Things may not quite have gone to plan for Mo Farah in the 34th Virgin London Marathon but Kent athletes certainly had plenty to celebrate, writes Alan Newman.

World record holder, Wilson Kipsang (2hr4min29sec), smashed the course record for a narrow victory over Kenyan countryman Stanley Biwott (2.04.55) at the front of 36,000 athletes and charity fundraisers.

The double world champion, Edna Kiplagat (Kenya, 2.20.21), had three seconds to spare over Florence Kiplagat (Kenya, 2.20.24) in an exciting elite women’s race.

John Gilbert (Kent AC, 2.16.46) ran his best ever marathon to finish fourth Briton behind Mo Farah (2.08.21), Chris Thompson (2.11.19) and Steve Way (2.16.27). He was inside the Commonwealth Games selection criteria of 2hr17min but missed the European Championships standard (2.15.30).

Scott Overall (Blackheath, 2.19.55) ran nine minutes faster on his debut in Berlin in 2011 and would have been hoping for something faster in London.

Neil Renault (Edinburgh, 2.24.55) has run six minutes quicker but the former Medway and Maidstone favourite is still going strong in his native Scotland.

Sittingbourne Striders' Anthony Jackson also produced and impressive run (2.33.27) to finish in 86th place.

Ben Reynolds (Tonbridge) was the leading over-50 athlete and Paddock Wood’s Maria Heslop was second W45 among the elite master runners.

Shona McIntosh (Dulwich, 2.49.09) was the only Kent woman under 2hrs50min but Clare Reeves (Dartford Harriers, 2.52.31) maintained her series of personal bests below three hours in each of her five London outings.

Kent Athletes in Top 100

Men: 16 John Gilbert (Kent AC) 2.16.46 ; 19 Scott Overall (Blackheath) 2.19.55; 29 Neil Renault (Edinburgh) 2.24.33; 35 Ben Shearer (Cambridge Harriers) 2.26.52; 46 Chris Greenwood (M40, Kent AC) 2.27.59; 70 Paul Griffiths (Kent AC) 2.32.04; 72 Julian Rendall (Tonbridge) 2.32.19; 86 Anthony Jackson (Sittingbourne) 2.33.27; 88 Ben Reynolds (M50, Tonbridge) 2.33.53; 93 Alex Gibbins (Blackheath) 2.34.13; 99 Mark Wilkins (M&M) 2.35.34.

Women: 13 Shona McIntosh (Dulwich) 2.49.09; 25 Clare Reeves (Dartford Harriers) 2.52.31; 41 Maria Heslop (W45, Paddock Wood) 2.56.57; 53 Toni Holt (Dulwich) 2.58.30; 55 Amy Clements (Kent AC) 2.58.38; 78 Emily Gelder (Dulwich) 3.00.59.