FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kenyans Dominate Belfast Marathon

Belfast, IRE - May 4, 2009 -- The Kenyan athletes once again dominated the
Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon, as John Mutai became the first man to
win the event three years in succession.

Mutai’s time of 2:17:34 was slightly slower than those for his two previous
wins – and 90 seconds outside Marty Deane’s record – but his history-making
run was still four and a half minutes quicker than fellow Kenyan and 2006
runner-up Zak Kihara (2:21:09.

Moldova’s Sergiu Ciobanu (2:23:57), now resident in Tipperary, finished
third, while the top Northern Ireland runner home once again was the
veteran Alan McCullough (2:33:09), in fifth.

The women’s race was dominated by Joyce Kandia, repeating her 2006 victory
but in a somewhat slower time of 2:47:44. Fellow Kenyan Joyce Kirui was
slightly more than two minutes behind, with Moldova’s Svetlana Shepeleva
another two minutes further back.

Top Northern Ireland lady was fourth-placed Suzanne McCormick, who made it
home 42 seconds inside the three hour barrier.

A total of 17,250 people took part in this, the 28th running of the Belfast
City Marathon

###