LONDON, April 23: Olympic bronze medallist Deena Kastor broke her own American record on Sunday with an untroubled victory in the women's London marathon.

In the absence of Britain's world champion and record holder Paula Radcliffe, who pulled out of this year's race with a foot injury, Kastor cruised to victory in two hours 19 minutes 36 seconds on a cool, wet morning.

Kenyan Felix Limo outsprinted team mate and defending champion Martin Lel to win the men's race in 2:06:39 to add to his victories in Rotterdam, Berlin and Chicago.

Limo, running for the first time in London, edged Lel by two seconds in a second race staged without the current world record holder.

Paul Tergat, another elite Kenyan, pulled out after tearing his lower, left calf muscle, and apparently leaving the way clear for his great track rival Haile Gebrselassie.

However, the Ethiopian four-time world 10,000 metres champion, who has set world records over the half marathon and 25 km this year, faded to ninth after running with the pack for most of the race.

In the women's event, Kastor joined Kenyans Susan Chepkemei and Salina Kosgei in a break within the first three km behind two male pacemakers.

The trio went through 15 km in 49 minutes 41 seconds before Kosgei dropped off the pace. Chepkemei tracked Kastor until 25 km when the American pulled away.

Results:

Men’s: 1. Felix Limo (Kenya) 2:06:39; 2. Martin Lel (Kenya) 2:06:41; 3. Hendrick Ramaala (South Africa) 2:06:55; 4. Khalid Khannouchi (US) 2:07:04; 5. Stefano Baldini (Italy) 2:07:22; 6. Rodgers Rop (Kenya) 2:07:34; 7. Hicham Chatt (Morocco) 2:07:59; 8. Jaouad Gharib (Morocco) 2:08:45; 9. Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia) 2:09:05; 10. Evans Rutto (Kenya) 2:09:35.

Women’s: 1. Deena Kastor (US) 2:19:35; 2. Lyudmila Petrova (Russia) 2:21:29; 3. Susan Chepkemei (Kenya) 2:21:45; 4. Berhane Adere (Ethiopia) 2:21:51; 5. Galina Bogomolova (Russia) 2:21:57; 6. Mara Yamauchi (Britain) 2:25:12; 7. Constantina Tomescu (Romania) 2:27:50; 8. Salina Kosgei (Kenya) 2:28:39; 9. Margaret Okayo (Kenya) 2:29:15; 10. Eri Hayakawa (Japan) 2:31:40.—Reuters