Marathon champion McCann loses second battle with cancer

The Commonwealth Games gold medallist Kerryn McCann has died from cancer at the age of 41.

Kerryn McCann died at her home near Wollongong on the New South Wales south coast overnight - she is survived by her husband Greg and their children Benton (11), Josie (5) and Cooper (14 months).

McCann who won Commonwealth gold medals in the marathon at Melbourne in 2006 and Manchester in 2002 gave a particularly memorable performance at the Melbourne Games in a nail biting duel with Kenyan Hellen Cherono over the last three kilometres when McCann pulled out all the stops as they approached the MCG and seized victory in closing 300m to retain the title she won in Manchester.

McCann first revealed she had been stricken with breast cancer while pregnant with her third child and developed secondary cancer in her liver in May.

McCann's manager, Nic Bideau, says she died early today, following a decision to stop treatment because she had become too weak and he has paid tribute to the "fantastic race" run by McCann in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

Bideau, says McCann was really highly regarded in the running community and encouraged him to take on younger runners and was an inspiration to many runners.

McCann and Jane McGrath, wife of the Australian fast bowler Glenn, gave each other support through their personal cancer battles.

Mrs McGrath died in June.