LONDON (Reuters) – Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Kebede and Kenyan Priscah Jeptoo put last year’s Olympic disappointments behind them on Sunday with victories in the London Marathon.

Big crowds, undaunted by the Boston Marathon bombings last week, lined the route to cheer on the runners, many of whom wore black ribbons to honour those killed and wounded in the American race.

LONDON (Reuters) – Wearing a black ribbon on her tracksuit top, American Tatyana McFadden dedicated her victory in Sunday’s London Marathon wheelchair race to the people of Boston.

McFadden won the Boston Marathon six days ago and was back in her hotel in the city when the two bombs near the finish line exploded killing three people and injuring over 170 more.

LONDON (Reuters) – Priscah Jeptoo took advantage of a fall by Ethiopia’s Olympic champion Tiki Gelana to give Kenya their third successive victory in the women’s race at the London Marathon on Sunday.

Ethiopian Tsegaye Kebede made up for missing out on the Olympics and destroyed Kenyan hopes of retaining the men’s title by overhauling 2011 winner Emmanuel Mutai in the closing stages to win in two hours six minutes and four seconds.

LONDON (Reuters) – Boston Marathon wheelchair champion Tatyana McFadden fled the city after Monday’s bomb attack on the race but is determined to compete in London this weekend as an example to those injured in the blasts.

Originally from Russia, McFadden was born with spina bifida and abandoned in an orphanage, but after being adopted by an American family when she was six years old, she found purpose in sport.

LONDON (Reuters) – Kenyan marathon world champion Edna Kiplagat loves London and after a disappointing Olympic performance wants to finally last taste victory in the city she considers a second home.

Kiplagat is one of the favorites for Sunday’s London Marathon having finished third in 2011 and second last year, both times behind winner Mary Keitany who is not competing.

LONDON (Reuters) – Not even odds of 25-1 can persuade double Olympic champion Mo Farah to abandon his carefully laid plans and complete the London marathon on Sunday.

Farah, who won the 5,000 and 10,000 meters gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics, will run the first half of the race as preparation for making his debut over the full 42.195 kms distance next year.

LONDON (Reuters) – Stephen Kiprotich, who overcame childhood illness and the might of the Kenyans on his way to winning marathon gold at the London Olympics, now seeks to inspire young athletes in his native Uganda.

Kiprotich takes on the Kenyans again in Sunday’s London Marathon and he wants to use his new-found fame to improve facilities for young athletes at home.

LONDON (Reuters) – London Marathon men’s champion Wilson Kipsang plans to work with his Kenyan colleagues on Sunday in a bid to keep the title in the east African country.

Kenya have won all but one of the last nine men’s London marathons, with 2010 being the odd year out when Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Kebede beat Emmanuel Mutai by four seconds.

LONDON (Reuters) – Additional security will be deployed for Sunday’s London Marathon following the Boston bombings but chief executive Nick Bitel said he was confident the race would fulfil its aim of bringing people together.

“One of the great things about the London Marathon is that it is perceived as being this event that brings people together,” Bitel told a news conference on Wednesday.

LONDON (Reuters) – Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is discovering the adage ‘money can’t buy you happiness’ extends to European success after a 2-2 draw at home to Ajax Amsterdam left their Champions League hopes in tatters.

Mancini was left raging at Danish referee Peter Rasmussen, who disallowed Sergio Aguero’s effort and ignored Mario Balotelli’s late penalty appeal but his anger might have been better directed at his team and their defensive lapses.