(Advocacy for Oromia, 14 March 2016) Athlete Dejene Gezimu has won the 2016 Vitality Liverpool Half Marathon and raised Oromo  (athletic nation) national flag in the events.

The 22-year-old Oromo athlete, who has a string of other race wins under his belt, recorded a personal best for the half marathon with a time of 01:06:59 – averaging five minutes and seven seconds per mile.

He was 50 seconds faster than his nearest rival, Benjamin Douglas, who was runner-up.

The fastest woman to finish the 13.1-mile course, run in warm sunshine, was Michelle Nolan in a time of 01:20:20 – averaging 6 minutes and eight seconds per mile.

Meanwhile the winners in the 10 mile race were Connor McArdle, on a time of 58 minutes and 41 seconds, and Michelle King in 01:11:26.

Here are the top five male and female competitors in each of the races.

Men

1: Dejene Gezimu – 01:06:59

2: Benjamin Douglas – 01:07:49

3: Daniel Kestrel – 01:08:09

4: Richard Burney – 01:08:40

5: Nathan Kilcourse – 01:09:21

Women

1: Michelle Nolan – 01:20:20

2: Gemma Connolly – 01:21:25

3: Kirsty Longley – 01:22:18

4: Elissa Morris – 01:22:41

5: Charlotte Mason – 01:24:50