Two elite Kenyan runners were in a league of their own as they tore up the record books and posted times that will not easily be beaten at the second Destination Basingstoke Half-Marathon today.

Andrew Lesuuda, 30, from Iten, Kenya, was first across the line, ten minutes ahead of the field, and set a new course record of one hour and four minutes.He smashed Toby Lambert’s effort the year before of one hour 12 minutes

And Agnes Chebet, 25, who trains with Andrew at Iten’s elite high-altitude running school was the first of the women and came home seventh overall in one hour 19 minutes – more than three minutes faster than 2011’s women’s record.

The pair were part of the 1,310 runners who completed the gruelling 13.1 mile course.

Starting by The Lamb Inn on Hackwood Road, the route headed out of the town centre towards Cliddesden, Ellisfield, and Farleigh Wallop before heading back to finish at War Memorial Park.

Organiser Felicity Edwards, managing director of Destination Basingstoke, said: “We have had a great day. There was a new course record, perfect weather, and importantly there were a lot of happy punters.”

See this Thursday’s Gazette for more pictures and reports in our 12-page special on the half marathon.