Thousands participate in Belfast marathon

The Belfast City Marathon was dominated by Kenyan athletes who won both the men's and women's race.

The Belfast City Marathon was dominated by Kenyan athletes who won both the men's and women's race.

Almost 14,000 runners participated in the event which was won by Stephen Ndungu in 2 hours 16 minutes - just outside the course record time set by Belfast man Marty Deane in 1985.

The highest-placed local competitor was Alan McCullough, another Belfast runner, who finished fourth for a fifth time.

Joyce Kandia, also Kenyan, led the field home in the women's event along a route which snaked through the city, along the river Lagan before crossing the finish line in Ormeau Park.

It was the 25th anniversary of the demanding 26.2 mile Belfast race, with professionals and amateurs involved - some just content to stick with the walk, relay or fun run.

At the head of the field, Ndungu headed competitors from across Ireland, the UK and Russia. Expected traffic disruption around Donegall Square, where runners assembled for the start outside City Hall, was kept to a minimum.

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