image source, Pennsylvania/Reuters
Marcel Hug of Switzerland has won the men's wheelchair race at the London Marathon for the fourth year in a row.
The 38-year-old finished in 1 hour 28 minutes 35 seconds, taking his fifth victory in London.
American Daniel Romanchuk took second place and British David Weir took third place for his 25th consecutive appearance.
Fellow Swiss athlete Catherine DeBrunner won the women's wheelchair race, winning in 1 hour, 38 minutes, and 54 seconds.
It was DeBrunner's first victory in London, and she led from the start and quickly widened the gap between her rivals and finished second, more than six minutes ahead of fellow countrywoman Manuela Schaal.
Britain's Eden Rainbow Cooper, who won last week's Boston Marathon, finished seventh in 1:50:39.
London Marathon: Women's wheelchair race results
1. Catherine Debranne (Sui) – 1:38:54
2. Manuela Schaal (Sui) – 1:45:00
3. Tatiana McFadden (USA) – 1:45:51
Meanwhile, Hug, who won the men's race in Boston, accompanied Romanchuk throughout the first half of the race in London.
The pair appeared to be pulling away from the rest of the field, but Weir and Japan's Tomoki Suzuki reeled them in.
However, Puffer had plenty of fuel left in his tank and was able to drop his rivals in the second half of the race to take a comfortable victory.
London Marathon: Men's wheelchair race results
1. Marcel Hug (Sui) – 1:28:35
2. Daniel Romanchuk (USA) – 1:29:06
3. David Weir (UK) – 1:29:58
The London Marathon became the first marathon in the world to offer equal prize money for wheelchair races and able-bodied races.
This year, winners of all elite races will receive $55,000 (£43,500).
