Steinle looking for improvement

Mark Steinle clocked a time of 2:10:46 in Sunday's race

Sixth-placed Mark Steinle insisted he was disappointed with his time, despite being the first Briton home in Sunday's Flora London marathon.

Steinle completed the 26-mile course in 2:10:46, a personal best, and he believes it is adequate compensation for his poor run in Sydney.

"That definitely needed exorcising," said Steinle. "Ideally I wanted to run two hours 10 minutes or under."

"I thought I would do it but after getting detached from the main pack I was running in a vacuum for much of the race."

Steinle says it makes up for a poor Olympic showing

Steinle is the first Briton to buck the trend by competing over the distance at the relatively early age of 26.

In the past the country's best marathon runners - such as 1993 London winner Eamonn Martin - have normally moved up to the event after world-class track careers.

But Steinle decided two years ago if he was going to become a marathon man he would need to do it on a full-time basis.

He admits, however, he is still nowhere near the class of Abdelkader El Mouaziz - winner of the race for the second time in three years.

The Moroccan clocked a personal best 2:07:11 and destroyed the hopes of Kenyan Paul Tergat who was expected to win on his debut.

"The conditions were ideal although at times the wind gusted but wasn't a major problem," he said.

"My aim was also to get the qualifying time for the World Championships in the summer and be the first Briton across the line."