Great Edinburgh Run: Kogo takes crown from his friend Kipyego

"The King is dead, long live the King" was the story yesterday just a couple of hundred yards from the Castle as Kenyan Micah Kogo won this year's Great Edinburgh Run.

The recently-crowned world record-holder outpaced 2008 winner Bernard Kipyego to break the tape first on George IV Bridge in 28mins 13secs.

That was over a minute outside his new 10km road mark, set in Holland in late-March, but blustery conditions plus a hilly course with sharp turns and cobbles provided a stern test for even the world's finest.

Kipyego took second place from Spain's Jose Manuel Martinez in 28:27 after finally being dropped by Kogo in the closing mile. He had initially become detached at the 2km point but was soon back in touch, only to struggle again when his friend and compatriot kicked hard with 3km left.

The champion would not relinquish his title without a fight, though, and seemed to be staging another recovery heading past the Meadows until Kogo found an extra gear.

"I was worried about Bernard," admitted Kogo. "I tried to get away from him at 5km, but he's a strong guy and he's been training hard in Kenya.

"I hope to come back again next year, but now I'm going back to Kenya to train for the 5000m on the track at the New York Games."

The 22-year-old also hopes to upgrade his Olympic 10,000m bronze to gold or silver at the World Championships in Berlin in August although he suggested: "It's harder to make the Kenyan team than it is to win a medal!"

Kipyego added: "It was a faster race than last year. Micah was testing me the whole way, so I found it a lot harder. I just couldn't resist him because I got a bit tired and his pace was so strong."

Pre-race favourite Deena Kastor was an imperious winner of the ladies event in 32:38 but only after a worrying moment around the halfway mark.

In only her second outing since breaking her right foot during last summer's Olympic marathon, the Californian briefly stumbled before quickly recovering.

The 2004 Olympic bronze medallist and former London and Chicago Marathon champion had already broken clear of three-time Edinburgh winner Jelena Prokopcuka on a steep climb at around two miles.

"I was ten metres behind at the top of the hill," said the Latvian, although Kastor noted: "I could hear her breathing, so I knew she was still close."

Once ahead, Kastor floated away to win by 36secs and she was all smiles at the post-race press conference.

"I'm really happy with the way it went," she confirmed.

"I didn't feel sharp, but I felt very strong, and this definitely boosts my confidence in my comeback from injury. I knew my training was going well, but the only thing I questioned was my competitive mind against a world-class field on a challenging course.

"I live at high altitude and hills are incorporated into my daily training, so I knew I could cope with that. The dream is still there for the London Olympics in 2012, but there's a lot of races between now and then."

Despite missing out on a fourth Edinburgh victory, Prokopcuka admitted: "I'm not surprised – I know Deena is a brilliant runner and is always in good shape.

"I'm happy because I've had my own problems. I caught a cold last week and still have a runny nose."

Coventry languages student Katrina Wootten flew the British flag in seventh with a time of 34:18, while Edinburgh AC's Jennifer McLean was an excellent ninth in 36:11 with Musselburgh resident Niamh Devlin back in 11th. Edinburgh University's Fiona Thompson first ran this race as a 16-year-old in 2001 and was 15th this time. "The worst bit was the wind up the Cowgate," she said.

Blackheath Harrier Mike Skinner was the first UK man in seventh in 30:32, just two spots behind double Olympic marathon fourth-placer Jon Brown who now competes for Canada.

Glasgow University's Matt Gillespie enjoyed a "Hello Mum" moment in front of the TV cameras as he challenged the leaders in the opening mile, but he survived to be first Scot home in 15th in 31:16. He also claimed the scalp of Britain's top marathoner Dan Robinson in 17th.

"It was great to run with people that you really look up to," said Gillespie "It was surprisingly warm for Scotland. That and the hills really sapped your energy."

Matt's brother Michael and his Edinburgh University team-mates Yujiro Iida and Ben Cole all finished within 20 seconds of each other, and Michael conceded: "I got carried away with the pace of the elite runners at the start. I struggled in the middle but finished well and really enjoyed it."