(19/11/2005)

Tanzania's Fabiano Joseph has won the 4th MTN Lagos International Half Marathon in a new course record.

Joseph, the reigning World half marathon champion, took the field apart leaving Kenyan John Korir, the defending Lagos half marathon champion in his wake, to win the race in 1:02:20.

The 19-year-old, who was third in his debut Lagos marathon as a 16 year-old school boy three years ago, finally broke the domination of the Kenyan runners who have won all previous races since 2002.

Korir, 25, equalled his former course record of 1:03:05 to place second while Joseph's training partner and fellow countryman John Yuda took the third position from the hordes of Kenyans and other local runners in 1:04:21.

Joseph told reporters after the race: "When Korir did not want to respond when I asked him to take the lead, I thought then that I was going to win.

"I was third in this race in 2002, so now I am very glad to win it."

The race organisers, MTN Communications Nigeria awarded mouth watering cash prizes to the first three finishers.

Winner Fabiano Joseph took home 10,000 USD, with John Korir and John Yuda settling for 5,000 USD and 3,000 USD respectively.

Ghanaian Millicent Doadi won the women's race and the 3,000 USD cash prize in 1:16:31.

Spainard Faustina Ramos was second in 1:24:03 and Tanzanian Farida Makula finished third in 1:25.05.

See also