Cherriman delivers his best in York Marathon

Kogin was in the leading group from the start. By the halfway mark there was still a group of five at the front, going through in 67:11. Between 30 to 40km Congin put the pressure on and from that point he increased his lead.

First British athlete was Paul Martilletti (Tower Hamlets) who finished fourth in 2:18.45, just one place but a big margin over first Yorkshire runner Jason Cherriman (Leeds City). Cherriman’s time, 2:22.51, beat his previous best by a massive margin of almost six minutes.

David Webb (Telford), the former Leeds City marathon star who has run for Britain in the World Championships, completed the top six, his 2:24.24 reflecting his lower commitment to training at the present time.

First over 40 was Leeds City’s Jonathon Walton who was 13th overall in 2:43.20, a time which beat his previous best set in this year’s London Marathon.

However, the fastest time of the day was set by wheelchair winner Bret Cossley (Leeds City) with 2:11.10.

Beating off the foreign opposition, Shona Fletcher (Richmond and Zetland) ran her best race to come home a superb 16th overall, just one place but a comfortable 1.40 ahead of Ethiopian Bayrush Shiferaw.

The Ethiopian looked a certain winner from the start and was a huge margin ahead (5.27) at the halfway stage. Between 30 and 40km Fletcher began hauling her in but was still 1.30 behind at 40km, turning that deficit into a 1.40 lead as the Ethiopian struggled badly. Fletcher’s pace judgment was exemplary and she did the second half faster than the first.

For Fletcher it is a remarkable improvement in her fifth marathon, starting with 3:15.16 in 2012. In the York race last year she was fourth woman in 2:56.16.

It was no surprise that Fletcher ran so well, beating her previous best with her time of 2:43.20. She had given notice of her talent when she clocked 2:45.03 in this year’s London race.