Karlene Blagrove finished fourth in the women's section of the 2008 Long Island Marathon. - File

JAMAICAN ATHLETES Karlene Blagrove and Rupert Green performed well at the Long Island Marathon on Sunday.

Blagrove finished fourth with a personal best time of 3:21.19 minutes and was the first female in the 5K, coming in at 20 minutes and 19 seconds.

Green, who was tipped to win the marathon, was a well-placed second at mile 21, but he tripped and injured his ankle, and had to leave the race.

Top female

Green, a national cross country and road racing representative, was the first male Jamaican finisher at the 2007 Reggae Marathon. He was also the second runner overall, while Blagrove was the top female Jamaican finisher and Masters Champion, finishing fifth overall at the Reggae Marathon.

About 5,000 marathoners completed the Long Island event in which 25-year-old Don McGrath took the men's title in 2:25.38 and Jessica Allen, 30, won the women's division for the third time in five years in 2:55.21.

According to Reggae Marathon race director, Alfred Francis, "This has been a wonderful experience for our athletes and tremendous exposure for Jamaica and the Reggae Marathon event in Long Island."