'World best' Mexican wins the chilliest London Marathon

A RUNNER died yesterday while taking part in the chilliest London Marathon yet, writes Andrew Gliniecki. Michael Coleman, 52, a mechanic and the father of two children from Havant, Hampshire, collapsed on the Isle of Dogs. He was pronounced dead at the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel.

He was the third athlete to die in the marathon, which has been run for 14 years. The other deaths happened in 1990 and last year.

Christopher Brasher, event chairman, blamed wind chill for making the race the coldest yet. He said Mr Coleman was under resuscitation within two minutes of collapsing, adding: 'When you get 26,000 people taking part in a whole day's event, whose age range is from 18 to 87, you will get an incidence of coronaries whether they were running or not.'

Dionicio Ceron, of Mexico, underlined his claim to be world best by winning in 2hr 08min 52sec. Eamonn Martin, last year's winner, was the best placed Briton, finishing eighth.

Katrin Dorre, of Germany, won the women's race for the third successive year.

Race report, page 28