A former Lowestoft man achieved a personal best time of two hours, 21 minutes and 28 seconds – securing 31st position in the overall standings.

Eastern Daily Press: Kojo Kyereme (pictured right) finished in 31st place overall in the London Marathon. Picture: SuppliedKojo Kyereme (pictured right) finished in 31st place overall in the London Marathon. Picture: Supplied (Image: Archant)

Kojo Kyereme, 41, also managed to finish in seventh place among the club, charity and ballot runners – even beating of some of the elite competitors.

Mr Kyereme, who grew up in Lowestoft but now lives in Epsom, did not intend to run the marathon this year – only entering the race five weeks beforehand due to his good form.

'I was quite confident I had the endurance to complete the race and I am really pleased with the outcome,' Mr Kyereme said.

'In previous marathons, I have experienced a certain amount of cramp and although I was going well this time around, I had to hold back as I began to feel the cramping in my left hamstring again.

'I was running with the brakes on during the first half of the race – it turned into 20 mile jog with six mile sprint.'

Mr Kyereme was taking part in his third London Marathon – previously achieving a time of two hours and 28 minutes in 2006 and 2 hours and 41 minutes in 2012.

Last year, Mr Kyereme finished in 20th place of the New York Marathon and is currently aiming for a time under two hours and 20 minutes.

Mr Kyereme lived in Kirkley Run, in Lowestoft, before moving to Breydon Way – where his parents still live.

He attended Elm Tree Primary, Middle and Kirkley High School's before joining the sixth form consortium.

He then managed to secure a scholarship in North Carolina before returning to study Sports Science at Roehampton University – where he first met his wife of 14 years Fiona.

He also has two daughters, aged 11 and eight and now works as a cardiac physiologist at Charing Cross Hospital.

? For the full story, and a marathon round-up from runners across Waveney, pick up Friday's Journal.