Belfast City Marathon: Joel Kipsang Kositany repeats 2013 victory

Joel Kipsang Kositany led at halfway and went on to win by 53 seconds

Kenyan Joel Kipsang Kositany repeated his 2013 victory as he won the men's race in Monday's Belfast City Marathon.

Kipsang, 27, crossed the line in two hours, 19 minutes and 36 seconds which left him 53 seconds ahead of compatriot Gideon Kimosop.

Hungarian Tamas Nagy was third in 2:24.22 with Belfast man Eddie McGinley fourth in 2:24.55.

Pre-race favourite Ethiopia's Berhan Gebrenmichael won the women's event in two hours, 40 minutes and 57 seconds.

The Ethiopian had gone into the event after clinching a marathon win in India three months ago in a time of 2:39.11 which was considerably faster than any of the other female competitors in the Belfast field.

Gebrenmichael finished 10 minutes ahead of Morocco's Elaatiba Khadja (2:51.05) with Hungary's Katalin Garami (2:55.42) a further four minutes and 37 seconds back in third.

Kositany's winning men's time was eight seconds slower than his victory time in the Belfast race two years ago.

The men's winner, who set his personal best of 2:09.50 three years ago, led Kimosop at halfway and went on to extend his lead.

Kositany picked up a first prize of £3,000 but was well outside the bonus prize of £3,000 which was up for grabs for beating the course record of 2:13.41 set by Urga Negewo in 2012.

Annadale Strider McGinley's time was three seconds outside his personal best.

Conditions were dry for the elite runners although wind was a factor on parts of the 42 kilometre course.

More than 17,500 people took part in the event which also included a wheelchair race, team relay, eight-mile walk and a fun run.