Lel Is Youngest Man Ever to Win Five Majors

Posted April 15th, 2008 at 1:11 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

martin Lel 2005 London Marathon (2)
The good news just keeps coming for Kenya’s Martin Lel. The 29 year-old leader of the 2007/2008 World Marathon Majors points series has become the youngest man ever to win five Majors events: London three times and New York City twice.

Lel, who sprinted away from compatriot Samuel Wanjiru at the Flora London Marathon last Sunday to win in a course record and personal best 2:05:15, is also the first man to achieve this career milestone before age 30. The previous youngest five-time winner was Khalid Khannouchi, running for both Morocco and the United States, who was 30 years 295 days when he won his fifth lifetime Major at the 2002 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon.

American legend Bill Rodgers has won more Majors over a career than any other man with eight. He won the New York City and Boston Marathons four times, each.

Next Monday in Boston Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot can join Lel as another five-time Majors champion. He’s already won Boston three times and Chicago once.

For more news, analysis, and results from the 2008 Flora London Marathon, please visit: http://london.thefinalsprint.com/

In addition, check out Ryan Hall’s official blog at: http://ryanhall.thefinalsprint.com/

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