Mo Farah smashes the European Rrecord And Take His First Marathon Vctory.CHICAGO MARATHON

Farah broke from Ethiopian Mosinet Geremew as the pair approached the final turn en route to a 2:05:11 performance to smash the European record and take his first marathon victory by 13 seconds. Kosgei, the runner-up last year, was even more dominant, running much of the waning stages alone before crossing the line in 2:18:35, also a personal best and the fourth fastest run of 2018.

"It's amazing to cross the line first," said Farah, whose career accolades include back-to-back Olympic 5000 and 10,000m victories, along with three world titles over both distances. His impressive run also smashed the European record of 2:05:48 set by Sondre Moen at the Fukuoka Marathon last December and Farah's previous career best of 2:06:21 the Briton set at the London Marathon in April.

With pacemakers returning to the race after a three-year-hiatus, the leaders opened at a steady clip, running through the first five kilometres in 14:52 and 10 kilometres in 30:10. By then 14 runners made up the lead pack, with Abel Kirui and Geoffrey Kirui tucked in closest behind the two pacesetters. The pack was reduced by just one at the half, covered in 1:03:03 when the rains that left a sheen of water on the streets earlier in the day returning, albeit briefly.

After a scorching 4:29 19th mile, the race finally began breaking up just beyond the 30-kilometre point, with nine men left in the chase: both Sirius and Kenyan compatriots Bedan Karoki and Kenneth Kipkemoi; Ethiopians Geremew and Birhanu Legese; Farah; defending champion Galen Rupp; and Suguru Osako of Japan.

Abel Kirui was next to drop, falling back at the 20-mile marker. Kipkemoi decided to up the pace, a move that first dropped Karoki, then Legese and finally Rupp, leaving five in contention: Kipkemoi, Geoffrey Kirui, Farah, Osako and Geremew, with the Briton running comfortably at the front. Then, with 1:55:48 on the clock, Farah and Geremew broke away, setting up the dramatic finish.