The 21st Bristol half marathon was commemorated in the best style possible with the first local winner of modern times with a superb victory by Claire Hallissey.

Not since the race acquired national significance when it hosted the World Championships in 2001 has a local vest broken the finish line tape to the acclaim of the crowd. Now the wait is over.

Hallissey, a 26-year-old member of Bristol & West AC who lives in Lawrence Hill, not only ended that barren spell but she did so with such style and excellence that her position as one of Britain's finest long distance runners is without question.

Judging her race to perfection, Hallissey shook off a very strong British field, who had been attracted to the event because it was hosting the UK Championships and the trials for the World Championships next month, before overhauling long-time leader Jocie Kirui, of Kenya just after the 10-mile mark.

The African, whose compatriots have dominated this race in recent years, couldn't respond as the Bristol University PhD student powered her way home in a time of 72mins 02secs.

The time shattered Hallissey's previous best of 73:17 lifting her to third in the 2009 UK Rankings behind Olympic marathon runner Paula Radcliffe and Mara Yamauchi and earned her almost £2,000 in prize money.

More significantly in terms of Hallissey's running ambitions it guaranteed her a place in the Great Britain team for the Worlds, in Birmingham, next month. "That was definitely my best race ever," said Hallissey, who also won the UK 10,000m title on the track in the summer. "After missing last year's event with injury I was determined to come back and do well and I have probably done a bit better than I expected."

Coach Keith Brackstone never had any doubt that Hallissey, who made her GB debut on the track at the European Cup 10,000m in the summer, was capable of running so quick. "Claire didn't exceed my expectations at all," said Brackstone. "I knew she had 72 minutes in her and I was hoping she would finish top Briton and she beat some really good British girls to do that. But to beat a Kenyan and win the race overall is quite something."

Kirui held on for second while a surprise third was New Forest athlete Kat Grimmett, who in only her second ever race since switching from duathlons clocked a superb 73:07.

The team results had still to be confirmed but Westbury Harriers could well have picked up top spot with Robyn Golding leading the way in 29th place as she just beat her target of breaking 75 minutes with 74:59.

With Emma D'Alton 31st (85:31) and Catherine Dulla 34th (86:10) the Westbury trio will be in with a very good chance.

In the men's team, the Great Western Runners' quartet of Jonathan Hanley, Ben Morley, Paul Harper and Tom Fewster have an outside chance after they all finished inside the top 61.

Leading local runner was Bristol & West AC's Tom Merson in 18th (68:53) while clubmates Steve McGuigan and Phil Parry, who was second veteran over 45, were 38th and 39th respectively. Clevedon AC's Billy Sheppard was 49th.

At the front end, Kenyan Ezeki Cherop enjoyed victory in his debut at the distance (63:25) with Salford Harriers' Tomas Abyu top Brit in second and Belgrave Harrier Mark Miles third.

20-page half marathon supplement in today's Evening Post