Murray triumphant

Scotland's Yvonne Murray warmed up for her confrontation with the Olympic champion, Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia, in next weekend's Great South Run with an impressive victory in yesterday's Bupa Great Caledonian 10-kilometre run in Edinburgh.

The 31-year-old Commonwealth 10,000 metres champion had finished a disappointing fourth in the first of the road series - the Great North Run on Tyneside - two weeks ago.

Yet the Motherwell runner gave a relaxed display yesterday as she pulled away from the Kenyan Esther Kiplagat and her English rival, Marian Sutton of Westbury Harriers, over one of the most difficult road race courses in Britain to win in 33min 16sec.

"I pulled away from Esther going up the hill quite early on in the race and I was able to relax and run my own race after that," said Murray, who encountered none of the problems which beset her on Tyneside when she had both blisters and severe cramp.

Murray's performance was the highlight for the home crowd who saw two Kenyans, Christopher Kelong and Raphael Nziku, battle it out in the men's race. Kelong outsprinted his compatriot in 29:11, with Andrew Pearson, of Longwood Harriers, third.

The revived Edinburgh mile was dominated by the Italians with the pre- race favourite John Mayock (Cannock and Staffs) able to finish only fourth. Scotland's Glen Stewart did well to split Italians Massino Pegoretti, who won in 4:07, and Andrea Abelli. Ann Griffiths, of Sale Harriers, won the women's event in 4:49.