ELDERSLIE’S Callum Hawkins ran the race of his life to clinch a ninth placed finish in the Rio 2016 marathon.

Brother Derek came home in 114th place after his preparation was disrupted by injury.

Callum ran superbly and led the race for long spells between 15km and 30km through wet conditions on the streets of Rio.

The Kilbarchan AAC athlete clocked 2.11.52, exactly one minute outside his personal best, a fine run given the humidity.

Callum said: “I didn’t pick it up, I was running my own pace.

“They kept surging and every time we hit a corner or drinks station they just kept surging, so I was just trying to maintain my pace and I kept getting caught in the middle and having to jostle for position.

“I thought it would be me hopefully catching everyone, but I’m quite pleased to have led.

“I maybe went a bit too early, I went with 7km to go and a few of them managed to catch me at the end in the last three or four km.

“Top 10 was the big goal, to do that in my first Olympics is very good.”

Derek had seen his Rio preparations in tatters in the past two or three months with injury. It was a huge effort for the Kilbarchan AAC athlete to get on the start-line in Brazil.

He called upon all his grit and determination to complete the Olympic marathon and come home in 114th place in 2.29.24.

Derek said: “It was pretty rough, I got to 22km and my legs just seized up. I only started running 11 days ago and the furthest run I’ve done is 18km, so aerobically the fitness was there, but the legs just didn’t have enough time to get back. The second half of the race was just about getting to the finish.

“I saw Callum come through on the opposite side of the road, so I enjoyed that, but my own experience was pretty rough going.

“It was just one foot in front of the other and get it done.”