John Rawling: "A superb display of front-running"

And Kenya's Joyce Chepchumba of Kenya secured a second triumph in the women's event in a course record time.

Behind the elite athletes, a race record total of 31,582 took part in the 19th running of the gruelling 26-mile run around central London.

El Mouaziz improved on his second place last year to cross the finish line in The Mall in two hours, seven minutes and 58 seconds - missing out on the course record by just one second.

El Mouaziz begins to feel the strain in the closing stages

He elected to make a break with more than nine miles to go and his gamble looked to have paid off as he forged a two-minute lead over an illustrious pack.

But two-time champion Antonio Pinto of Portugal staged an amazing late bid for victory, powering over the final stretches in pursuit of the leader.

John Brown:"I'm still learning but I'm very pleased"

The gap proved too much for course record-holder Pinto, however, as Mouaziz held on to win.

John Brown was the best placed Briton in fourth place after being pipped for third on the home stetch by Abel Anton of Spain.

Joy for Joyce

Chepchumba, who was third last year having won in 1997, finished in 2:23.21.

She secured $125,000 for running the "world best time", after bettering the previous best by just one second.

Chepchumba breaks the tape after clocking a course record

She shaved just three seconds of Romanian Lidia Simon's mark of 2:23:24, which the London organisers consider to be the world record.

They had refused to recognise the official world best of 2:20.47, clocked by Chepchumba's compatriot Teglas Loroupe in Rotterdam last year, because it was set in a mixed race.

Chepchumba was involved in an early tussle for the lead with a group including favourite Elana Meyer of South Africa.

Adriana Fernandez then moved ahead of the field going into the final stages - but Chepchumba forced her way to the front three miles from home and never looked like being caught.

Mexican challenger Fernandez was second, with Manuela Machado of Portugal in third.

Hot stuff from Fry

World record holder Heinz Fry of Switzerland won the men's wheelchair event for the third time.

He missed out on his own London record by seven seconds but held off a determined challenge in the final stretch to secure another victory.

And Monica Wedderstrom secured the spoils in the women's wheelchair race for the second time.