Okworo powers his way to Stroud Half glory (From Stroud News and Journal)

Okworo powers his way to Stroud Half glory

KENYAN international runner George Okworo was in a league of his own as he won the 20th Puma Stroud half-marathon last Sunday.

Okworo fittingly wore the number one vest during the race and he led from the start with his compatriot Michael Rotich. Okworo finished the race in a time of 62mins 46secs and Rotich was no so far behind as he finished in 63.33.

The course record of 61.50 was set by Kenyan Leban Kipkemboi last year but Okworo was unable to break it and collect the extra prizemoney. Okworo and Rotich were neck and neck from the start but Okworo pulled away in the last few miles to take the first place prize.

Kenya might have had all top four men finishers but Glynn Tromans from Coventry Godiva ran superbly to take third place ahead of Titus Limo and Wilson Chruyiot.

Dartford Harriers' Andrea Green was the first lady to finish the race in a time of 73mins 56 secs and Margaret Ngade from Tanzania came in second.

Last year's ladies winner Liz Yelling again raced well to finish third in the ladies race.

The weather conditions were perfect for running at Sunday's race and more than 100 different running clubs were represented at the half-marathon. This was despite a lot of runners entering the Snowdonia Marathon which was held on the same day.

More than 1,600 people entered and more than 1,200 runners finished the race

The first Stroud Athletics Club member to finish the race was Lee Christmas in 75.47 and he was followed closely by Chris Frapwell seconds later.

Mark Chew won the prize for first unattached finishing runner for the second year in succession.

The Stroud half-marathon is one of the top races and is in the top 15 half-marathons in Great Britain. There was a very strong field for this race and included in the line-up were more than 20 international runners.

Race organiser Martin Fryer was delighted with how the day went, he said: "The race was very successful and we all felt that it went really well. We have had greater numbers of competitors in the past but the numbers are now increasing and it is getting popular again."

This year's event was raising money for The league of Friends of Stroud Hospitals and many competitors raised money for this worthy cause.

* For extensive further coverage of the race see this week's News & Journal.