Dom Scott-Efurd makes solid marathon debut in London

Despite struggling in the latter stages of the race, long-distance runner Dominique Scott-Efurd launched her promising marathon career with a solid performance on Sunday in her debut over the 42km distance at the London Marathon.

Scott-Efurd, a two-time Olympian on the track, looked superb for most of the race, despite the wet conditions.

Record attempt

Reaching the halfway mark in 1:12:25, she was on target to break the national record of 2:25:28 set by Gerda Steyn in Italy in April 2021. And while she slowed after the 30km point, crossing the finish line in 2:19:19, the 30-year-old athlete became the seventh South African woman to run under 2:30:00 over the classic distance.

Dutch star Sifan Hassan won the women’s race in the English capital in 2:18:33, with the top five athletes all dipping under 2:19:00.

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In the men’s race, Kenyan athlete Kelvin Kiptum stormed to a convincing victory in 2:01:25, finishing nearly three minutes ahead of his nearest opponent and crossing the line just 16 seconds outside the world record of 2:01:09 held by countryman Eliud Kipchoge.

Meanwhile, 50-year-old South African Ernst van Dyk finished 10th in the men’s wheelchair contest.

Van Dyk, a 10-time winner of the Boston Marathon, completed the race in 1:35:18, with Swiss athlete Marcel Hug taking the win in 1:23:44.