South African has the final kick

So deep was the African presence in yesterday's Adidas Dublin City Marathon that one of them was almost certain of being the first man home. But that almost didn't happen.

The 26.2-mile distance was eventually turned into a 100-metre sprint, with South Africa's Zacharia Mpolokeng, who wasn't particularly fancied beforehand, proving just a little too strong for Belgium's Gino Van Geyte. Only four seconds separated the two, the closest finish in the 21-year history of the event.

The 33-year-old South African was rewarded with a new personal best of two hours 14 minutes and three seconds, which was the fastest winning time in 16 years and just 18 seconds outside Jerry Kiernan's long-standing course record. He also earned himself €15,000 (about £11,800).

Most people's money would have been on Van Geyte as the two athletes turned into the finish area in Smithfield - mostly because of his record as winner of 18 Belgian titles ranging from the 1,500 metres up to the marathon. Mpolokeng though wanted it that bit more.

"It was very hard over those last few miles but I felt strong as we came into the last 800 metres," said the South African, who was actually a late entry having failed to secure a visa to run in Morocco. "It's good money also, and I plan to use it to educate my two children."

The expected assault by the dozen Kenyan entries came up a little short, but they did fill from third spot to seventh place. Daniel Kirwa Too was another four seconds back in third (2:14.11), followed by 1999 winner John Mutai, who still clocked an impressive 2:14.13.

For a while it looked as if their compatriot would run away with it. Elliah Mutai Chemwolo had opened a 21/2-minute gap on the chasing group around the 16-mile mark and appeared to be coasting, until he too hit the dreaded wall.

Mutai then led a leading bunch of five runners down the final miles by the river, before the final duel developed between the South African and the Belgian.

The battle for the top Irish finisher was happening a little further back the road before the massively experienced veteran John Griffin made his move. The two-time winner from 1988-89 eventually nailed 14th spot in 2:23.22, over half a minute up on Pauric McKinney.

Debbie Robinson upset the hopes of an Irish winner in the women's race with the performance of her career. The Englishwoman ran the second half of the race over a minute faster than the first, to cross the line in 2:35.40.

That was just two seconds faster than Sonia O'Sullivan's winning time of a year ago but for an athlete who's career appeared to have ended prematurely because of an eating disorder, it was a highly satisfying run. She plans to put her €15,000 winnings towards her preparation for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

Belfast's Teresa Duffy took third in 2:43.36 (just over half a minute behind Belgium's Katja Merlin) and she was also pleased considering her limited preparations. (She'd recently returned from honeymoon). There were hopes of a strong debut for Cork's Valerie Vaughan but she failed to finish.

Patrice Dockery took yet another win in the woman's wheelchair race, coming home in 2:26.24, while the men's race ended with an inspiring win for Scotland's Kenny Herriott in a course record of 2:00.55, just over a year after he was paralysed in an accident.