Published: Tuesday, 31st March, 2009 9:30am

Wonderful Whitby

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Athletics

Benedict Whitby

BENEDICT Whitby produced his best at the Reading Half Marathon when he came in third.

The Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow athlete completed the course in a time of 1 hour 03 minutes 42 seconds.

He said: "It was a good race. A couple of the guys really kicked off at the start but I deliberately chose to go off at a pace I felt I could finish to.

"I then decided to take it home hard. It was a jam-packed field and I'm chuffed that I got my PB today.

"It's a very good course although I started to get very tired towards the 11th or 12th mile mark.

"The last bit was hard as it was slightly uphill and the wind was blowing in my face."

Runners were blessed near perfect conditions in the 27th Reading Half Marathon on Sunday.

Elite athletes treat the race, the fourth biggest half marathon in the country, as a warm up for the London Marathon later this month (April).

The men's race was won by Kenyan Kiplimo Kimutai, who completed the course in 1:02:46, with the women's winner being compatriot Joyce Kandie, who got a time of 1:12.