Evening Times: Running: Women's 10k 2009 PLUS 2008 results and photo galleries

2008 Women's 10k results and gallery

THOUSANDS of women were in the pink after raising almost £1million for charity in the 2008 Glasgow 10K race.

While the elite runners pounded the streets in search of a personal best, most of the 12,000 competitors were happy to cross the finish line after months of hard preparation.

Kenyan athlete Vivian Cheruiyot successfully defended her title, completing the course in 31 minutes and 32 seconds - shaving 36 seconds off her 2007 time.

Sunny temperatures helped lift the spirits of weary runners but a number of women succumbed to the heat and were taken away on stretchers.

Thousands of spectators lined the route on the city's South Side to cheer on the runners.

Now in its 16th year, the event sponsored by Resolution Asset Management attracts some of the world's leading female athletes.

The junior 10K event was won by Kokob Mehari, one of a team of world-class Eritrean athletes who have set up home in Glasgow after securing political asylum.

The 18-year-old, who lives in the city's Red Road Flats and runs with Shettleston Harriers, took first place despite having to stop for three minutes as a result of sickness halfway through the route.

Lucy Wangui Kabuu, from Kenya, took second place in the main race with a time of 31 minutes and 41 seconds.

The first Scot to cross the finish line was Lyn Wilson in 34 minutes and 49 seconds.

Jo McLaughlin, 31, from Hillington, was running for Maggie's Centres. Her mother, Marion Glennie, died of cancer on New Year's Day 11 years ago.

She said: "My mum was in my mind as I took every step."

Liz Cameron, chairwoman of Culture and Sport Glasgow, said: "I am so proud of the thousands of women who took part in the run."

Archie Graham, lead politician in Glasgow's Commonwealth Games' delivery team, said it was hoped the race would encourage more youngsters to take up sport ahead of 2014.