Emile Cairess, of Bradford, third in London Marathon 2024

A BRADFORD-BORN runner has finished on the podium in the London Marathon - making him the second-fastest British man to ever run the race.

Former Bradford Grammar School (BGS) pupil Emile Cairess, who grew up in Saltaire, finished in third place with a time of 2:06:46.

Cairess fell just short of breaking Sir Mo Farah's British marathon record of 2:05:11.

Cairess is a former Bradford Grammar School pupil (Image: PA)The 26-year-old finished narrowly ahead of fellow Brit Mahamed Mahamed (2:07:05) in fourth place.

Alexander Mutiso Munyao, of Kenya, finished first (2:04:01) with Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele (2:04:15) placing second.

It comes a year after Cairess beat Farah in his debut London Marathon.

The Bradford boy finished the race in third (Image: PA)

Following the race, he told the BBC: "I felt good, it was windy.

"I stuck to my race plan and luckily I was able to move up to third place so I am really happy with that.

Cairess on the podium with his medal (Image: PA)"It pretty much means I am selected (for the Paris Olympics later this year), I am in the team.

"The selection meeting is tomorrow, I will definitely be there.

"It was a risk (running here) but I prepared really well. I needed to do another marathon before the Olympics. It is a risk that paid off."

A tired-looking Cairess following the marathon (Image: PA)An emotional Cairess also explained what motivated him throughout the race.

He told presenter Gabby Logan: "To break the British record, I don't think I had the fitness but maybe I could have gone under 2:06.

"In my preparation, I had a really tough few months my cousin Oliver was in a car crash and it was a really tough time.

"He has come through it. This was for him today."