Athletics: Heat is no problem for Yichenku

For the majority of the 4,000-plus competitors, yesterday's Edinburgh Half Marathon must have been a bit of an "ordeal by fire" as they faced rising temperatures as they headed from Meadowbank for Musselburgh via Portobello Promenade.

But African visitor Kidst Yichenku trotted round the 13.5 miles smiling broadly to win the women's race by nearly three minutes in a time of one hour 19.59 seconds,

The diminutive Ethiopian won the Great Ethiopian Run women's event in Addis Ababa last November, a race which attracts 35,000 competitors overall. Her appearance came as a complete surprise to race commentator John Martindale, who had also been on the mic in Addis Ababa.

"I could hardly believe my eyes," he said, "but Yichenku is certainly someone to watch in the future."

Second in the women's race yesterday was London visitor Nicola Maiorano (Kent AC) in 82:55 and third Jill Knowles (Scottish Prison Service) in 85:07, though veteran Lisa Finlay (Dumfries) was actually faster (84:02) in claiming the 40+ veterans' prize.

The men's race was a duel between Bryan Mackie (Edinburgh AC) and Daniel Davies (Shaftesbury Barnet) who ran together until 800 metres to go when Mackie nipped ahead to win in 74:11, with the Londoner 16 seconds down and Sam Walsh (unattached) third in 76:56.

Martin Ferguson (EAC) was second in the M40 category in 81:19 behind Alonso Delgado Calabria (78:16); while John Christy (Corstorphine) was first in the M50 category in 84:02.