Mark smashed the Olympic qualifying time of 2 hours 14 minutes with a time of 2:11.18, and finish 11th overall in what was his debut at the distance.

His time also set a new Blackheath Harriers Bromley club record - more than two minutes faster than the previous best set by Dave Taylor.

Steinle more than held his own in the strongest marathon field ever, which included a world record holder, and Olympic champion, a two-time winner and the defending champion.

Undaunted, Steinle chose not to go with the pacemakers, which left him in a chasing pack of four by the halfway stage.

But he looked strong throughout and over the second half of the race picked up a few more places and built up a gap of more than two minutes over the next Briton home, Keith Cullen, to book his Olympic place.

It also meant he became AAA's Marathon Champion and led Blackheath Harriers Bromley to third place in the team race. While team-mate Dave Taylor finished in 2:22.47.

Many of the club's runners raised money for their nominated charity, The Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children. If you wish to join the club to prepare for next year's race, or the Great North Run in October, call the answerphone on 020 8462 3115.