lead in the final four miles and broke Ethiopian Mosinet Geremew to shatter the European marathon record of 2:05:48 despite wet, cool and sometimes windy conditions.

Geremew finished second, 13 seconds behind Farah. Japan’s Suguru Osako came in third at 2:05:50. American Galen Rupp, last year’s winner and Farah’s former training partner, was fifth at 2:06:21.

“It was amazing to cross the line first,” said Farah, who pumped his fists and blew kisses to the crowd as he neared the finish line.

Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei won the women’s race in 2:18:35, the third-fastest time in the history of the Chicago race. Kosgei finished second in Chicago last year.

Ethiopia’s Roza Dereje finished second, 2 minutes and 43 seconds behind Kosgei. Shure Demise of Ethiopia was third at 2:22:15.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2018