Tergat pips Fabiano Joseph by one second at Stormont

The former five times World cross country champion held off the Tanzanian teenager to win by a mere second.

Third place went to Tergat's fellow countryman Daniel Gachara while Italian Umberto Pusterla pipped Wilberforce Talel for fourth spot.

But it was a winning return to Belfast for the 34-year-old Tergat following a five-year absence.

Tergat took his time in getting in among the early leaders who were headed by Northern Ireland's Andy Graffin.

It was Pusterla who led for the next three laps but the African contingent began to gather and finally took over on the bell.

Tergat patiently moved ahead on the final lap and a burst of speed saw him hold of Joseph to take the honours in a time of 28:27 minutes.

Top Britain home was Rob Whalley in sixth place with Glynn Tromans seventh.

Graffin finished a very creditable ninth in a time of 29:31, two seconds ahead of Northern Ireland record holder Dermot Donnelly.

It was disappointing to lose out to Andy Graffin on the run-in Dermot Donnelly

Annadale man Donnelly was disappointed with his performance despite another top-10 finish in the event.

"I didn't feel too good early on and found myself in no-man's land when I lost touch with the leaders on the second lap," said Donnelly.

"I would have been hoping to have been closer to Rob Whalley and Glynn Tromans and it was also disappointing just to lose out to Andy Graffin on the run-in."

In the three-lap Ladies International 5k race, Canadian Emilie Mondor surprisingly beat Kenyan Susan Chepkemei after a thrilling head-to-head.

Britain's Kathy Butler was third while Charlotte Dale was sixth and Hayley Yelling 5th.

There was a bunch of contenders at the end of the first lap with Yelling leading the way, but seven athletes broke clear from the main field in the middle circuit.

At the start of the final lap Chepkemei and Mondor moved clear with the Canadian having the pace to see off the Kenyan by 12 seconds in a time of 18:52.

Top Irish finisher was Pauline Curley in 13th place while Claire Quinn was first of the local athletes to come home in 19th spot.

Results

Men's International (8K)
1 Paul Tergat (Kenya) 28:27.
2 Fabiano Joseph (Tanzania) 28:28
3 Daniel Gachara (Kenya) 28:45
4 Umberto Pusterla (Italy) 28:49.