COLIN SHIELDS

It was a struggle for supremacy among African athletes on Glasgow's south side roads around Pollok Park in yesterday's Resolution Asset Management Women's 10km Road Race. From the starting gun a group from Kenya, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and Eritrea sped to the front of the 12,000-strong field of runners of all shapes and sizes, with many clad in fancy dress and carrying balloons and fairy wings.

The Kenyan stars Vivian Cheruiyot, Pauline Wangui, Lucy Kabuu and Magdalene Mukunzi led the field as they settled down with a time of 9.29 for the first 3km.

The 24-year-old Kabuu, winner of the 10,000m gold and 5000m bronze medals at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, set the pace to half distance in 15.43, with last year's winner Cheruiyot content to let her do the work as the runners ran down Pollokshaws Road, circling Pollok Park.

Kabuu was passed at the 7km marker in Pollok Park by Cheruiyot, who made her move with a surge of speed covering the next kilometre in just 3.06 to open up a vital gap over her chasing countrywomen.

Gradually widening the gap from Kabuu, who held on grimly to the leader, she turned the screw with a finishing surge of 3.03 and 3.08 for the final 2km to the finishing tape on Mosspark Boulevard.

Cheruiyot's winning time of 31.32 was a personal best by 18 seconds and the second fastest in the 15-year history of the race. The first four runners, all Kenyans, were under the excellent time of 32 minutes for the first time ever.

Kabuu finished second with Mukunzi and Wangui filling the next places at regular eight second intervals. Cheruiyot confirmed her satisfaction with the course. "It was a good fast course and not as hilly as I am used to running over at home in Kenya," she said.

"I am very happy to repeat my win from 2007 after my second place debut in 2006."

Amleset Tewelde, running for Shettleston Harriers, was the first of the Eritrean asylum seekers to finish in 12th place with 19-year-old Kobob Mehari winning the prize for the first junior to finish.

Lyn Wilson from Edinburgh was the first Scot home in 10th place ahead of last year's winner Susan Partridge, who still had the tiring miles from last month's London Marathon in her legs.

Veteran Lynne MacDougall, winner of the inaugural Glasgow Women's 10km Race back in 1993, displayed excellent fitness when finishing 23rd while 15-year-old Collette Martin (Red Star AC), one of Scotland's up and coming wheelchair competitors who won the London Mini marathon wheelchair race, was first wheelchair athlete to finish in 42.46.