The 29-year-old Kipsiro had to work considerably harder than the women’s winner as he was challenged for much of the race before breaking clear to cross in a personal best of 1:02.18 - although it was only his second attempt at the distance.

“I enjoyed the run, it was a nice smooth race,” Kipsiro said.

 “I thought it would be difficult coming in but I was confident in my running, especially when it came to the break.

 I was feeling OK at 15 kilometres and I could have sat for a while, but I said to myself: ‘no, it’s time to make a push’ - and I went for it.”

Second home was 21-year-old home runner Callum Hawkins, who finished narrowly clear of Kenya’s 22-year-old 2013 world cross country champion Japhet Korir to clock 1:02.42 and become the third fastest Scot over the distance, just 14 seconds short of the national record.

It was an ideal preparation for Hawkins, who will compete in the Frankfurt Marathon on October 25 along with his 26-year-old brother Derek, who finished eighth.

"For us both to run well today was brilliant," the runner-up told BBC Sport.

"To have your brother next to you pushing you on benefits you, it's just brilliant.

"I was here to prove my fitness going in to Frankfurt so I just need to take care of my self until then, the marathon can be a completely different animal to a half marathon."

Kiplagat, who is targeting an Olympic medal next year following her World Championship successes, finished more than a minute clear in 1:08:21, with compatriot Doris Changeiywo second in 1:09:50.

England's Gemma Steel was six seconds further back in third, as she held off the challenge of 42-year-old European 10,000m champion Jo Pavey - who ran 1:09:58 to set the fastest time ever by an over-40 British woman.

Pavey’s was the second fastest time by a European runner over 40, just two seconds shy of the continental best set by Russia's Irina Permitina in 2008.

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