ENGLAND\’S HUMPHRIES AND COULSON DENT SCOTTISH HOPES OF HOST NATION WINS – By David Martin

England's Tom Humphries and Jess Coulson denied top Scottish runners Andrew Lemoncello and Freya Murray-Ross host nation victories at the Bupa Great Edinburgh Run on Sunday morning.
 
Humphries in his contest was made to fight every inch of the way in the last three kilometres by Lemoncello before producing a late sprint to win their 10km encounter by a second in a time of 29 minutes 23 seconds. Derek Hawkins took third position in 30:14.
 
Coulson's victory was much more decisive when breaking away from Murray-Ross, Team GB's top finisher in the London Olympic Marathon, at the halfway point to to cross the line in 33:12.
 
Murray-Ross a week after her wedding and refusing to admit too much Ceilidh dancing at the reception had allowed her batteries to run down and  cheered on  by thousands of her fellow citizens acknowledging her Olympic exploits, clocked  33:48 with Elspeth Curran third in 35:45.
 
For Humphries and Lemoncello it was a case of two established British international athletes  looking towards the future in particularly next year's World Championships followed by the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after a serious a illness and injury wrecked their Olympic dreams.
 
Humphries third in last year's race and whose London hopes were decimated when developing pneumonia in March charged off from the start to open a 10 metres lead over the challenging course with several testing hills.
 
But US-based Lemoncello who returned to competition after a 10 month lay-off with a serious hamstring injury when claiming the Rock 'N' Roll Denver half marathon title a fortnight ago, reeled Humphries in after seven kilometres.
 
It was a two-horse race which went almost to the line before the Cannock & Stafford Harrier found just enough power in his legs to edge into the lead less than 10 metres  from the line.
 
"I went off very fast but suffered a stitch around 4km and then at 7km Andrew caught up with me and a race was on," said Humphries better known as a highly experienced cross country runner.
 
"There was no chance of shaking him off but I managed to find something in those last few strides and get ahead of him.
 
"Really I only returned to training in July, have had only two but good runs in the Cannock Chases and Ellesmere Port road races so this is another great result.
 
I'm delighted with how I have managed to get back and I think a lot of it is due to the fact that despite my illness I have managed to retain all of the training strength that I had in my body before pneumonia struck me down.
 
"Now I know I'm really  getting back to my best and looking forward to a good winter's cross country season and of course the World Championships in Moscow next summer."
 
Lemoncello who plans flying  to his home at the high altitude base of Flagstaff, Arizona before returning for the Bupa Great South Run in three weeks time, was despite defeat on his home soil, really upbeat.
 
"Tom belted off from the start but I kept going at my pre-planned pace and managed to get alongside him before he snatched the win. But I'm more than happy.
 
"I did my hamstring at last December's Fukuoka Marathon and it effectively ruined my London Olympic ambitions. I was wary and a little nervous when making my comeback in Denver but there were no ill effects and today that was also the case.
 
"Now I'm looking towards the Great South Run and plan doing a marathon in Sacramento, California in December. Then hopefully I can run in London (Marathon) next April and get picked for the World Championships.
 
"There's plenty to aim for particularly the (2014) Commonwealth Games. Already Glasgow is benefiting from the legacy of the London Olympics. You can feel the atmosphere in the air and I most definitely want to be part of it."  
 
Coulson scored the best ever victory of her career when stifling the threat of Murray-Ross and taking charge of the race almost at the halfway point.
 
"I didn't expect to win but I was looking for a good result because I have been running very well recently , so I just pushed on around 5km," said the former Great Britain junior cross country international.
 
Coulson who struck six seconds from her personal best 10km time, and  now recovered from injuries which have put her career on hold, added: "The course was very tough so this is my best ever win and one that I will remember."
 
Murray-Ross a very late Olympic Marathon replacement for the injured Paula Radcliffe made no excuses and was more than happy to have delayed her honeymoon in the USA to take part in the home city race.
 
"The crowds were just fantastic all around the course and gave me a great reception which I really enjoyed, she said. "But all credit to Jess who has more than her fair share of injuries and was the better runner on the day.
 
"I'm going off to San Francisco tomorrow morning and touring California before returning  and ehstarting preparations for the World Championships in Moscow next summer.
 
"Obviously I'm also looking forward to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. I think every Scot who competes will be determined to show their very best form and I am determined to be a part of it."

David Martin

 
Leading Results
 
Men
 
1, T Humphries (England) 29:23
2, A Lemoncello (Scotland) 29:24
3, D Hawkins (Scotland) 30:14
4,  A Douglas (Scotland) 31:20
5, S Gibson (Scotland) 31:33
6, M Crawley England) 31:44
 
Women
 
1, J Coulson (England) 33:12
2, F Murray-Ross (Scotland) 33:48
3, E Curran (Scotland) 35:45