Records are smashed as 23,000 runners pound Glasgow’s streets

A NEW course record was set yesterday as thousands took part in the Great Scottish Run through the centre of Glasgow.

Double Olympic gold medallist Haile Gebrselassie shot to the finish line in 61 minutes, six seconds shaving four seconds off the current record. The Ethiopian was joined at the finish line by Kenya’s Emmanuel Bett and Moroccan-born Ayad Lamdassem.

Three Scots finished in the first four of the women’s race with Susan Partridge coming first, followed by Freya Ross before Kenya’s Pauline Wanjiku and Steph Twell fourth.

The day not only showcased the talents of top athletes but also saw thousands of amateur runners determined to complete the course to raise money for charity.

Some 23,000 professional and amateur athletes took part, all waved across the start line by Katherine Granger, the Olympic gold medalist rower. Giving the thumbs-up and applauding runners as the race got underway, Ms Grainger blushed as she admitted she was being driven to the finish line in the city’s Glasgow Green.

The half marathon, due to start at 11am, was delayed by 20 minutes as race officials made sure the course was clear.

A new route to showcase Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games venues took the 23,000 runners around the city.

For the first time the route went from George Square over the Kingston Bridge past House for an Art Lover in Bellahouston Park to Ibrox Stadium, Pacific Quay, the Finnieston Crane and the Clyde Auditorium. It then weaved past the Riverside Museum, The Hydro and along to Glasgow Green.

US-based Andrew Lemoncello, who will represent Scotland in the marathon at the Commonwealth Games, finished sixth.