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| London 2012: Olympic Park runners finish race | London 2012: Olympic Park runners finish race |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Five thousand runners have taken part in a race at London's Olympic Park, becoming the first people to cross the new stadium's finish line. | Five thousand runners have taken part in a race at London's Olympic Park, becoming the first people to cross the new stadium's finish line. |
| Members of the public, athletes and celebrities completed the five-mile run around the park. | Members of the public, athletes and celebrities completed the five-mile run around the park. |
| Tommy Davis, 26, from Loughborough, was the first runner across the line in 25 minutes 11 seconds. Stuart Bloor, from Crewe, was the first wheelchair racer. | |
| Model Nell McAndrew was first woman in a personal best time of 29:21. | Model Nell McAndrew was first woman in a personal best time of 29:21. |
| Mr Davis said afterwards: "It's such a great opportunity to have been able to take part," he said. | Mr Davis said afterwards: "It's such a great opportunity to have been able to take part," he said. |
| "The park looks fantastic and I'll feel great watching the games knowing I've crossed the first line." | "The park looks fantastic and I'll feel great watching the games knowing I've crossed the first line." |
| People were picked at random from almost 43,000 entrants from around the UK who joined the National Lottery event. | People were picked at random from almost 43,000 entrants from around the UK who joined the National Lottery event. |
| They started at the Orbit Tower and passed many of the Games venues before finishing in the Olympic Stadium, cheered on by friends and family. | They started at the Orbit Tower and passed many of the Games venues before finishing in the Olympic Stadium, cheered on by friends and family. |
| Finishers were spurred on in the final 300m by the sound of the theme from classic athletics film, Chariots of Fire. | Finishers were spurred on in the final 300m by the sound of the theme from classic athletics film, Chariots of Fire. |
| Princess Beatrice officially started the event at 14:00 BST, before taking part in the race and distributing finishers' medals. | Princess Beatrice officially started the event at 14:00 BST, before taking part in the race and distributing finishers' medals. |
| "I am thrilled to be able to play my part in such an historic occasion and it is fantastic to see the incredible transformation that the Olympic Park has undergone," she said. | "I am thrilled to be able to play my part in such an historic occasion and it is fantastic to see the incredible transformation that the Olympic Park has undergone," she said. |
| Olympian Roger Black and Paralympian Danny Crates were among the sporting stars taking part. | Olympian Roger Black and Paralympian Danny Crates were among the sporting stars taking part. |
| The runners set off in waves from a point near the spiralling red Orbit Tower, and passed the Athletes' Village, Velodrome, Basketball Arena and other venues. | The runners set off in waves from a point near the spiralling red Orbit Tower, and passed the Athletes' Village, Velodrome, Basketball Arena and other venues. |
| The final leg went through the official athletes' entrance to the stadium. | The final leg went through the official athletes' entrance to the stadium. |
| The 10,000 or so supporters at the event became the first public crowd allowed in to the venue. | The 10,000 or so supporters at the event became the first public crowd allowed in to the venue. |
| 'A bit sweaty' | 'A bit sweaty' |
| Olympic rowing champion Steve Williams was one of the first competitors to finish. | Olympic rowing champion Steve Williams was one of the first competitors to finish. |
| He described the thrill of running in the arena: "I have only been in two Olympic stadiums and this is an amazing stadium. It is going to be a crazy Games." | He described the thrill of running in the arena: "I have only been in two Olympic stadiums and this is an amazing stadium. It is going to be a crazy Games." |
| Sally Gunnell, the 1992 400m hurdles Olympic champion, was also impressed by the venue. | Sally Gunnell, the 1992 400m hurdles Olympic champion, was also impressed by the venue. |
| After crossing the finish line, she said: "That was quite something. I wanted to have a good old nose (when I was running). I ran with Gail Emms and I think we did under 40 minutes so I am pleased with that." | After crossing the finish line, she said: "That was quite something. I wanted to have a good old nose (when I was running). I ran with Gail Emms and I think we did under 40 minutes so I am pleased with that." |
| Among the celebrities taking part was TV presenter Martin Lewis, who admitted the race had been a challenge: "I loved the last 300m and coming in to the stadium. The rest of it was a bit hard. | Among the celebrities taking part was TV presenter Martin Lewis, who admitted the race had been a challenge: "I loved the last 300m and coming in to the stadium. The rest of it was a bit hard. |
| "I am now looking forward to a hug from my wife. I am a bit sweaty." | "I am now looking forward to a hug from my wife. I am a bit sweaty." |
| Meanwhile, 81-year-old Rowland Joiner of Grays, Essex - the oldest runner of the day - was happy he had managed to see the stadium. | Meanwhile, 81-year-old Rowland Joiner of Grays, Essex - the oldest runner of the day - was happy he had managed to see the stadium. |
| "I love athletics and, like millions of others, I applied for Olympics tickets and I did not get any. | "I love athletics and, like millions of others, I applied for Olympics tickets and I did not get any. |
| "So I thought this way I could still come here and see the Olympic stadium. It is great fun." | "So I thought this way I could still come here and see the Olympic stadium. It is great fun." |
| 'Fantastic motivation' | 'Fantastic motivation' |
| One of the successful 5,000 entrants was Jane Moore, whose husband, Ben - a keen runner and triathlete - failed to get in. | One of the successful 5,000 entrants was Jane Moore, whose husband, Ben - a keen runner and triathlete - failed to get in. |
| "He had told me to enter and then I got in and he didn't - he was quite cross," she told the BBC before the race. | "He had told me to enter and then I got in and he didn't - he was quite cross," she told the BBC before the race. |
| The 43-year-old from West Malling, Kent, was due to be cheered on by her mother who, as a child, attended the opening ceremony of the 1948 Olympics. | The 43-year-old from West Malling, Kent, was due to be cheered on by her mother who, as a child, attended the opening ceremony of the 1948 Olympics. |
| Sarah Langborne and her sister-in-law, Penny Langborne, travelled up from the Isle of Wight on Friday for the event. | Sarah Langborne and her sister-in-law, Penny Langborne, travelled up from the Isle of Wight on Friday for the event. |
| "I loved coming into the tunnel when they were playing Chariots of Fire, it brought a lump to my throat," said Sarah. | "I loved coming into the tunnel when they were playing Chariots of Fire, it brought a lump to my throat," said Sarah. |
| Penny said they both had tickets for Olympic boxing and football but didn't get any to the athletics. | Penny said they both had tickets for Olympic boxing and football but didn't get any to the athletics. |
| "This is the next best thing," she added. "The atmosphere in the stadium was amazing." | "This is the next best thing," she added. "The atmosphere in the stadium was amazing." |
| 'Emotional' | 'Emotional' |
| Teacher Rob Green, 42, said he had lost six stones in weight training for the event, dropping from 18 stone to 12. | Teacher Rob Green, 42, said he had lost six stones in weight training for the event, dropping from 18 stone to 12. |
| "I heard Seb [Coe] talking about the race on the radio and thought it would be something to aim for. I hadn't run a step before but I've been building up slowly," he said. | "I heard Seb [Coe] talking about the race on the radio and thought it would be something to aim for. I hadn't run a step before but I've been building up slowly," he said. |
| "It's the only time I will get to beat Mo Farah and Usain Bolt." | "It's the only time I will get to beat Mo Farah and Usain Bolt." |
| Each entrant was allowed two supporters' passes. All visitors had to pass through airport style security on their way into the Olympic Park. | Each entrant was allowed two supporters' passes. All visitors had to pass through airport style security on their way into the Olympic Park. |
| Sunday will see the first fee-paying crowd at the Olympic Stadium when the Gold Challenge charity event takes place. | Sunday will see the first fee-paying crowd at the Olympic Stadium when the Gold Challenge charity event takes place. |
| The National Lottery is contributing up to £2.2bn towards the funding of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. | The National Lottery is contributing up to £2.2bn towards the funding of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. |