Joseph Kibunja won the Jersey Marathon after finishing third last year

Kenyan athlete Joseph Kibunja raced to victory in the 2009 Standard Chartered Jersey Marathon.

The 35-year-old finished in a time of two hours 33 minutes and 29 seconds.

After finishing third in last year's marathon Kibunja felt that he was ready to win this year: "I felt really good, this year was my year."

Winner of the last two races, Andrew Hennessy, finished third after slowing to a walk in the last three miles due to a knee injury.

"It was a hard race, and I went into it with a bit of a niggle and I hoped I could keep going, but today wasn't my day," he said.

I felt really good, this year was my year Joseph Kibunja

Zimbabwean Nick Saunders finished in second place in two hours 46 minutes, a full minute ahead of Hennessy.

In the women's event Jersey Spartan runner Claire Forbes won in her first ever marathon, finishing in three hours.

Devon runner Madeline Clarke finished second in three hours two minutes and 50 seconds with another local runner, Sarah Davis, finishing in third.

The Jersey Spartan men's team won the relay, with their Veteran team finishing second while the Jersey Spartan Women's team finished third overall as well as claiming the ladies relay crown.

Fifteen-year-old Elliot Dorey won the 3K with Daniel Robinson in second and Danielle Leerson third.

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