ATHLETICS/Belfast Marathon: Simon Pride timed his effort to perfection to land his first Belfast Marathon title in two hours, 22 minutes and 21 seconds as over 11,000 runners took to the streets of the city in ideal running conditions yesterday.
The hardy Scot had tried without success to shake off his pursuers just after halfway, but reserved enough strength to draw away in the last six miles for a comfortable victory.
Gary Crossan of Letterkenny had the run of his life to claim second in a personal best 2.24.19. Kenyan Wilson Cheruyiot held on for third after compatriot Hilary Lelei dropped out near the end.
Trudi Thompson caused an upset in the women's race, overhauling local favourite Theresa Duffy at 23 miles before going on to clock a winning time of 2.49.39. Duffy took second in 2.50.33, with Sligo's Lucy Brennan third in 2.52.49.
The men's race started cautiously, with early leader Mickey McGuinness having an 80-metre advantage at the five-mile mark, reached in just over 26 minutes.
Prominent in the chasing group were pre-race favourites Lelei and Cheruyiot, together with Pride. Also included in the bunch were Donegal duo Pauric McKinney and Crossan, a stride ahead of North Belfast team-mates Alan McCullough and Davie Brady.
The Dundalk man continued to lead through 10 miles in 54.40, with Ian Harper from Hertfordshire on his own in second place just 12 seconds in arrears. The chasing group, including all the favourites, was a further 80 metres back.
The chasing pack overhauled the leaders just before the 12- mile mark and Crossan, with Pride at his shoulder, led a group of seven through the halfway mark in just outside 72 minutes.
The Scotsman put on the pressure shortly after and led through 15 miles with Lelei second ahead of Cheruyiot, with Crossan in fourth.
Crossan took the initiative on the 20-mile mark, with the Scotsman at his shoulder. Surprisingly, Lelei was 30 metres back and struggling.
However, Pride increased the tempo in the final six miles to record the win.
In the women's race, Beechmount runner Duffy made all the early runinng, and was three minutes clear of Thompson by the 20-mile mark.
She paid for setting a blistering pace, however, and Thompson reeled in her in over the closing miles before going on to win.
DETAILS: Men - 1. S Pride (Scotland) 2.22.21; 2. G Crossan (Letterkenny) 2-24.19; 3. W Cheruyiot (Kenya) 2-25.30; 4. D Brady (North Belfast) 2-25.32; 5. C O'Connell (Cork) 2-26.25.
Women - 1. T Thompson (Scotland) 2-49.39; 2. T Duffy (Beechmount) 2-50.33; 3. L Brennan (Sligo) 2-52.49. Veteran Men - 1. D McGinty (Foyle Valley) 2-40.25; 2. T Mitchell (Scotland) 2-40.45; 3. R Hewitt (North Belfast) 2-40.57
