FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RECORD-BREAKING BOURNEMOUTH MARATHON FESTIVAL
A record-breaking 11,000 runners enjoyed an incredible weekend at the
Bournemouth Marathon Festival (BMF) on 3-4 October.
The Dorset coastline was blessed with bright conditions for the third
annual Bournemouth Marathon Festival which raised an estimated £500,000 for
local and national charities.
Runners of all ages and abilities took part in six races across the
weekend, featuring Saturday's 1.5k and 2k junior races, 5k and 10k before
Sunday's half marathon and marathon events.
There were course records broken over the two days and one unique world
record. Sunday's marathon, which started at King's Park Drive, saw
thousands of runners and supporters savouring the superb atmosphere,
particularly around the town's iconic pier.
The race was won by Kenyan Boaz Kiprono who covered the 26.2mile course in
2h 16 00, breaking the previous course record by 41 seconds.
Latvian Olympian Valerijs Zolnerovics was second in 2:17:49 with Japhet
Koech (Kenya) completing the top three in 2:21:19. The leading British
runner was George Gurney of Avon Valley in fourth place in 2:29:04.
In the women's race, Kenyan's Joan Kigen won at the third attempt having
finished runner up in both 2013 and 2014. She won in 2:36:47, well clear of
Londoner Sophie Carter, who picked her way through the international field
to finish in 2:56:43. Kenyan Purity Kimeto completed the top three in
3:00:53.
Afterwards Carter said: "I found it tough. I thought 'Just stick in there.
If I am finding it tough, so is everyone else. Don't give up'. I wanted to
stick in there and do it for the British ladies.
"Everyone found it tough. I was fourth to start with and then got into
second in the last mile and a half."
There were countless inspirational stories from the masses, none more so
that Steve Edwards. The Cotswolds runner completed his 700th marathon in
3hours 15mins. His average time across the hundreds of marathons is 3:18 -
a world record.
Afterwards, he said: "I've been running them every week for as long as I
can remember just to get to 700 today. It gets ever harder as I get older -
I am 53 soon.
"I'll keep going for as long as I can and the records I am setting are
harder to beat for someone else in the future. I give it everything every
single time. People talk about 1,000. Well, it depends what sort of shape I
am in, but it's there. We'll see, I'd like to run into old age and still
enjoy my running."
Sunday's half marathon winners were won in heroic performances by
international triathletes with local connections.
On his half marathon debut, 22 year old Rich Horton of Poole AC broke the
course record to win in 1:08:02. A former World and European Junior
Duathlon Champion, he is aiming to compete at the 2018 Commonwealth Games
triathlon on the Gold Coast, Australia.
Looking fresh at the finish, the talented youngster said: "I felt like I
was running really well for the first half. It was my first half marathon
as well. I really enjoyed it. I wanted to run around 66 minutes, I was
losing time to what I wanted from halfway.
"It's a new distance for me. I've done 10ks, but you can't really just
double the time. But it's good to hear it's a course record." He was
followed home by Dale Annable of Heanor AC in 1:10:58 and Sean Hogan of
Poole Runners in1:12:16, who completed the top three.
The women's race, won by current Ironman UK triathlon champion Tamsin
Lewis. Just six months after giving birth, she smashed the course record to
win in 1:22:50.
Afterwards, she said: "It's been a bit tough getting back. I was back
training after a week (after giving birth). But it was like dragging my
legs through mud.
"The first month was horrendous and the sleepless nights don't help.I moved
here two months ago from London and I love it. I've practiced along that
seafront quite a bit. The crowd were ace!"
Saturday's Supersonic 10k race was won by local boy Karl Welch of
Bournemouth AC in 34m 52secs. Sporting a Germany international vest, Welch
was impressively clinical as he ran away from the 2,000-strong field to
triumph.
Team GB Olympic marathon runner Claire Hallissey won the women's race in a
course record 37min 11secs.
Under a dark sky, around 1,200 runners entered into the full spirit of
Saturday's 5k with shimmering lights and luminous kit making for an
incredible spectacle.
For male race winner, there was plenty to celebrate. Running on his 21st
birthday, Jamie Grose (Bournemouth AC) smashed the course record to take a
memorable win in 15m 57secs. Afterwards, he said: "I'm absolutely buzzing!
It's my 21st birthday today. A few drinks now I think. I loved it!
The women's race winner was 14 year old Lara Atkinson, who broke the tape
in 20m 18secs. Lara was just one of a four members of her family who
travelled down from London to compete over the weekend.
Dad Steve ran in Sunday's marathon, mum Lisa took part in the 10k and her
younger sisters Hannah and Millie took part in Saturday's junior races.
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