Margaret Wangari Muriuki bags silver for Kenya in the women's marathon

Margaret Muriuki (L) wins silver in women's 42km marathon at the Commonwealth Games. Jessica Stenson (R) and Johannes Helalia (C) finished in 1st and 3rd places respectively. [AP]

Margaret Wangari Muriuki on Saturday afternoon scooped silver in the women's marathon to give Kenya a second medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Australia's Jessica Stenson won the race in 2:27:31 ahead of Muriuki who clocked 2:28:00.

At the 40km mark, Stenson has whipped her sunglasses off and is powering towards the finish line, with the only threat to a gold medal, Kenyan Margaret Muriuki who was 18 seconds behind the Australian leader.

Defending champion Helalia Johannes of Namibia finished third in 2:28:39.

The Australian women led the pack for most of the race, working together at times to get a great result for the Aussies.

Australian Eloise Wellings finished in fourth with a time of 2:30:51 with her compatriot Sinead Diver just behind her in fifth with a time of 2:31:06.
Muriuki's silver medal comes hours after Kenya's Michael Githae bagged a bronze medal in the men's marathon.

Uganda's long-distance Victor Kiplangat won the gold medal after clocking 2 hours, 10 minutes and 55 seconds ahead of Tanzania's Alphonce Simbu.