Ethiopia's Hailemaryam Kiros outsprinted Uganda's Victor Kiplangat over the final 200 meters to win the Osaka Marathon on Sunday.
The 26-year-old Kiros set a meet record of 2 hours, 6 minutes and 1 second, finishing just two seconds ahead of Kiplangat. Tanzania's Alphonce Felix Simbu settled for third place in 2:06:19.
The leading pack was reduced from four to three around the 39-kilometer mark and then down to two at 40 km toward the finish line in Osaka Castle Park.
Kazuya Nishiyama was the top Japanese finisher in sixth in 2:06:45, the fastest time ever recorded by a Japanese marathon debutant.
Compatriot Yohei Ikeda, who also made his marathon debut, followed in seventh, clocking 2:06:53. Nishiyama and Ikeda earned spots in the Oct. 15 Marathon Grand Championship in Tokyo, a qualifying event for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The women's race was won by Ethiopia's Helen Tola Bekele, who ran a meet-record 2:22:16.
Related coverage:
Athletics: Djibouti's Ibrahim Hassan wins Beppu-Oita Marathon
Athletics: Ethiopia's Desse wins Osaka Women's Marathon
Athletics: Hitomi Niiya wins Houston Marathon, just misses Japanese record
