Liz Yelling won her domestic duel with Hayley Haining at the Flora London Marathon to almost certainly assure her of a second British Olympic vest in Beijing this summer.

With top Brits Paula Radcliffe and Mara Yamauchi assured of their places, the race was an eagerly-awaited contest between the English and Scottish runners for the third spot in the team.

Yelling eventually won the battle as both of them bettered 2:30 for the first time with personal bests times of 2:28.33 and 2:29.18 in ninth and 12th positions.

Yelling risked going with the international pack while Haining took a more cautious approach.

"Before the race I had my own plan but decided to go with the field as the early pace wasn't so fast," said Yelling.

"It really was hard work between 13 and 18 miles and looking back I could see Hayley in the distance which gave me a big kick up the bottom.

"I felt under pressure as I could see that she was speeding up. I told myself if Hayley is going to get this, I'm going to make her work for it and if she does she will deserve it.

"It made me pick up and run faster but the last six miles were really hard."

Haining, a veterinary pathologist at Glasgow University, added: "At 18 miles I could see her and we were getting closer.

"But there was still a long way to go so I decided to sit tight and be conservative.

"At 19 miles I was going into a roundabout as she was coming off it and we just looked at one another. But I'm delighted with breaking 2:30 and my performance."

Dan Robinson was the first British man home in 2:13.10, just four seconds behind reigning Olympic champion Stefano Baldini.

Robinson, who set a personal best, is already assured of an Olympic place after finishing 11th in last year's World Championships in Osaka.

Sporting Life / Eurosport