VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON

PAUL Fernandez secured an impressive top-100 finish, despite struggling in the second half of the race.

The England ultra marathon international and Abingdon AC member clocked 2hrs 35mins 18secs for the 26.2-mile route to finish 91st and tenth vet 40 man.

This was his second top-100 placing after coming 81st in 2012.

Fernandez, who was the second Oxfordshire man home, went through halfway in 1.13.47 and was on course to beat his best time of 2.32.02, but he needed medical treatment at the finish.

Not far behind him was Oxford City’s Nick Jones, who clocked 2.36.37 for 116th place.

Jones ran a well-controlled race after passing halfway in 1.18.41 to record his best time for the distance.

Steve Kimber, from Oxford, also broke the 2.45-barrier.

Kimber (Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow) clocked 2.40.23.

Abingdon’s Fiona Bunn was 25th in the under 15 girls’ event of the mini marathon.

Bunn completed the three-mile course in 17.48, helping the south east to third in the team race.