Back-to-back wins for Keitany

London - Mary Keitany successfully defended her London Marathon title here on Sunday as Kenya swept the podium places in the women's race.

The 2011 champion went clear in front from a world class field in the closing miles and won in an unofficial time of two hours 18 minutes and 36 seconds, a new Kenyan national record and a personal best.

World champion Edna Kiplagat finished second, more than a minute behind, with world silver medallist Priscah Jeptoo a further 24 seconds behind in third.

Keitany's time was well inside her previous personal best of 2:19:19 she set in winning last year's London Marathon.