Crowds 10ft deep cheered as runners completed the final stretch of yesterday’s Dublin Marathon.

LABAN ROTICH failed by a fraction in his bid to become the first athlete to break four minutes for the mile in Kerry at last night’s Lee Strand international meeting on Castleisland’s resplendent track when he outsprinted fellow Kenyan, Paul Korir, to win in 4:00.63.

ALISTAIR CRAGG — who made a late switch from the 3,000m to 1,500m at Saturday’s BUPA Ireland Cork City Sports — had to be content with third place, behind the Kenyan pair of Laban Rotich and Paul Korrir.