Kibowen star as Brown steps up gear

John Kibowen (Kenya), twice winner of the World cross country title, outclassed the opposition, finishing in Pinstone Street with a lead of 150 metres, clocking 28:40 for the 10 kilometre course.

Runner up was Australian marathon runner Andrew Letherby, who is aiming to go inside 2:12 for the Berlin Marathon later this month. He was followed by former Ethiopian refugee Tomas Abyu who runs for Salford.

Britain's leading distance runner Jon Brown, whose club is City of Sheffield, was pleased with his fifth position.

The run marked a significant improvement for Brown in his fight to regain full fitness. He ran a useful 29:28 in only his second serious race since a breathing problem caused his withdrawal from the Flora London Marathon in April.

Five weeks after labouring on his comeback when finishing 14th in the BUPA Great Wales Run, the Canada-based star stepped up a gear in the city where he started his running career as an under 13 in the colours of Hallamshire.

Brown, 36, the fourth finisher in the last two Olympic marathons, is hoping to recover full fitness before next year's Beijing Games, after which he may retire.

Jason Ward (Altrincham) was disappointed with 13th place and, particularly, with his time of 31:21. Ward, who left Hallamshire to join Altrincham, still lives in Sheffield and turned out in yesterday’s race in a Hallamshire vest.

Australia’s Benita Johnson scored a runaway win to lift the women's title by over a minute with an impressive time of 32min 55sec.