Martin Mathathi (Photo: reuters)
Martin Mathathi outpaced defending champion Joseph Gitau to win the Fukuoka international marathon Sunday on his first completion of the full race distance for a one-two finish by the Japan-based Kenyan runners.
The 27-year-old Mathathi, who lifted the 10,000-metres bronze medal at the 2007 world championships in Osaka, and compatriot Gitau broke away from a six-man front pack at 35 kilometres.
Mathathi surged ahead at 40 kilometres to win the race in 2hrs 7mins 16 secs with Gitau second in 2:09:00 and Japanese Yuki Kawauchi third in 2:09:05.
"The time is not bad for me as it is the first time that I finished a (full) marathon," the Kenyan said. "I will try to clock around 2 hours and six minutes in my next race and then aim for still better times."
Results
1. Martin Mathathi (KEN) 2hr 07min 16sec,
2. Joseph Gitau (KEN) 2:09:00
3. Yuki Kawauchi (JPN) 2:09:05
4. Henryk Szost (POL) 2:09:37
5. Chiharu Takada (JPN) 2:10:39
6. Reid Coolsaet ( CAN) 2:11:24
7. Mekubo Mogusu (KEN) 2:12:03
8. Ayad Lamdassem (ESP) 2:12:31
9. Satoru Sasaki (JPN) 2:13.12
10. Robert Curtis (USA) 2:13:24
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