Record number compete in Greek marathon

(GETTY IMAGES)

A record number of people took part in the Athens classic marathon yesterday to mark the 2,500th anniversary of the fabled run that inspired the modern event.

More than 12,500 people ran the 26 miles from Marathon to Athens, mostly uphill, in tribute to Pheidippides, the messenger said to have run to tell the city its army had defeated Persia, before he collapsed and died.

Kenya's Raymond Bett won the men's race, while Lithuania's Rasa Drazdaukaite was victor in the women's event.