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Ethiopia’s Bazu Worku comfortably won Japan’s Lake Biwa marathon yesterday, after a tough battle with defending champion Vincent Kipruto of Kenya who came in third. |
Worku finished in 2hr 09min 10sec, followed by Japan’s Satoru Sasaki who clocked 2:09:47, and Kipruto with 2:09:54.
“The (road and weather) condition was good. At 30 kilometres, I was confident. So I pushed, pushed and... go,” said Worku.
“I am very happy,” he said.
The three men closely contested the lead in the final phase of the race, with the Africans running shoulder-to-shoulder and Sasaki a step behind them.
With four kilometres to go, Worku staged a duel with Kipruto, leaving behind Sasaki who still kept them in sight.
In the final three kilometres, the Ethiopian shifted into a higher gear and began a solo journey to the finish line.
Sasaki also caught Kipruto up on the track of the Ojiyama Athletic Stadium to grab second place.
Pearson clocks fastest hurdles of season
Olympic champion Sally Pearson of Australia clocked the fastest 60m hurdles indoor time of the season on Saturday, just a week out from the world championships.
Pearson timed 7.79sec in the heats at the Berlin meet before winning the final in 7.80sec for a perfect confidence boost ahead of the world indoor championships at Sopot in Poland next week.
More than 10,000 spectators watched the Berlin action and were buoyed by seeing Germans David Storl and Malte Mohr claim victories in the shot and pole vault respectively.
Martin Wierig then took the discus with 64.82m although German compatriot, the world and Olympic champion Robert Harting could only manage fourth place with 62.20m.
Elsewhere, Germany’s Verena Sailer won the women’s 60m in 7.12sec while St Kitts and Nevis veteran Kim Collins took the men’s sprint in 6.52sec.
Cuba’s 2008 Olympic 110m hurdles gold medallist Dayron Robles claimed the men’s 60m hurdles in 7.53sec.