Posted: June 23, 2005

Athletics: Debut Racer Wins Edinburgh Marathon

Zachary Kihara (25) from Kenya, took first place in this year's third Edinburgh Marathon in what is his first ever marathon.

Zachary joined 4500 marathon runners on the redesigned course which has seen the removal of the scenic but gruelling Arthur's Seat and other slower sections in order to set faster and more competitive times and attract elite competitors.

Originally entered as a pace maker, Kihara overtook his fellow countryman and defending Champion John Mutai in the last 100 yards from to win the men's race, in 2:15:26.

Speaking minutes after crossing the finishing line, he commented:

"I am amazed to have won in this my first marathon, from half way round I was suffering from a pain in my hamstring, but in the last few metres I really dug deep. I am very surprised but very happy to have won."

Reining Commonwealth Games Champion and pre race favourite Francis Naali stuck with the race leaders until 19 miles, slipping back to finish in an eventual fifth place.

Cambuslang Harriers athlete, Robert Gilroy, was the first British runner over the finish line and finished in an exceptional ninth position to get a rousing welcome from the thousands of spectators who packed the roadside at Holyrood Park. He was one place ahead of the veteran winner Englishman, David Taylor.

Gilroy said: "I knew I was the leading Scot as the crowd kept telling me and cheering me on all the way round the course. At ten miles I was worried I might have been going too fast, but I kept going and I am really pleased with this result."

The Russian female favourite, Zinaida Semenova (42), finished at 02:33:36, winning the women's race. Aberdeen born, former jockey Shona Crombie-Hicks, who finished in 02:44:58, was the first Scottish woman home (5th woman) - 4 min 68 seconds off the Commonwealth Games qualification time.

Crombie-Hicks said: " I hope to go a lot faster in Berlin in September to get the qualifying time for the Commonwealth Games."

One place behind her Scottish team mate was Falkirk nurse Roz Alexander who competed having finished a 12 hour-shift on an accident and emergency ward just hours before the race and now also has her sights set on achieving the Commonwealth standard in Berlin.

Ian Ladbrooke, Edinburgh Marathon Race director and coach to Kihara as well as other competing elite athletes said: To have five runners finish under 2.20 is good progress for the Edinburgh Marathon. I am committed to making this one of the biggest marathons in Europe over the next three years. The aim is to add more events, creating a running festival with 25,000 to 35,000 runners taking part."

Over 4500 runners also took part in the Edinburgh Marathon Team Relay which saw teams of five run individual legs of the marathon course. As well as being the official race starter Fauja Singh, the world's oldest marathon runner, ran the last leg for his team, Sikhs in the City. A group of five Sikhs from across the UK, whose combined age was 388 years, with the youngest runner aged 70. They crossed the line in 04:16, and were the 730 team to finish.

Winners of the team relay were Aberdeen University in 02:35:09 followed by MC Manchester 02:36:43 and Gala Harriers 5, 02:38:35.

More light-hearted fun included the Meeting of the Mascots with a star studded field of sport and charity mascots, including Celtic's Hoopy the Huddle Hound and Rangers FC 'Broxi Bear' competing in a 100m dash. The Edinburgh Marathon's own Hairy Haggis Mascot took first place followed by race favourite Hearts' Josh Jambo in second place and cohort Jemma Jambo, third.

Over 9000 runners from 45 countries took part in the event with an increase of 50% on international entries. It is estimated that around 75000 spectators lined the route to cheer on the competitors.

Over £1.5 million will be raised for charities with £1 million generated for the local economy.

MEN
1  02:15:26 Zachary Kihara   Kenya
2 02:15:35  John Mutai    Kenya
3  02:18:53 Mindi Pukstas   Lithuania
4 02:19:21 Krzysztof Przybyla  Poland
5 02:19:25 Francis Naali   Tanzania
6 02:23:21 Joseph Kibor   Kenya
7 02:24:01 Semeretu Alemayehu  Ethiopia
8 02:25:55 Jackson Kigngetuny  Kenya
9 02:26:42 Robert Gilroy    Scotland (Cambuslang Harriers)
10 02:28:46 David Taylor    England
11 02:30:51 Jaime Reid    Scotland (Cambuslang Harriers)

WOMEN
1 02:33:36 Zinaida Semenova   Russia
2 02:34:41 Fabiola John   Tanzania
3 02:38:24 Liliya Yadzhak   Russia
4 02:44:58 Shona Crombie-Hicks Scotland
5 02:48:25 Roz Alexander  Scotland  
6 02:53:46 Gill Bacon    England
7 02:54:16 Elke Schmidt   Scotland