KENYAN athletes continued their five-year domination of the Auckland Castle 10K as jet-lagged Isaac Arusei out-sprinted fellow countryman Johnson Muiruri for the £1,000 first prize.

But Russian Galina Alexandrova produced a new course record in the women's race to prevent a Kenyan clean sweep as she beat defending champion Miryam Wangari.

Kenyans filled the first four places in a thrilling men's event as 26-year-old Arusei, who had not slept properly for 48 hours before the race, avenged his defeat by the teenage Muiruri in this year's Hastings Half Marathon.

Arusei, who only left Nairobi on Friday, kept up Kenya's 100 per cent record, though his time of 29 mins 13 secs was 28 seconds outside the course record set in 2000 by three-times winner Julius Kimtai.

He said: "I am delighted to have won the race because my build up was far from ideal.

"I only left Nairobi to travel to London on Friday and then I had to move on to the North-East.

"I hadn't slept properly for 48 hours and I was tired.

"But everything went well during the race and I really enjoyed it.

"Johnson and I managed to get away from the rest of the field at the halfway mark and I was able to pull out something extra in the final kilometre.

"But it was a battle all the way and I was pleased to cross the finish line."

In near-perfect conditions Arusei had a nine seconds advantage over Muiruri as they were followed home by Wilfred Cheserek and Wilson Kogo before Barnsley's John Mayock beat Ben Noad, of Bristol, to become the first Briton home.

The first North-East athlete was 23-year-old Stephen Hepples, who finished an excellent ninth and spearheaded Loftus AC to the team prize with John Hunter (23rd) and Rob Williamson (32nd).

Sunderland Harrier Brian Rushworth had the distinction of winning the over-40 section in 31.00, finishing 12th overall, nine seconds behind Great Britain marathon international Mark Steinle.

Rushworth claimed the scalp of top British veteran Martin Rees, of Swansea, who clocked 31.04, failing in his attack on the UK over-50 10K record of 30.35

Wangari had been expected to make it another Kenyan double after her record-breaking success 12 months earlier.

But she was unable to unship 27-year-old Alexandrova, who survived a breakaway attempt by the African after eight kilometres and waited until they entered the final kilometre to unleash her own irresistible surge to slash ten seconds off the record, beating her rival by 14 seconds.

Alexandrova, who just failed to win selection for the World Championships in Paris, finishing fifth in the Russian 10,000m championships, said: "It was tough and I'm surprised to have broken the record. It is the first time I have beaten Miryam but I have been training well at home and I am in very good shape. I have knocked 20 seconds off my personal best and I am very pleased.

"The race was very enjoyable and the atmosphere was something special - I hope to come back next year to defend my title."

Chester-le-Street's Kathryn Waugh was the first North-East finisher in eighth place, followed home by Houghton and Peterlee's over-45 veteran, Sheila Allen.

Another over-45, Sue Laws (133rd), led Derwentside to victory in the women's team race.