Conditions prove ideal test in York as Korir shows class

The Kenyan, who celebrated his 25th birthday on the day, stopped the clock at two hours 13 minutes 31 seconds to win the marathon by more than seven minutes from compatriot John Mutai.

Harrogate’s Mike Burrett of the City of Leeds club was the first Yorkshireman home, having kept pace with a host of elite African runners to finish seventh in 2.29:09.

Dennis Speck was the first man of the host city to breast the tape, the 35-year-old York Acorn runner posting a time of 2.37:47.

Helen Koskei of Kenya won the women’s race in 2.40:06 with Shona Fletcher, 34, of Northallerton, the first Yorkshire runner home for Richmond and Zetland.

Fletcher, a teacher at Yarm School, clocked a new personal best of 2.56:06 in what was only her third marathon to finish fourth in the women’s race and 38th overall.

Hannah Oldroyd was fifth. The 26-year-old from Bingley only took up marathon running seriously in January.

Her time of 2.57:53 bucked the trend among the pace-setters as it was a personal best. Many of the front-runners failed to lower their own marks on a course that was expected to be fast.

Indeed, the pace early on was quick, with Korei and Mutai leading the elite men out in sub five-minute miles.

But the autumnal wind on what was a race that began in showers and ended in sunshine, affected the pace.

As did the climb back up University Road over the last mile of the course that provided a sting in the tail for those yearning for the finish line.

By that stage, Korir had left Mutai in his wake.

The two had been locked at the shoulder for the first half of the marathon, with another Kenyan Jackson Lokochol, keeping them company.

He was dropped before the 30km mark in Dunnington, and then Korir got some separation from Mutai as the University buildings came back into view.

No matter what he goes on to achieve in the world of long-distance running, the Yorkshire Marathon will always be fondly remembered by Korir.

Traditionally a pacemaker for more established Kenyan marathon runners – who for decades have been the nation to beat over 26.2 miles – his first finish over the distance came earlier this year in Zurich when, after doing his job setting the pace for his team-mates, he pushed on himself and finished second.

Yesterday, in front of an enthusiastic Yorkshire support, he claimed his first win.

“My tactics were to run under 2.14 and I managed to do that,” said Korir, who just seconds after finishing looked like he could run another 10 miles.

“I ran 2.12 in Zurich, but I came here to finish not to be a pacemaker.

“I decided to go for it today and it was very satisfying to do that.

“The tactic was to stick with Mutai and then to push it.

“I would love to come back next year to defend my title.”

Mutai’s time of 2.20:35 was nine minutes down on his personal best, while Tomas Abyu, who runs for Salford Harriers in Manchester, completed the podium in a time of 2.22:23 having overtaken Lokochol.

First Yorkshireman across the line, Burrett, will be back at work today at Taylors of Harrogate, regaling his colleagues of how he kept pace with elite runners.

“You had to be quite disciplined not to go too fast too early because the crowd were cheering you on so loudly,” he said.

“I was working in a good crowd of Kenyan guys, Elly Tarus (finished fifth) was among them.

“We were helping each other with the pace in the chasing group.

“We were doing a 5.30-per mile pace, so you just have to switch your brain off and try not to think about the pace.

“I stayed with Elly Tarus for 17 miles but it was quite tough out there, really windy, and I ran the rest of the way on my own.”

Burrett shaved more than two minutes off his personal best, having only raced two London Marathons prior to contesting his first in his home county.

“I’m really pleased to be the first Yorkshireman across the line, especially in only my third marathon,” he said.

“I could have run quicker than that but I’m still happy because I left everything on the road and that’s exactly what I wanted to do.

“I could have run 2.24, but I’m happy to have come in under 2.30.

“But I couldn’t have done any more, I smashed it.

“It’s fantastic to have a Yorkshire Marathon.”

Coming home just two places behind him and the second Yorkshireman in the top 10 was Speck of York, who also set a new personal best, in this his 16th marathon.

“It’s excellent to be first York man home, but I had to really dig in over that last six miles,” said Speck, who ran past his office where he works as a civil servant.

“It was good to see so many people out supporting it and also running it, because it’s not just about running fast times, it’s about supporting a cause and getting fit.”

In winning the women’s race, Koskei confirmed her return to form after taking a career sabbatical a few years ago.

The Kenyan was a silver medallist at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006, and after a brief hiatus, finished second in the Belfast Marathon earlier this year.

She was facing competition yesterday from rising star Tigist Sheni who hails from the same Ethiopian village of Bekoji as, among others, three-time Olympic distance-running champion Kenenisa Bekele.

Sheni though was rarely a factor as Koskei stayed on the front for much of the race and powered to the line some six minutes ahead of second-placed, and first Briton, Holly Rush of Bath.

“I feel very proud and I’m pleased with how I ran because it was a tough race,” said Koskei, who was 11 minutes down on her personal best.

The accomplishment of finishing fifth just months after taking up marathon running seriously was a source of great pride for Bingley’s Oldroyd, who works as an energy assessor by day and ran the Budapest Marathon last week.

“I’m absolutely thrilled, especially since I only really started running last year and really didn’t do very well,” said the Saltaire Strider.

Sheffield Athletics Club’s Sarah Lowery was eighth in a time of 3.03:44 while 44-year-old mother of three Emma Yates of Knavesmire Harriers was ninth in 3.05:13

“I hadn’t done a marathon for 11 years because I had a family,” said Yates.

“I did the London Marathon 11 times, but after having kids I never thought I’d do another one.

“But when it’s on your doorstep in York, you have to do it. This marathon is exactly what York needs.

“The crowds were excellent, the support was inspirational.”

Doncaster-born Hyde Park Harrier Jocelyn Payne, 23, started brightly but pulled out after the halfway mark.

A total of 6,500 people ran the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon, which was backed by the Yorkshire Post and Jane Tomlinson Appeal.

Among the local clubs represented were Sheffield, Pontefract, York Acorn, Leeds City, Saltaire Striders, Hyde Park Harriers, Knavesmire Harriers and Doncaster Athletics Club.