Emile Cairess records Team GB’s best marathon finish since Athens 2004

Emile Cairess tamed one of many hardest programs in Olympic historical past to say Nice Britain and Northern Eire’s greatest males’s marathon efficiency in 20 years.

Cairess (Leeds Metropolis) completed fourth on Olympic debut, the identical outcome posted by Jon Brown on the 2004 Video games in Athens, as Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola took gold and an Olympic report.

The 26-year-old, in solely his third marathon after two appearances in London, clocked 2:07:29, ending simply 29 seconds exterior the medals.

“I’m actually happy with myself, I’m actually proud of that,” he stated.

“I simply wished to offer myself an opportunity. That was my pondering, simply attempt to run as quick as I may till the tip. Perhaps somebody of them would blow up and I may catch them, nevertheless it simply so occurred that three of them didn’t blow up.

“The course was powerful, it was actually arduous. I’ve solely achieved two marathons. London is fairly flat, in order that was means tougher, with the hills it felt for much longer.”

Charlie Spedding was Nice Britain’s final Olympic medallist, profitable bronze in Los Angeles 40 years in the past.

With the following Video games happening in California, Cairess want to finish that run.

“I’ll attempt to prepare extra, be constant and never put stress on myself to do anything,” he added.

Elsewhere, Philip Sesemann (Andrew Henderson/Leeds Metropolis) got here residence forty sixth in 2:13:08 and Mahamed Mahamed (Idris Hamid/Southampton) was 11 locations additional again in 2:15:19.

The ladies’s marathon will get underway tomorrow at 7:00 BST as Olympic debutants Clara Evans, Rose Harvey and Calli Hauger-Thackery tackle the streets of Paris.