Double Olympic gold medallist moved up to the 26.2-mile distance for the first time

By James Orr

Mo Farah completed his debut London Marathon in eighth place with a time of 2hr 08min 21sec, four minutes behind the winner Wilson Kipsang but vowed afterwards: “I will be back”.

Farah, Britain’s double gold medal winner in the 5,000m and the 10,000m events at the London 2012 Olympics, was competing in the longer distance race for the first time and could not keep up with the pace of the likes of Kipsang, who won the event with a new course record of 2hr 4min 27sec, in the leading field.

The 31-year-old’s finishing time was outside Steve Jones’ 29-year-old British record of 2min 07min 13sec and could persuade him that his future remains on the track rather than the road.

“I will be back,” Farah said. “I’m not going to finish it like this. I gave it my all but I’m disappointed I didn’t go out there and give what the crowd deserve.

“It was pretty tough. I’m quite disappointed but you try things and if they don’t work, at least you gave it a go. I missed one drink station but it was really just the pace – I should have gone with the front group. The pacemakers were slightly ahead of me but you learn – life goes on.”

source: The Independent