Kenya's Vivian Cheruiyot wins women's elite London Marathon race as Britain's Lily Partridge finishes eighth

Vivian Cheruiyot timed her run to perfection to win the women's London Marathon.

Cheruiyot, 34, took advantage of failed attempts by last year's winner Mary Keitany and runner-up Tirunesh Dibaba to break Paula Radcliffe's 15-year-old world record.

In stifling heat first Dibaba, of Ethiopia, and then Cheruiyot's fellow Kenyan Keitany dropped off the pace allowing the 2016 Olympic 5000m gold medalist to claim victory.

After nine miles Keitany and main rival Dibaba were 25 seconds ahead of Radcliffe's time. But Dibaba was soon reduced to a walking pace to leave Keitany with only her two male pacemakers for company.

Keitany, looking for a fourth win in London, also started to slow down as it became apparent Radcliffe's record of two hours 15 minutes 25 seconds would not be threatened.

Instead it was Cheruiyot who gave the pacemakers a shock by turning up on their heels, and she went on to win a tough race in 2:18.31.

Brigid Kosgei of Kenya was second with Tadelech Bekele of Ethiopia third.

Britain's Lily Partridge smashed her personal best to finish under two-and-a-half hours. She finished eighth.