Ryoko Kizaki (picture) won a toe-to-heel battle against fellow Japanese runner Yoshimi Ozaki in the last two kilometres to win the Yokohama women’s marathon yesterday.
Kizaki, 26, from Kyoto, was a few seconds behind Ozaki after passing the 40km point, but she caught up over 600m and held on to the lead, crossing the finishing line in two hours, twenty-six minutes and thirty-two seconds.
Ozaki was second in 2:26:49, followed by Mara Yamauchi of Britain third in 2:27:24.