Zheng smashes world record at London Marathon

China’s Jin Zheng made a big impression on her London marathon debut as she smashed the world record to take the IPC Athletics Marathon World Cup title at the Virgin Money London Marathon in the British capital on Sunday (24 April).

The 24-year-old, who won 1,500m world gold in Qatar, Doha, six months ago, knocked a remarkable 13 minutes off the T11 mark set by Germany’s Regina Vollbrecht 12 months ago as she crossed the line in 3:13:15 in the women’s T11/12 event.

Japan’s Mihoko Nishijimi (3:23:47) finished in second place with her compatriot Yumiko Fuji (3:44:27) third.

Brazil’s reigning world champion Aniceto dos Santos knocked nearly three minutes off his personal best to win the men’s T13 class.

The 40-year-old clocked 2:32:52 as he took the tape for the second consecutive year, as New Zealand’s former Paralympic 800m T13 champion Tim Prendergast finished second in 2:46:56.

The men’s T11/12 class was won by Japan’s Yutaka Kumagai (2:33:24), with second place going to Spain’s Oleg Antipin (2:36:53). Portugal’s Jorge Pina (2:42:19) completed the podium.

China’s Li Chaoyan topped the podium in the men’s T45/46 event as he stopped the clock at 2:27:07, just 13 seconds shy of the world record set by Spain’s Abderrahman Ait Khamouch last year.

He did finish more than four minutes ahead of Morocco’s Abdelhadi El Harti, while Italy’s former world champion Alessandro di Lello (2:32:44) had to settle for third.