Quiet man of British athletics on overhauling Farah, taking a risk in running London and Olympic hopes for Paris and beyond

The changing of the guard usually takes place at Buckingham Palace. But at last year’s London Marathon it happened on Tower Bridge, as Emile Cairess blasted past Mo Farah on the way to finishing as the top British athlete in the race.

It was a hell of a performance given it was Cairess’s debut over 26.2 miles – and, strikingly, it also came without the benefit of top-end tech. While everyone else in the elite field was wearing the latest carbon-plated supershoes, Cairess came sixth in 2hrs 8 mins 7 secs in Takumi-Sen 9s, which have no carbon plate and are designed for 5km and 10km races. For good measure, he was also wearing a Casio watch that could have been made in the 1970s.

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• Estimated £66m will be raised for charity, including aid for Gaza
• Race to begin with tribute to world record holder Kelvin Kiptum

London Marathon organisers have urged potential protesters not to allow the heightened tensions in the Middle East to disrupt Sunday’s race, which the event’s director, Hugh Brasher, said was “a force for good” throughout society.

Brasher confirmed that multiple security measures would be in place this weekend, but said he hoped the focus would be on the race’s celebration of humanity.

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• Runner set the world record at Chicago Marathon in October
• Kenya’s minister for sports Ababu Namwamba confirms news

The world marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach Gervais Hakizimana have died in a traffic accident on Sunday, Kenyan media outlets have reported.

Kenya’s minister for sports Ababu Namwamba said on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter: “Devastatingly sickening!! Kenya has lost a special gem. Lost for words.“

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