Drossin Sets U.S. Marathon Record

Deena Drossin overcame stomach problems more than halfway through the London Marathon on Sunday and sprinted to a third-place finish for the best U.S. time at the distance.

Drossin, of Mammoth Lakes, finished in 2 hours 21 minutes 16 seconds, breaking Joan Benoit’s U.S. mark by five seconds.

Drossin, a silver medalist the last two World Cross-Country Championships, cut more than five minutes off her previous best (2:26:53) at 26.2 miles.

Paula Radcliffe of England was the women’s winner, breaking her world record by almost two minutes, finishing in 2:15:25. Catherine Ndereba of Kenya was second in 2:19:54.

The men’s winner was Olympic and world champion Gezahegne Abera of Ethiopia, who beat Stefano Baldini of Italy in a sprint. Abera and Baldini were both clocked in 2:07:56, two minutes off the world record.