Sisay Lemma has always been a marathon bridesmaid, never the bride. So having burned off a high-quality London marathon field, it was only natural for the 30‑year‑old Ethiopian to ease up in the final few strides to bask in the crowd’s applause and give a regal wave in appreciation. But shortly after he crossed the line in 2hr 4min 1sec – 27 seconds ahead of Kenya’s Vincent Kipchumba in second – he was struck by a painful realisation. The final two seconds had cost him $25,000 (£18,500) in extra time bonuses he would have earned for going under 2hr 4min. The most expensive wave in athletics history? Quite possibly. To make matters worse, Lemma was also unable to celebrate his shock victory on the podium. Because his fellow Ethiopian Kinde Atanaw failed a Covid-19 test and was withdrawn from the race on Saturday – and was also deemed one of his close contacts – Lemma was immediately spirited back to his hotel. It led to the strange sight of his agent, the 67-year-old Italian Gianni Demadonna, standing on the podium holding flowers and looking highly bemused. He was not alone. Speaking later, Lemma said: “Today was the biggest win of my career and a dream come true for me. I came third last year here in London and to return 12 months later and to win this great race is an incredible and proud moment. “Of course I would have loved to have celebrated my win by standing on top of the podium but I completely understand why this was not possible. We are living in challenging times and I am just grateful that it was possible for me to run today and experience the greatest moment of my career.” The event director, Hugh Brasher, said the decision had been taken on advice from Public Health England but that it had been safe for Lemma to start as he had passed a Covid test. At least the Ethiopian will be well compensated – not only by the $55,000 first prize but another $50,000 for running under 2hr 5min. But not getting the $75,000 on offer for a sub‑2:04 marathon – due to that wave – will surely continue to sting. There were also smiles from Phil Sesemann, a junior doctor in the NHS, who came home seventh in his debut marathon to finish as the top male Briton. For good measure his time of 2:12:58 also dipped under the 2022 Commonwealth and European championships qualifying standard. In the women’s race an 11-strong pack was together at the halfway stage in 68:51 before five runners – the world-record holder Brigid Kosgei, Joyciline Jepkosgei, Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, Ashete Bekere and Degitu Azimeraw – broke clear. They were still together until almost the 22-mile mark when Jepkosgei, who was on fresher legs than many of her rivals after missing the Tokyo Olympics, surged clear to win in 2:17:43 – 15 seconds ahead of Azimeraw. It was the seventh fastest time in history. “This is the greatest performance of my career,” Jepkosgei said. “I know London is a major race in the world so I am so happy. I dedicate this win to my child and my coach.” But one of the most uplifting performances of the day came from Charlotte Purdue, who ran a barnstorming second half of the race to come home in 2:23:26, 10th overall and the third fastest time by a British woman in history. Afterwards she raised her finger in triumph. But it could have easily been an index finger aimed in the direction of British Athletics selectors, who strangely left her out of the Tokyo Olympics team after calling her injury prone. “I definitely feel vindicated,” she said. “I feel I deserved to be in Tokyo. Obviously I wasn’t selected but I put all my emphasis on this race as soon as I wasn’t. This was my Olympics.” Her brilliant performance was also just 14 seconds outside the second-placed British women’s time of Mara Yamauchi, who suggested it was only a matter of time before she broke it. Purdue clearly agrees. “It is annoying but I feel like I can still get it. I think if I was to run maybe in a mixed race with male pacers it would help because after 30k I didn’t really have anyone. My partner Adam has said he’d pace me for a marathon and that he’d run every step of the way, which I’ve never had before.” Her run means she qualifies for the world championships in Eugene next year. However, Purdue hinted she could go for the Commonwealth Games or European Championships instead to increase her medal prospects. “If I could maybe get a medal at the Europeans, would that be better than top 10 in the worlds? I don’t know. I spoke to Mara and she said if she had one regret it was that she didn’t go to the champs where she could get a medal.” In the wheelchair races Switzerland’s Marcel Hug and Manuela Schär both set course records as they won the men’s and women’s events. Britain’s David Weir was third in the men’s race.