Southend’s Paul Whittaker clocked a season’s best time to cruise to victory in the Kingston Half Marathon on Sunday.
The 26-year-old crossed the line in one hour eight minutes 36 seconds to beat Epsom & Ewell Harrier Ollie Garrod (1:12:55) into second place.
Lording it: Southand's Paul Whittaker celebrates as his Kingston Half Marathon win as he approaches the finish line
Former Great Britain hockey international Natalie Seymour, a Thames Turbo triathlete and Teddington Swimming Club member, was the first woman home as she finished 41st in 1:25:53.
Jennifer Rich was second, behind Seymour, in 1:27:13 as she finished 58th overall.
Thanks ladies: Epsom & Ewell Harrier Ollie Garrod soaks up the atmosphere as he finishes second in Sunday's Kingston Half Marathon
Former St Mary’s University student Danny Davis, now running for Leeds City Athletics Club, won the men’s 10km race in 31:08, with Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow AC athlete Nicole Swaffield claiming the women’s race win in 38:20.
Davis finished ahead of Clapham Chasers' Nathan Smeaton (33:28) in second and Kingston University student Kieran Gilfedder (33:50) in third.
Hundreds of them: More than 1,500 athletes took on the Kingston Half Marathon and 10km events on Sunday
Swaffield was three minutes 30 seconds ahead of nearest challenger Epsom Oddballs' Becky McNicholas (41:50).
More than 1,500 athletes took part in the half marathon and 10km races – a key event in the build up to the London Marathon.
Getting round: Marc Rust, 842, got his duck suit round the Kingston half marathon course in two hours 11 minutes 55 seconds to finish 968th
Meanwhile, Pippa Earley broke two U17 championship records at the Surrey Athletics Championships last week.
The 15-year-old, in her first year in the U17 age group, won the 60m hurdles in 8.6 seconds - the second fastest UK time this year.
Earley then won the long jump with a leap of 5.85 metres to break record that had stood for 14 years.
Record breaker: Champion Kingston & Polytechnic Harrier Pippa Earley, left, with U17 girls' Surrey indoor 60m hurdles silver medalist Marcey Winter
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