Murray win's women's race in Phoenix Park

Scotland’s Freya Murray was an admittedly ‘unexpected’ winner of the SPAR Great Ireland Run as she beat the returning Jo Pavey to claim victory in today’s 10-kilometre women’s race at the Phoenix Park.

Murray, a structural engineer by profession, was delighted to take the Dublin win in what was only his third road race over the distance.

The highly-rated Edinburgh athlete hit the line in 32 minutes and 30 seconds, having made her move with less than four kilometres to go.

Pavey, a 2008 Olympic 10,000m finalist, was competing for the first time in just over a year, following the birth of her son Jacob last September. She set a swift early pace, burning off Australia’s Benita Willis, the former World cross country champion.

Willis hung on to finish third in 34.28, with Devon's Pavey comfortable in second place (32.45).

Linda Byrne from Dundrum South Dublin was the first Irish finisher, with a solid effort in fourth place (34.52).

It was her first ever 10km road race, and quite a fillip for the 23-year-old as the Great Ireland Run doubled up as the Irish 10km Championship.

This was Byrne's third national title in the space of five weeks, following her wins in last month's National Inter-Club Senior Championship and the Women’s Intervarsity race when representing DCU.

She also added to her international experience last month by competing at the World cross country event in Bydgoszcz, Poland.