Wilson Kipsang
Kipsang crosses the line with a new course record.

Wilson Kipsang has won his second London marathon as British double Olympic champion Mo Farah settled for eighth place in his debut run.

32-year-old Kipsang crossed the finishing line with a course record of 2hr, 4 mins, 27 secs to repeat his success of 2012 as his compatriot Stanley Biwott finished second.

Farah entered Sunday's race looking eclipse Steve Jones' long standing British record time of 2hr, 7 mins, 13 secs but finished over a second behind, clocking a final time of 2hr, 8 secs, 21 secs.

In the women's race Edna Kiplagat fended off the challenge of fellow Kenyan Florence Kiplagat and 10,000m champion Tirunesh Dabada to clinch victory.

Running in the second pack of elite runners, Farah found himself up against it as the marathon reached the half way mark, sitting 38 seconds behind the leading group led by Kipsang.

The gap between the 31-year-old, who won 5000m and 10,000m gold at London 2012, and the leaders was stretched to a minute by the 19 mile mark before he eventually finished four minutes behind the day's victor.

"I will be back," Farah said following the race. "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."

London