AN OCCUPATIONAL therapist and amateur runner from Aston Fields remarkably snuck into the top 100 of his age category in the London Marathon on Sunday.

Karl Welborn, 35, finished with a time of 2 hours 33 minutes and 39 seconds, placing him 99th in the 18-39 category and a fantastic 118 out of 39,349 entrants overall.

Mr Welborn, who owns NPP Occupational Therapy and is also a member of Tipton Harriers running club, said: “It was a brilliant day and the weather was good too which helps.

“The aim was to try and break 2 hours 30 minutes. I got to about 19 miles and was on for 2 hours 29 and then I started to hit the wall a little bit. The last 10k was tough.

“I thought if I just keep my pace up and keep going I would get in the low 2.30s.

“I thought there could be a possibility of getting in the top 100 but I was not aiming for it.

“You never know how it’s going to go. You get there on the day and it can go either way but I just went with my pace and it all went swimmingly.

“I’m an amateur runner but I passed a few familiar faces as I went along. On another day that time might have even got me in the top 50.

“It was a little race against myself too as this is the third marathon I have done and last year I entered the London Marathon too and I bettered my time of 2 hours 48 minutes.

“I’m considering entering the Birmingham Marathon in October now!”