LONDON – Brigid Kosgei defied the rain and the gloom to defend her London Marathon title around a sodden St James’s Park on Sunday after a race staged six months later than planned and without any spectators due to the pandemic.The 26-year-old world record holder comfortably won her duel with fellow Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich, the world champion, who was eventually pipped for second by Sara Hall of the United States.Kosgei broke for home with seven miles to go leaving Chepngetich, who had looked the stronger in the mid-stages of the race, far behind.The pair were a minute ahead of their nearest challenger at the halfway mark, and looked on course to trouble the women’s-only world record of two hours 17 minutes and one second.But as the rain.