Kenyans dominate Marathon

Lezan Kimutai and Trudi Thomson won in the Belfast Marathon

Kenyan Lezan Kimutai has won the Belfast Marathon in a time of two hours, 17 minutes and nine seconds.

It was the fastest marathon time in Belfast since Marty Deane set the record over the old marathon course in 1985.

Another Kenyan, Geoffrey Kinyva, was seven seconds behind Kimutai, who also won the Laganside 10k race in Belfast in April.

Isaac Kimuge (2:20.57) and Benson Matheka (2:21.51) also from Kenya, took the next two places.

Donegal's Pauric McKinney finished fifth (2:27.08) with Cathal O'Connell (2:27.51), also from the Republic of Ireland, completing the top six.

The first Northern Ireland runner home was Willowfield's David Simpson who ran a time of 2:29.36 to clinch seventh place in his first marathon.

Scotland's Trudi Thomson retained the women's title by achieving her third marathon win in Belfast in a time of 2:45.48.

Sligo runner Lucy Brennan (2:50.23) was nearly five minutes behind Thompson in second.

For the first time, the marathon started from Belfast City Hall at 0930 BST on the Mayday Bank Holiday.

More than 11,000 people took part in the race with many relay teams expected to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity.