LONDON — Olympic champion Sammy Wanjiru won his first London Marathon title in a course record on Sunday, and Irina Mikitenko defended her title in the women's race.

Wanjiru won in 2 hours, 5 minutes, 10 seconds, finishing ahead of the same two men who made the Olympic podium in Beijing. This time, however, Beijing Games bronze medalist Tsegay Kebede of Ethiopia was second and Jaouad Gharib of Morocco was third.

Wanjiru had been on course at the halfway point to break the world record of 2:03:59 Haile Gebrselassie set last year in Berlin.

"The condition of the weather was very fine and my body was fine, but the pacemaker was going too slowly. He said he was tired," the 22-year-old Kenyan said. "I think they should get a good pacemaker from the starting point to 35K.

"But I got good experience and maybe next time if we can get a good pacemaker, I can set a world record."

Wanjiru used a series of surges to hold off Kebede, who finished the 26.2-mile race 10 seconds behind in a personal best of 2:05:20. Gharib was third in 2:05:27.

"Around 42K I felt that I had to keep running as hard and as fast as I could because I wanted to win," Kebede said. "There were some very good runners here and to beat them is a good feeling."

Defending champion Martin Lel pulled out of the race on Saturday due to a hip injury.

In the women's race, the 36-year-old Mikitenko broke away from the field to win in 2:22.11.

In the final six miles, the German runner surged ahead of Mara Yamauchi of Britain, who finished 1:01 behind. Liliya Shobukhova was third in 2:24:24, one of four Russians in the top 10.

"I was always confident that I had it in my legs as everything in myself felt good, and after 19 miles I saw no reason why I shouldn't win," Mikitenko said. "From a physical point of view it felt a tougher race this year than last, but I when I got away I always felt strong.

"I've won in Berlin and London again. If I can run like this for the next couple of years I will be happy."

The Japan-based Yamauchi ran a personal best of 2:23:12.

Olympic champion Constantina Dita of Romania slipped off the pace and pulled out after the halfway mark with breathing difficulties. Beijing Games silver medalist Catherine Ndereba was seventh, and bronze medalist Zhou Chunxiu, the 2007 London champion, finished 12th.

Another British runner, three-time champion Paula Radcliffe, withdrew last month because of a toe injury.